Retainers in Kent and Sammamish, WA
Reviewed and approved by Dr. Cameron Freelove, DDS, MS · Last updated
Why Retention Is Half the Case
Finishing active treatment is not the end of orthodontic care. Teeth have a natural tendency to drift back toward their original positions in the months after braces or aligners come off, and that tendency continues, more slowly, for the rest of a patient’s life. Retainers hold the corrected result in place while the bone and soft tissue around each tooth settle and stabilize.
Wearing retainers as directed is what protects the time, effort, and investment that treatment represents. It is the difference between a result that lasts and one that slowly gives way.
The Biology of Relapse
Relapse is driven by several forces working at once. The elastic fibers in the periodontal ligament that surrounds each tooth are stretched as teeth move during treatment and, like a stretched band, tend to pull the tooth back toward where it began. The bone that reshapes around the moved teeth needs months to fully remodel and harden in the new position. Everyday pressures from the lips, cheeks, and tongue keep acting on the teeth, and the jaws continue to change subtly with age.
Retainers counter all of these. They hold the teeth steady while the ligament, bone, and soft tissue adapt to the new alignment, and then they maintain the result over the long term. This is why Dr. Freelove treats retention as a lifelong part of care rather than a final step.
Retainer Types at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design
Not every retainer fits every patient. The comparison below lays out what each option does, what it costs, and when Dr. Freelove recommends it.
Essix Clear Retainer
Clear, thin, thermoformed over the exact 3D-printed model of the finished tooth positions. Covers every tooth, guides the bite the same way the braces or aligners finished it, and stays invisible in social and work settings. Every Essix at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design is produced on-site, no outside dental lab, no shipping delay. Patients who bring the model in typically have a replacement ready in one to two days.
Essix is made from a durable medical-grade thermoplastic. The price difference below reflects manufacturer branding and lab turnaround, not retainer strength.
Fixed (Bonded) Retainer
Language note: bonded retainers are sometimes marketed as “permanent.” No retainer is permanent. Wires fatigue, bond sites fail, and silent shifts happen once a fixed retainer loosens. Dr. Freelove describes this appliance as fixed or bonded, never as permanent, because the language sets false expectations.
Retainer Plan
The $680 Retainer Plan covers up to four single-arch replacements per year for lost or broken retainers for 10 years after treatment ends.
How Long a Retainer Has To Be Worn
Dr. Freelove recommends nighttime retainer wear for life. Teeth naturally drift at any age, so retention is a long-term commitment that protects the investment in treatment.
Every patient receives clear removable retainers for the upper and lower arch, fabricated in-house from a digital scan. Dr. Freelove checks fit and wear at follow-up visits and replaces a retainer promptly if it is lost or stops fitting.
What To Expect at the Retainer Visit
A retainer visit at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design is treated as a full check, not a quick handoff. Dr. Freelove reviews the current alignment for any drift since active treatment ended and confirms the bite is stable before recommending a retainer.
A digital scan is taken, and the retainers are fabricated in-house and are typically ready in one to two days. Once they are ready, Dr. Freelove checks the fit, reviews the wear schedule, and answers any questions. Every fee is quoted in writing before anything is made.
Retainer Pricing
Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design fabricates retainers for current patients, former patients, and patients from other practices. A referral letter is not required. Fees are quoted in writing at the visit and eligible for HSA and FSA.
| Retainer | Price | Turnaround & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Essix | $200/arch | One fee, whether or not a prior scan is on file. |
| Fixed (Bonded) Upper | $500 | Reserved for upper diastema with a thick gingival frenum. Not the default. |
| Fixed (Bonded) Lower | $500 | Offered by request but not recommended for most patients. |
Retainer FAQ
How much does a retainer cost at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design?
A full set of upper and lower Essix retainers is $400 through the practice’s in-house retainer lab, whether or not a prior scan is on file. Replacement retainers are $200 each.
Fixed bonded retainers are $500 upper and $500 lower. Current Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design patients receive their first set of retainers with treatment. HSA and FSA are accepted.
How long do I need to wear my retainer?
Dr. Freelove recommends nighttime retainer wear for life. Teeth can shift at any age, so retention protects the result of treatment over the long term. Night time wear is recommended.
Can a retainer move teeth back after they have already shifted?
If the shift is slight and the retainer still seats (even uncomfortably tight), consistent wear can often guide teeth back to the finished position over several weeks. If the retainer no longer seats on the teeth at all, the drift has moved past what passive retention can correct.
A short course of active treatment, usually clear aligners, is the better answer. Dr. Freelove evaluates this at a free consultation and quotes the options in writing.
How is an Essix retainer made at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design?
An Essix retainer is thermoformed from a clear medical-grade polymer sheet over a 3D-printed model of the finished tooth positions.
The polymer is a durable medical-grade thermoplastic that provides a strong, clear strength profile, so the retainer is invisible in social and work settings while still delivering the retention force needed to hold the bite. Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design fabricates Essix on-site: intraoral scan, 3D-printed model, thermoform, and fit-check happen in-house, with the retainer typically ready in one to two days.
Should I get a “permanent” (fixed) retainer?
Most patients at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design do not. Fixed wires trap plaque behind the front teeth, make flossing awkward, and fail silently, a detached bond can let a tooth shift for weeks before the patient notices.
Dr. Freelove uses a bonded retainer in three situations: when a patient starts treatment with a large gap between the front teeth, to splint teeth with weakened gum support, and when a patient asks for one.
For every other pattern, Essix retention is the safer long-term call. Dr. Freelove also avoids the word “permanent” on purpose, no wire is permanent, and framing it that way sets the wrong expectation for hygiene and monitoring.
Where Retainers Fit in Treatment
Need a Retainer?
Call, text or schedule online. Bring the 3D-printed model from end of treatment to speed up fabrication. Not a Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design patient? The practice makes retainers for anyone, no referral required.