Complimentary consultation

Retainers · San Francisco

Protect Your Smile. Preserve Your Result.

Teeth naturally shift over time, which is why retention is an essential part of orthodontic treatment. Every Bella Smile patient finishes with a personalized retention plan designed for long-term stability. We also make retainers for patients treated elsewhere.

  • Custom removable retainers
  • Bonded permanent retainers when appropriate
  • Vivera retainers
  • First-year retainer follow-up
  • Vivera Retainer Club and subscription plans
  • Retainers for outside patients too
Book a complimentary consultationLost a retainer? Call us
Five colourful Hawley retainers lined up on a table

The process

Made to fit the finished result.

Retention starts the day treatment ends.

  1. Final scan

    A digital iTero scan of the finished result, so the retainer matches exactly.

  2. The right type

    Hawley, clear, fixed, or a combination, chosen for your teeth and your habits.

  3. Wear schedule

    Full-time at first, then nights. You leave knowing exactly what is expected.

  4. Check-ins

    Retention checks to confirm stability and adjust or replace as needed.

Why it matters

Retainer Club and subscription plans

Our Retainer Club and subscription options are available for Invisalign Vivera retainers, making replacement sets more convenient and more affordable over time.
Stability by designRetention planned from the start, not added at the end
First-year follow-upRetainer checks included for the first year after treatment
Same-day helpLost or broken retainers replaced quickly, before teeth move

Options

Three types. Often two together.

Removable retainers come out for meals and cleaning; a fixed retainer never needs remembering. Many patients have a fixed wire behind the front teeth and a removable one for the rest.

FAQ

Common questions

How long do I have to wear a retainer?

Full-time for the first few months, then at night. Teeth continue to shift throughout life, so night-time wear is a long-term habit rather than a phase. Fixed retainers stay in place for years, often for life.

How do I clean it?

Brush a removable retainer daily with a soft toothbrush and cool water, and soak it in a retainer cleaner once a week. Never use hot water, which warps it. Floss under a fixed retainer with a threader.

I lost or broke my retainer. What now?

Call the same day. Teeth can move within a week or two without one. If you have a Vivera set, a replacement is ready from the same scan; otherwise we take a new scan and make one quickly.

I was treated somewhere else. Can you make me a retainer?

Yes. Book a consultation, we will scan your teeth, check for any movement, and make the right type of retainer for you.

Start with a complimentary consultation