How often should orthodontic retainers be replaced?

How often should retainers be replaced?

Approximately every six months. Thermoformed retainers wear, distort and lose their fit with nightly use, and a worn retainer holds less reliably than a new one. Replacement on schedule is also a condition of the guarantee.

Typical purchase pattern

  • Two pack purchased at the six month retention recall
  • Two pack purchased annually thereafter

Thickness options

0.8mm and 1mm are both available. Discuss which is appropriate with reference to the patient's bruxism history and the amount of correction being held.

Pack sizes

Two packs and three packs are available. Refer to the current price list for laboratory costs.

Turnaround

Approximately five days from receipt of the scan, plus transit.

Note: Retainer replacement is a condition of the guarantee. Build it into your recall system rather than relying on the patient to request it.

Build it into recall, not into hope

Retainer replacement is the step patients skip, and it is the step that voids the guarantee. Treat it as a recall item with a booked appointment rather than something the patient is expected to remember and request. Practices that book the next retention visit before the patient leaves have materially better retention compliance.

Still need help

If this article did not resolve your question, your practice manager is your first point of contact for case and product support. For anything that needs a tracked outcome, start a chat with the OneSmile Concierge using the chat button on this page. Include the patient name, the case number and the current aligner number so it can be actioned without a follow-up question.