How much a retainer costs

Updated October 12, 2026.

A retainer costs about $200 to $1,000, depending on the type. The first one is often included in the price of braces or aligners, so check your quote before you pay for one separately.

The three types of retainer

Clear plastic retainers are removable trays that sit over your teeth (AAO). They are nearly invisible and had the lowest price range in CareCredit's 2022 data. Like any removable appliance they can be lost, and over time retainers can wear out or stop fitting snugly (AAO).

Hawley (wire) retainers combine acrylic or hard plastic with a metal wire. The plastic sits on the roof of the mouth or under the tongue and the wire holds the teeth; they can often be personalized with colors and designs (AAO). CareCredit lists them as molded acrylic retainers.

Bonded (permanent) retainers are a slender, custom-fitted wire cemented or bonded to the inner side of the upper or lower teeth (AAO). You can't lose one, but you need to brush around the wire and floss carefully, and avoid hard or sticky foods that could dislodge it (AAO). They had the highest price range.

Your orthodontist will recommend a type and give you care instructions for it (AAO).

Retainer types compared

Is the retainer included in the price of braces?

Often, yes. The AAO says the cost of your first set of retainers is often part of the overall orthodontic treatment fee, while replacement retainers may be a separate fee (AAO). Some orthodontists also offer all-inclusive pricing that covers the braces, every appointment and the retainers after treatment (AAO). Before you sign, ask which type of retainer is included, how many sets, and what a replacement costs.

How long you need to wear a retainer

Usually for life. A retainer's job is to minimize the natural tendency of teeth to drift back toward where they started, and to support the bone around the teeth while it adapts (AAO). The AAO says a retainer is typically necessary for a lifetime, though how often you wear it may decrease over time, based on your orthodontist's advice (AAO).

If a removable retainer starts to feel tight, your teeth may have shifted slightly; keep wearing it as instructed and talk to your orthodontist if it hurts (AAO). Skipping it risks the very relapse that retainers are there to prevent (AAO).

What happens if you stop wearing your retainer

Teeth naturally tend to drift back toward their old positions, and the body and teeth keep changing over time; a retainer is how you minimize that (AAO). If you stop wearing it, the risk is that some of the movement you paid for slowly reverses. A retainer that suddenly feels tight is often the first sign that teeth have shifted slightly (AAO).

Compare the costs. A replacement retainer costs hundreds of dollars at most: CareCredit's 2022 ranges top out at $1,000 and its 2024 averages are lower still. A second course of braces starts at $3,000 for metal braces in the same data (CareCredit). Keeping up with a retainer is by far the cheaper option.

Retainers after Invisalign and other aligners

Finishing with clear aligners doesn't remove the need for a retainer: the AAO says all patients need to wear retainers after treatment, whatever the appliance (AAO). Ask your aligner provider the same questions as with braces: which retainer is included, how many sets, and what a replacement costs.

Replacing a lost or broken retainer

Retainers get lost, broken or simply worn out, and over time they may not fit as well as they did (AAO). A replacement is usually a separate fee (AAO), and insurance may not help: Delta Dental of Virginia, for example, covers orthodontic retention but not replacement retainers (Delta Dental of Virginia). If a retainer no longer fits, see your orthodontist soon, because a poorly fitting retainer may be letting your teeth move (AAO).

How to make a retainer last

The AAO's care advice is simple and saves money (AAO):

• Brush the retainer gently every day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and water, and soak it at least once a week in a retainer-cleaning solution.
• Don't use hot water, which can damage it, or products with alcohol or bleach.
• Keep it in its case whenever it's not in your mouth: "if it's not in your face, it should be in your case."
• Take it in and out gently with both hands so it doesn't bend.
• Take removable retainers out to eat; with a bonded retainer, avoid hard or sticky foods.

Insurance, HSA and FSA

Insurance coverage for retainers varies widely, so check your policy (AAO). Retention after treatment is often part of orthodontic benefits, but replacements often aren't (Delta Dental of Virginia). A retainer that is part of dental treatment can usually be paid with HSA or FSA money (IRS Publication 502); for 2025 the health FSA limit is $3,300 (IRS Publication 969).

Other orthodontic costs

Some children also need a palate expander before or alongside braces, a device that widens a narrow upper jaw (Cleveland Clinic). We haven't found a reliable published price for expanders, so ask whether one is included in a quote. A retainer is part of the full cost of treatment; see what braces cost without insurance and with insurance, or ways to pay less.

Ask before treatment starts

• Is the first retainer included, which type, and how many sets?
• What does a replacement cost if it's lost or broken?
• How long will I need to wear it each night, and for how many years?
• Are follow-up visits to check the retainer included?
• If I get a bonded retainer, who checks it, and what does a repair cost if the wire comes loose?