If you finished Invisalign treatment and need another retainer, the replacement cost depends on what you are actually replacing, where you order it and whether a current dental record is already available.
Editor’s Note
This article was updated on September 2, 2026 to clarify current Vivera and clear-retainer replacement options, remove outdated blanket pricing claims, and explain how qualifying STL and PLY digital scans may be used for replacement retainers.
One important distinction comes first: Vivera is Invisalign's branded post-treatment retainer. It is not the only type of clear retainer that can be worn after Invisalign treatment.
Depending on your situation, you may return to your Invisalign provider for Vivera retainers or consider another custom passive clear retainer designed to maintain your completed orthodontic result.
How Much Does an Invisalign Replacement Retainer Cost?
There is no single nationwide replacement price.
Invisalign's consumer retainer pricing information currently lists typical costs on a per-arch basis, while also noting that actual pricing depends on the provider, insurance coverage and the type of retainer prescribed.
| Retainer type | Published typical cost | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Vivera retainer | $87–$150 per arch* | Invisalign-branded retainer ordered through an Invisalign-trained provider. Actual provider pricing may differ. |
| Essix-style clear retainer | $100–$300 per arch* | A category of passive clear retainers available from various dental, orthodontic and laboratory providers. |
| Sentinel clear retainer | See current product pricing | A custom passive clear retainer for completed orthodontic treatment. It is not a Vivera retainer or Invisalign treatment aligner. |
*Pricing ranges above reflect consumer pricing information published by Invisalign and available at the time this article was updated in September 2026. Actual fees can vary by provider, location, insurance coverage, quantity ordered and services included.
This is why broad claims that an Invisalign replacement retainer always costs a particular amount can be misleading. Two patients may receive very different quotes depending on what is included.
What Is a Vivera Retainer?
Vivera retainers are clear post-treatment retainers offered by Invisalign through participating providers.
They are different from the sequence of Invisalign aligners used during active treatment. Invisalign aligners are designed to create planned tooth movement; a Vivera retainer is designed to help maintain the orthodontic result after treatment.
If you specifically want another Vivera retainer, you should contact an Invisalign-trained provider.
For a closer look at the difference between treatment trays and retainers, see What Does an Invisalign Retainer Look Like? .
Before Ordering: Do You Already Have a Backup Vivera Retainer?
Check your original retainer supply before purchasing another one.
Invisalign states that an initial Vivera retainer order can include multiple sets, which means you may already have an unused backup if your current retainer was lost, cracked or worn.
If you have another unused set that still corresponds to your current tooth position, follow the wear instructions provided by your orthodontist.
What Determines the Cost of a Replacement Retainer?
Several separate costs can be bundled into the final price.
The type of retainer
A branded Vivera retainer, an Essix-style clear retainer, a Hawley retainer and a bonded retainer are different appliances with different fabrication and clinical requirements.
One arch versus both arches
Replacing only an upper or lower retainer can be priced differently from replacing a complete upper-and-lower set.
The provider
Orthodontic and dental offices set their own fees. A quote may also include an appointment, scan, impression, records review or other services rather than the appliance alone.
Whether a new dental record is needed
A new scan or impression may add to the process when an appropriate current dental record is not already available.
Insurance
Retainer coverage varies by dental plan. Some plans may include post-treatment retention benefits while others may limit or exclude replacement appliances.
Check your own plan rather than assuming replacement is covered.
Do You Have to Buy Another Vivera Retainer?
Not necessarily if orthodontic treatment is complete and your goal is simply to maintain an established tooth position.
Some people return to their original Invisalign provider because they specifically want Vivera retainers or because their provider already manages their orthodontic records and retention plan.
Others choose a custom Essix-style clear retainer.
These are not the same branded product, but both fall within the broader category of removable clear retention appliances.
Can Sentinel Replace a Retainer After Invisalign Treatment?
Sentinel can fabricate a custom passive clear retainer for someone who has completed orthodontic treatment and needs to maintain their current tooth position.
Sentinel does not manufacture Vivera retainers and does not reproduce active Invisalign treatment aligners.
Instead, Sentinel makes clear retainers from a dental record that represents the tooth position the customer wants to maintain.
View current options here: Sentinel Clear Dental Retainers .
Already Have an Invisalign Digital Scan? Ask for It
This can be one of the most useful questions to ask before creating a new dental impression.
If your dentist or orthodontist previously scanned your teeth, ask whether they can provide a current export as an STL or PLY file.
Sentinel accepts qualifying STL and PLY digital dental scan files for clear retainer fabrication.
If the file represents the tooth position you want to maintain and contains the dental anatomy our laboratory needs, it may be possible to use that record rather than taking another physical impression.
During checkout, select the digital scan option. After ordering, follow the secure upload instructions provided by Sentinel. Our laboratory reviews submitted files before fabrication.
What If You Don't Have a Digital Scan?
A professional digital scan is not required solely to order a Sentinel clear retainer.
If you do not have a qualifying scan, Sentinel's at-home impression process remains available.
Clear retainer fabrication requires the necessary dental anatomy to be captured clearly. Our laboratory reviews the submitted impression before fabrication and may request another impression if important areas are too shallow or incomplete.
What If Your Teeth Have Shifted Since Invisalign?
This changes the decision.
A new passive retainer made from a current scan or impression generally corresponds to the tooth position represented by that record.
If your teeth have visibly shifted and you want them returned to an earlier alignment, do not assume that ordering a new retainer from the current position will accomplish that.
An orthodontist can determine whether additional active treatment should occur before another passive retainer is made.
Read Can Retainers Move Teeth Back? for the full distinction between retention and orthodontic movement.
What If Your Invisalign Retainer Is Lost or Broken?
The reason for replacement matters.
If the retainer is gone but your teeth appear stable, begin by checking for a backup appliance or an existing digital record.
If the retainer is physically cracked, warped or damaged, do not attempt to repair the thermoplastic with household glue or heat.
We cover those situations separately:
- I Lost My Retainer: What Should I Do Next?
- Broken Retainer? What to Do If It Cracks, Splits or Warps
How Can You Avoid Paying for Unnecessary Steps?
The least expensive option is not always simply the retainer with the lowest advertised appliance price.
Before paying for replacement, ask:
- Do I already have an unused backup retainer?
- Does my original provider already have a current digital scan?
- Can that scan be exported as STL or PLY?
- Do my teeth remain in the position I want to maintain?
- Am I comparing one retainer with a multi-set package?
- Does my quoted price include appointments, scans or other services?
Those questions make cost comparisons considerably more meaningful.
Vivera vs. Another Clear Replacement Retainer
| Vivera | Custom Essix-style retainer | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Post-orthodontic retention | Post-orthodontic retention |
| Brand | Invisalign / Align Technology | Varies by laboratory or provider |
| Where ordered | Invisalign-trained provider | Dental office, orthodontic office or qualified custom-retainer provider |
| Dental record | Managed through the Invisalign/provider workflow | May be fabricated from an appropriate scan or impression, depending on the provider |
| Moves teeth? | No; it is a post-treatment retainer | No; conventional replacement retainers are passive appliances |
The better choice depends on whether you specifically want the Vivera product, what records you already have, your provider relationship, pricing and the tooth position that needs to be maintained.
For a broader look at all replacement pathways, see our Replacement Retainers Guide .
The Bottom Line
The cost of replacing a retainer after Invisalign treatment depends on more than the price printed next to the appliance.
If you specifically want another Vivera retainer, contact an Invisalign-trained provider for current pricing.
If orthodontic treatment is complete and you simply need a passive clear retainer to maintain your current tooth position, other custom clear-retainer options may also be available.
Before starting over with a new impression, check whether you already have a backup retainer or a current digital scan.
And if your teeth have visibly shifted, address the orthodontic position before choosing a replacement retainer based on price alone.
Invisalign and Vivera are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc. Sentinel Mouthguards is not affiliated with or endorsed by Align Technology. Pricing information changes over time; verify current Vivera pricing with an Invisalign-trained provider.