A retainer after braces or aligners costs $100 to $800 depending on the type, and the first set is usually inside the treatment fee; it is the replacement two years later that lands on the credit card. Clear plastic retainers are the cheapest to make and the fastest to wear out, a Hawley retainer with its wire lasts longer, and a bonded wire behind the front teeth is priced per arch. This page sets out the published prices by type and what to expect in Ohio.
- Clear (Essix) retainer
- $100 to $800mostly $200 to $650
- Hawley retainer
- $150 to $475per arch at the low end
- Bonded retainer
- $150 to $600 per arch
- Vivera (Invisalign)
- $300 to $1,500per set, practice-priced
The four types and their published prices
| Retainer | What it is | Published range | Averages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear, Essix-type | A thin transparent tray molded over the teeth; removable, nearly invisible, worn at night | $100 to $800, most practices $200 to $650 | CareCredit $181 |
| Hawley | An acrylic plate with a wire across the front teeth; removable, adjustable, the longest-lived removable type | $150 to $475, per arch at the low end | CareCredit $302 |
| Bonded (permanent, fixed) | A thin wire glued behind the front teeth; cannot be lost, needs flossing under it | $150 to $600 per arch | CareCredit $344 |
| Vivera | Invisalign’s branded clear retainers, usually sold as a set of several | $300 to $1,500 a set; Align publishes no price |
Delta Dental of Oregon’s PPO schedule, the one CDT-coded source we found, allows $568 for orthodontic retention (code D8680), a contracted fee that covers the retention phase rather than a single appliance. Ohio Medicaid pays $205 for retention for patients under 21 who had covered treatment, and nothing for adults.
What is in the treatment fee
Most orthodontists include the first set of retainers in the braces or aligner fee, and the retention visits in the months after the appliances come off. Beyond that:
- Replacements are priced the same as a new retainer. A lost clear retainer costs what the first one would have cost, and clear retainers crack, cloud and stretch over one to three years.
- A replacement needs a current impression or scan. If the teeth have moved since the last one, the practice may need new records, and the retainer may no longer fit the original plan.
- Mail-order replacements exist. AlignerCo sells a clear retainer set at $125 to $150, made from a home impression kit, without an orthodontist checking the fit.
- Bonded wires can detach. Re-bonding is a repair visit, usually cheaper than a new wire, and some practices include a period of repairs.
Choosing, in Ohio prices
For a patient who will wear it every night, a clear retainer is the cheapest first choice and the one most often replaced. A Hawley costs more up front and tolerates adjustment, which matters for a child whose mouth is still growing. A bonded retainer removes compliance from the equation and is the common choice for lower front teeth that relapse readily; many Ohio orthodontists fit a bonded lower wire and a clear upper tray together, and the two prices add. Ask the practice which it recommends for your case and what each costs to replace.
Whichever type, the orthodontist who treated you is the right person to replace it, because they hold the records of where the teeth are meant to be. Any Ohio dentist’s or orthodontist’s license is verifiable at elicense.ohio.gov. The rest of the cost picture is on braces cost in Ohio and Invisalign cost in Ohio.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retainer cost in Ohio?
Published prices are $100 to $800 for a clear retainer, $150 to $475 for a Hawley and $150 to $600 per arch for a bonded wire; the Ohio practices that publish treatment fees include the first set in them.
How much does a replacement retainer cost?
The same as a new one of that type. Clear retainers, the most often replaced, are mostly $200 to $650 at practices and $125 to $150 by mail order.
Does insurance cover retainers?
Where a dental plan covers orthodontics, the retention phase is part of the orthodontic benefit and counts against the lifetime maximum; replacements after treatment are usually not covered. Ohio Medicaid covers retention for patients under 21 who had covered treatment.
How long does a retainer last?
Clear retainers one to three years with nightly wear; Hawley retainers several years with care; bonded wires until they detach, which can be many years.
Can I buy a retainer online?
Yes, from mail-order companies at $125 to $150 a set, made from a home impression. It will not be checked against your treatment records, and a retainer that does not fit does not hold the teeth.
Sources
- CareCredit dental procedure cost list
- Delta Dental of Oregon PPO fee schedule, effective August 1, 2024
- Ohio Department of Medicaid dental fee schedule, effective January 1, 2025 (D8680)
- Invisalign, Vivera retainers
- AlignerCo
- Practice pages priced in
reference/data/ortho-prices.tsv(30 retainer rows, retrieved September 30, 2026)
Figures retrieved September 30, 2026. Practice prices change without notice. Straighten My Smile Ohio is a publication, not a practice.
