Invisalign retainer broke - HIGH cost for replacement

[sashie]

Hi

I have a set of invisalign that I use as retainers when I sleep. My top retainer broke and I called to get a replacement. The mold (what is that called?) is made so I don't have to go into the office...it will be mailed to me. My question is the cost. $250 for upper. Isn't that high or is that the norm

thanks

[sashie]

and I was told $250 is a discounted amount.

[Phantom Muse]

My daughter had metal braces and just went into her plastic retainers about one month ago. Her ortho told her that a replacement would cost $260.00 for each arch. I'm not yet to the retention phase in my treatment, but I remember noticing that if I went with Vivera retainers for instance, that would be somewhat expensive as well. We are in Chicago, so I don't know if cost might vary by region.

I have read that the trays are not as durable as a regular retainer, so maybe you have gotten the most life out of the tray as possible. If retention is included in the price you paid the ortho, I would think that would include a regular non-Invisalign tray retainer to replace your broken tray.

My ortho (different from my daughter's ortho) has told me that he would like me to wear my final trays as retainers for quite some time before getting a regular retainer. Are you essentially happy with wearing your Invisalgn trays as retainers?

[sashie]

I am happy with my invisalign retainer, but if the regular retainer is more durable, works as well and is less expensive, I would get the regular retainer. I'm assuming when you say regular retainer it is a metal wire across the front of your teeth (never wore one so not sure how it attaches). Is it less expensive? This is only something I wear before I go to bed and will probably have to do it forever. I got braces at 42- I'm 50 now.

[mommamorin]

hi sashie,
invisalign retainers are much more durable than the trays themselves. I have vivera retainers ($400 for set of 4, each new set is delivered quarterly) which I have paid for but am having my provider make them in his office at no extra charge to me, they have a better fit. If the molds are done, I don't see why they're so expensive. For instance, I was told that 20 trays of Invisalign
only costs the provider $1995, the rest is profit. Gives you an idea of the profit for the retainers.
good luck to you!

[Phantom Muse]

Sashie - I was actually thinking of a plastic retainer - not the Hawley (?) that has the metal wire across the front teeth. How long did the Invisalign tray that just broke last as a retainer for you? I would guess that they would need to be replaced every so often anyway, so maybe now is the time? However, I don't know the cost difference for each type of retainer, but I would guess they are all about the same price... give or take a bit.

Mommamorin - Do you like the Vivera retainers? Do they feel similar to the Invisalign trays, or are they thicker?

Thanks!

[mommamorin]

hey phantom,
I actually like the vivera, they are easier to keep clean and are a harder plastic. I don't know if they're actually thicker, just made of a different stronger material. I wore the Vivera for a couple of months, unfortunately for me the retainers were made off of my last refinement tray and were ordered before I was actually finished with the final tray. End result was, my bite was off, so it was useless to wear the vivera as they were the same as the last tray. I actually just received my 3rd retainer in the mail yesterday (that i can not use :-/). I kept my retainers out for several days, until my teeth shifted into a comfortable position and had new molds taken and my provider made them in his office. I guess you would call that essix?? idk Oh well. My advice is... wait a good couple of weeks at least after you have completed all trays before ordering your retainers and to have a new mold taken for your retainers. Yes, long story short, I would recommend the vivera.

[leevshan]

Is your last tray is the retainer? or is it different?

[mommamorin]

leevshan - idk if you were asking me your question or not but many providers will tell you to use your last tray of your invisalign treatment as your retainer. Some will do molds in their office and make a retainer themselves (after attachments are removed so there will not be the attachment indents so to speak) or you can order the Vivera, which do not have the attachment indents and you get a new one every quarter for a year. At the end of the year you can order again for another year, it is a subscription and an extra charge. The Vivera can be made two ways, one is duplicating your last tray into retainers (without attachment indents) or have new molds taken (which I personally would advise) and have the retainers made from that. Same process as you had when you first started the invisalign. hope that helps you
Also, the retainers are made of a more sturdy plastic, and not to be redundant, much easier to clean.

[leevshan]

thanks momma
Oh, so with Vivera you have to get a new same one every quarter? Can you like, just make one Vivera and use it forever?

My ortho said that I will get a clear retainer included when I paid for Invisalign, but I haven't asked what brand. I thought it comes with the Invisalign set. But apparently it's different isn't it? Invisalign don't include retainer.

[mommamorin]

Vivera is a subscription that you pay upfront for 4 retainers, and yes, they are the same. Your ortho may make them in his office as well, which may be what he is planning on doing. Kezza and Havingitdone are both in retainers as well. Hopefully they will read this and add to how they got their retainers (I think they were sent out to an independent lab, idk. )

[kezzakattami]

I had one set of Essix retainers included in my fee, which arent made by Invisalign. Theyre clear and sturdy and sound pretty much like the Vivera's. I am toying with moving to fixed retainers though

[tman314]

I am toying with moving to fixed retainers though

Why are you considering fixed retainers? Won't they make regular oral hygiene a lot more difficult?

I'm only on tray 9/24 for both uppers and lowers but have thought that after wearing these for 20+ hrs a day, removable retainers that only have to be worn at night (after a certain amount of time) sounds well....easy?

[Sunny]

Why are you considering fixed retainers? Won't they make regular oral hygiene a lot more difficult?

There are some major advantages attached to having fixed retainers. Mostly due to being able to keep the teeth that are attached to the fixed retainers, fixed. They don't need any other retainer at any other time ... which means much less worry about them.

There is a small amount of extra work required when it comes to oral hygiene, but it's minor when compared to the extra security you have, especially during the early months while your teeth are settling.

[kathi29]

Has anyone ever seen the linglock retainer? It looks pretty cool, if it works.
linglock.com

[Phantom Muse]

I'll be interested to find out more about this retainer, too, Kathi. Interesting...

Seems there are as many decisions to make about retention as there are for the initial treatment! Whew.

[Rosieee]

Hi,

Has anyone had or heard of these 'invisible flossable permanent' retainers? I am getting them once I have finished my invisalign treatment (on my bottom teeth in a few weeks and on my top teeth in about 6 months).

linglock.com

Can't wait! I will be the first person in New Zealand to get them as they are 'new technology' in orthodontic terms.

[kezzakattami]

Ditto Sunny!!!

My reasons are as follows:

1.Less having to watch the clock to put your retainers back in (trust me, you will not want to go straight to night time wear after your Invisalign treatment)
2.My Essix retainers have cracked on the bottom tray by my wisdom teeth, so it wont be long before I have to shell out to replace them
3.After 14 months of wearing trays (Invisalign & Essix) I want to think less about stressing if my teeth are shifting and the possibility of losing them or damaging them when theyre not in my mouth (I realise that some people's treatment is a lot longer than this, but as I have the choice, I want to use it!)
4. No daily shifting - moving the teeth back and forth every day (this has happened very slightly after having them out for 8 hours a day, which Ive built up to over last 4 months)
4.No long term shifting - although the Essix is sturdy, this will only last for so long, right??

Ive not decided yet, I will ask my Ortho some questions next time I visit to help me decide but as time has gone on, they sound more appealing!

[mommamorin]

Sunny, Kezza...what are the names of the "fixed" retainers that you're speaking of? I would like to google them and see if they're right for me. I too Kezza feel the shifting every day in having them out for a long period of time which is why I wear them so much, and the fact that I'm so used to having them in. Paranoid I guess.
thanks!!

[kezzakattami]

I dont know the name but will find out at my next visit

[tman314]

Thanks kezzakattami for listing those reasons and when you put it like that, it does seem to be the better way to go!

Sunny, I guess the things that were getting me was that 1) just the fact you have something glued in your mouth and 2) that if you have a metal wire (or clear alternative) behind your teeth, that presents a clear problem for flossing as you wouldn't be able to reach your gum line.

I was a pretty lazy flosser before Invisalign and if it wasn't for Floss-ups, I shudder to think about how thorough I would have been. With fixed retainers, I doubt they'd be as effective and even with conventional flossing, I think there would be problems.

How do people keep the fixed retainer clean and floss effectively?

This is pretty far down the road for me but I think it's good to be fully informed about my options.

EDIT: Phantom's response below got me thinking: are there methods that involve using fixed retainers for a certain amount of time (say 6 months) and then switching to removables?

[Phantom Muse]

Thanks for your detailed thoughts, Kezza.

I think they fixed retainers are also known as bonded retainers, and they are just a wire glued to the back of the teeth. Rosieee mentioned she is going to try the linglock fixed retainer, which is ceramic. The upside is that you can floss easily. They look interesting, and Rosieee, please keep us all posted on how you feel about it! So much to think about.

I have sort of resigned myself to 3 months of 24/7 retainer wear when the time comes, and then another 3 months of wearing them most of the time before I go to nighttime wear. The literature given to my daughter by her ortho said that it really takes 6 months after braces come off before the teeth are really settled.

Ask me my decision in another 4-5 months when it is time to (hopefully!) make the retainer decision...

[tman314]

Saw these while doing a bit of Googling:

Dentistry on King : Orthodontics

I'll definitely be asking about these near the end of my treatment!

[havingitdoneintheuk]

Let me know how you get on Kezza, I am still stuck in invisalign mode, wearing my retainer 24/7, I should be weaning myself off but can't seem to relax about it!

[Sunny]

if you have a metal wire (or clear alternative) behind your teeth, that presents a clear problem for flossing as you wouldn't be able to reach your gum line.

Flossing should be as important as brushing. There's no point brushing your teeth to prevent cavities, while accepting the possibility that your teeth will fall out due to gum disease.

How do people keep the fixed retainer clean and floss effectively?

There is floss that has a stiffened end made by oral b, plus fine plastic needles that can be threaded behind the fixed retainers. Some people are able to bend their usual floss behind their fixed retainers. It's all about finding out what works best for you.

are there methods that involve using fixed retainers for a certain amount of time (say 6 months) and then switching to removables?

Fixed retainers are rarely permanent. Mostly they come loose on their own, but I'm sure if you want them removed at some stage an ortho would do this for you, and then you'd have to wear a removable retainer at nights only.

The biggest advantages of fixed retainers are that they keep your teeth retained with minimal effort from you and secondly their is limited need for removable retainers, so less chance for non compliance to sneak in. A disadvantage is checking regularly that the fixed retainer is still fixed.

[Weeeyin]

Hi HavingitdoneintheUK & others, I wish I could get back into the habit of wearing my trays/retainer mode full time .....which I must and will do as of now! My retainer - the third or is it the fourth attempt at a decent retainer is still a rubbish one and loose that realisticaly wearing it during the day at work is not an option, its really loose, and in places over my gums so I drool and slur my words, its great at night tho and seems to do the job, just talking in it is too weird. I never did go back to the ortho to get a "perfect retainer" for day time wear, I couldn't take any more time off work if I'm honest or I was going to have no job to go back to and I was fed up complaining the retainer wasn't as perfect as invisalign trays, its good enough for bed wear I guess. I just felt I was being a moan all the time for no reason and I just wanted to be shot of ortho appointments.

I've noticed that by the end of a day what was my wonky tooth is beginning to "wonk" again where after a night of retainer wear its in a perfect position. I know this wiggling back and forth each day is no good and I've started to discipline myself into full time "final tray" wear again - just on the top, I just hope no permanent damage has been done already. My final trays are in pretty good condition so I hope it lasts out on me for the next while until I go back to night only wear of the retainer. With a bit of luck this tray wearing will help me to curb by grazing habits that I've fallen back into since I stopped my full time treatment. I seriously regret not continuing full time wear of the final trays for a few months as getting back use to day wear is really odd.
I'm sure I'm not the only one to have this issue....but if it prevents anyone else from doing what I did just because they were excited not to have to wear braces daily my post will have been worth it.

[havingitdoneintheuk]

Hey weeyin, I guess once you are out of the habit it is hard to get back into it.

I wore my final invisalign trays for 3 months then into the Essix.

My first Essix was too loose, I went straight back and had a much tighter one within a week. You should go back weeyin, you paid for it, you deserve a retainer that fits!

I am supposed to now just be on night time only, but the fear of them moving again puts me off. Although I happily have them out for a few hours at the weekend and they hardly move, so god knows what I am doing!

[Weeeyin]

You're right it is so difficult to get back into the brushing flossing habit during the day at work, not to mention I'm having to give up the irn bru i've so fondly got used to having all day again ..... I will give it up, just finished the last can (prob have DTs tomorrow :-( ) , and have ordered another batch of whitening gels so it's good all round to wear trays and give up the bru. I'll maybe go back for another opinion on the retainer, as I say, for night wear its fine, it stays in and does put my wonky tooth back into place well, its just over my gums and real easy to flick out with my tongue esp when talking I'm better with the final invisalign tray. Its 14 weeks till my holidays - first one with a straight smile, so I'll prob wear the trays full time till then and just the retainer on holiday at bed time - see how that plan goes. I know I was away for ages, but this forum is such a great support i'm not sure what I'd do without it.

[havingitdoneintheuk]

I'm the opposite Weeyin, can't break these good habits!

I have got so used to nice minty breath after lunch that I go to clean my teeth then end up putting the retainers back in!

Need to break the habits so that I can enjoy my summer holiday - ice creams etc whenever I want, woo hoo!!!!

[kezzakattami]

Im about down to 16/17 hours a day and am going to continue with that until my summer holiday on June 1st, so Weeyin...Im counting down with you! Ill go to night time wear only then so I can enjoy my first Invisalign-free holiday like Havingitdone says - cant wait!!

[havingitdoneintheuk]

Well done Kezza! I managed to keep them out from 12 to 7pm yesterday, strange how anxious you feel isn't it. Only 2 teeth seemed to move and even then it was marginal. Am going to keep this up now for 3 months then like you Kezza go to night time only.
Wow it is like letting go of a ball and chain