The process
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Orthodontics · Retention
Vivera™ retainers
Vivera™ retainers are clear, removable retainers made by Align Technology, the company behind Invisalign® clear aligners. We scan your teeth digitally, with no impressions, and you receive a set of three per arch, so a spare is always ready. You do not need to have had Invisalign treatment to order them. Guide fee £325 for one arch or £495 for both.
Guide fee
£325 one arch, £495 both
Supplied as
Set of three per arch
Made from
A digital iTero™ scan
Typical wear
Nightly, as advised
Vivera™ provider · Invisalign® provider
Who it is for
Who Vivera retainers suit
Anyone finishing aligners or braces
The day treatment ends is the day retention begins. Teeth are most likely to move in the first months afterwards, so retainers are fitted as soon as the final position is reached.
A lost or cracked retainer
Act quickly. Teeth can begin to move within weeks, and a retainer made from a new scan holds them where they are that day. The sooner we scan, the less there is to put right.
Treated elsewhere, or years ago
You do not need to have had Invisalign treatment with us, or at all. If your teeth were straightened with fixed braces, by another dentist or a long time ago, we can scan them and order Vivera retainers.
A fixed wire that needs a backup
Bonded wires hold the front teeth but can come unstuck without you noticing. Wearing a removable retainer over the top at night protects the whole arch if the wire ever fails.
The difference
What changes the result
A scan instead of a mould
The iTero scanner records both arches in a few minutes. There is no impression putty, and the retainers are made against a precise digital model, so they seat closely and hold every tooth.
Three per arch, so there are spares
Vivera retainers are supplied as a set of three per arch. If one is lost, cracked or left in a hotel room, the next is already in your drawer. Your teeth are not left waiting.
Compared with an Essix retainer
An Essix retainer is also clear and removable, at £300 for one arch or £450 for both. It does the same job of holding the teeth. The Vivera fee covers a set of three per arch, which is where the spares come from.
Compared with a fixed wire
A fixed retainer is a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth, at £300 for one arch or £500 for both. It works without you having to remember it, but needs careful cleaning and only holds the teeth it touches.
01
Check
We look at your teeth, your gums and any existing retainer or fixed wire. If your current retainer still fits, keep wearing it until the new ones arrive.
02
Scan
We take an iTero scan of both arches, which takes a few minutes. If we already hold a recent scan that still matches your teeth, a new one may not be needed.
03
Made by Align
The scan goes to Align Technology, where your retainers are manufactured to the digital model. We contact you as soon as they arrive at the practice.
04
Fit and wear
We check each retainer seats fully and feels comfortable, then confirm your wear schedule, typically every night. You take the full set home with instructions for cleaning and storing them.
Afterwards
Aftercare
Wear your retainers as advised, typically every night. Rinse them in cool water each morning and brush gently with a soft brush; hot water warps them. Keep them in a case, away from pets. Bring them to your check-ups so we can inspect the fit, and tell us as soon as one cracks or feels loose.
Guide fees
Vivera retainers, single arch (set of 3)£325
Vivera retainers, both arches (set of 3 per arch)£495
iTero 3D scan, where a new scan is neededfrom £150
Essix retainer, single arch / both arches£300 / £450
Fixed wire retainer, single arch / both arches£300 / £500
Guide fees. You receive a written plan with exact costs before treatment starts. See all fees
Common questions
Questions, answered
How much do Vivera retainers cost?+
Our guide fee is £325 for a single arch or £495 for both arches, and each arch comes as a set of three. Where a new iTero scan is needed, it is from £150.
Can I get Vivera retainers if I did not have Invisalign treatment?+
Yes. Vivera retainers are made from a digital scan of your teeth as they are now. It does not matter how your teeth were straightened, where, or how long ago.
What should I do if I lose or crack my retainer?+
Contact us quickly, because teeth can move within weeks. In the meantime, wear a spare or your previous retainer if it still fits without forcing. A cracked retainer that still seats fully can usually be worn at night until the replacement arrives, provided no sharp edge is rubbing.
How often do I need to wear my retainers?+
Follow the schedule your dentist gives you. For most people that means every night, for the long term. Teeth drift throughout life, so retention has no natural end date.
Do Vivera retainers hurt or feel tight?+
A new retainer should feel snug, not sore. If it feels tight after a few nights without wear, your teeth have started to move and the retainer is nudging them back. If it will not seat fully, do not force it; book in so we can check.
How long do Vivera retainers last?+
That depends on how you wear and look after them. Night-time grinding, hot water and rough handling all shorten a retainer's life. Having three per arch means a replacement is already to hand when one wears out.
My old retainer no longer fits. Can I still get new ones?+
Yes. New retainers will hold your teeth in their current position, but they will not move them back. If you would like the earlier alignment restored, a short course of aligners can usually do that first.
Related treatments
Invisalign® treatmentClear aligners planned by an Align Technology speaker and clinical mentor.Read moreOrthodontics & bracesClear aligners, fixed braces and discreet options for adults, compared fairly.Read moreDental check-upA full dental health check with scans, photographs and a written plan.Read more