Custom Retainers in Scottsdale, AZ
 GOREgeous Smiles makes custom retainers in Scottsdale, AZ from a digital scan of your teeth, printed right here in our office. Whether you just finished treatment, lost a retainer, or cracked the one you’ve had for years, a retainer is what keeps your teeth from drifting back toward where they started.
We make clear retainers for patients finishing SureSmile clear aligners here, and for people treated somewhere else years ago who need a replacement. Because we scan and print in-house, there’s less waiting than with an outside lab.
One honest note up front: a retainer holds teeth in place, but it doesn’t move them back. If your teeth have already shifted noticeably, we’ll talk about clear aligners first, then a retainer to hold the new result.
On This Page
What Are Custom Retainers?
A custom retainer is a thin, clear appliance shaped to your teeth. It holds them in the positions they reached during treatment, so the result you worked for stays put.
Why Retainers Matter
Teeth tend to shift after orthodontic treatment. That’s normal, not a sign anything went wrong. The retainer is the part of treatment that protects the time and money you already put in.
How We Make Them
We take a digital scan of your teeth, with no impression trays, and design the retainer from that scan. Then we print it here in our office on our SprintRay 3D printer, which cuts out the wait for an outside lab.
Who a Custom Retainer Is For
A custom retainer makes sense if you’re:
- Finishing SureSmile – Patients completing clear aligner treatment with us
- Replacing a lost or broken retainer – Including ones that cracked, warped or stopped fitting
- Treated somewhere else – Braces or aligners years ago, and a retainer that’s long gone
- Noticing early shifting – Adults whose teeth have only just started to move
If you’re not sure which group you’re in, a quick exam will tell us.
When a Retainer Isn’t Enough
 If your teeth have moved noticeably, a retainer can’t push them back. In that case, the honest next step is an evaluation for clear aligners to move them back into place, followed by a retainer to hold the result. If a gap has reopened between your front teeth, gap tooth closure may be part of that conversation.
Your Retainer Dentist in Scottsdale
Dr. Rod W. Gore, DDS has practiced dentistry in Scottsdale for more than 38 years. He earned his BS in Biology from the University of Oregon in 1983 and his DDS from Northwestern University in 1987. He’s been an Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry since 1995 and still serves as an active AACD Examiner, a status roughly 400 dentists worldwide hold and only two in Arizona.
Fit is everything with a retainer. Too loose and it doesn’t hold; too tight and you won’t want to wear it. Dr. Gore brings nearly four decades of hands-on work to that balance, along with his role as adjunct faculty with the University of the Pacific’s Pacific Aesthetic Continuum (PAC-Live) and his years as a clinical instructor at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI).
He also handles SureSmile treatment here, so if you finished aligners with us, the dentist making your retainer already knows your case.
How We Make Your Retainer, Step by Step
Most of the work happens right here in our office, from the scan to the finished retainer.
Stage 1: Quick Exam and Digital Scan
We check your teeth and gums, look at how your bite has held up, and take a digital scan. If it’s been a while since your last dental exam, we may suggest one first so nothing gets missed.
Stage 2: In-Office Printing
We design your retainer from the scan and print it on our SprintRay 3D printer.
Stage 3: Fit Check
When it’s ready, we check the fit in your mouth. It should feel snug without pinching, and we make sure you can put it in and take it out easily.
Stage 4: Wear and Care Instructions
We give you a wear schedule that fits your case, show you how to clean the retainer, and explain the signs that it’s time for a replacement.
Benefits of a Custom Retainer
A retainer is a small thing that protects a big result.
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Protects your results – Helps keep teeth from drifting after treatment
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Made from your scan – No impression trays, and a fit shaped to your teeth
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Clear and low-profile – Thin enough to wear without drawing attention
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Made in our office – Designed and printed here, start to finish |
If you grind your teeth at night, mention it at your visit. Grinding calls for a custom night guard, which is a different appliance built for that job.
Caring for Your Retainer
Clean your retainer every day, and keep it in its case whenever it’s not in your mouth. Keep it away from heat, like hot water or a hot car, and out of reach of pets, since dogs love to chew them. Bring it to your checkups so we can make sure it still fits well.
Why Choose Our Practice for Retainers
The honest answer is that a retainer is simple, but the fit isn’t. Our dental technology lets us scan your teeth and print your retainer in-house, so we control the fit from start to finish.
We’ll also tell you when a retainer isn’t the right answer. If your teeth have shifted too far for a retainer to help, you’ll hear that before we make anything, along with your options for moving them back.
And it doesn’t matter where you had treatment. We make replacement retainers for patients who finished braces or aligners somewhere else.
Retainer Cost and Financing
Cost depends on whether you need an upper retainer, a lower one or both, and whether your teeth need any work first. We accept Cigna, verify your benefits and give you a written estimate before we start. Our financial and insurance page covers how billing works here.
If your teeth have shifted and you need aligners before a new retainer, the GOREgeous Membership Plan takes 20% off clear aligner therapy, with some limitations. Flexible third-party financing is also available. Questions about cost? Call 480-585-6225.
Schedule Your Retainer Visit
If you’ve lost, broken or outgrown a retainer, it’s worth coming in sooner rather than later. Call 480-585-6225 or book through our Request an Appointment page. Our office is at 8535 E. Hartford Drive #208, Scottsdale, AZ 85255-5438. Questions first? Reach us through our Contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I need to wear a retainer?
For most people, it’s long-term. Wear is usually heaviest right after treatment, and many patients then settle into nightly wear going forward. We’ll set a schedule based on your case and check how it’s working at your visits.
Can you replace a retainer from another dentist or orthodontist?
Yes. We don’t need your old retainer to make a new one, since we work from a fresh scan of your teeth as they are now. If they’ve shifted since your treatment ended, we’ll tell you before we make anything.
How fast can I get a new retainer?
Faster than waiting on an outside lab, since we print it here, though timing depends on your exam and our schedule. Call as soon as you lose or break a retainer, because the longer you go without one, the more room your teeth have to move.
What if my teeth have already shifted?
If your old retainer feels very tight or won’t seat, don’t force it. Bring it in and we’ll look at how far things have moved. If the shift is small and you’re happy with how your teeth look now, a new retainer can hold them where they are. If not, SureSmile clear aligners come first.
How long does a retainer last?
It depends on how you care for it and whether you grind your teeth. Clear retainers wear over time, so replace yours if it cracks, warps, turns cloudy or stops fitting snugly.
Is a retainer covered by insurance?
Sometimes. Some plans include retainers under orthodontic benefits and others don’t, especially for replacements. We’ll check your plan and give you a written estimate before we start.
Why choose GOREgeous Smiles for retainers in Scottsdale?
Because we scan, print and fit your retainer in our Scottsdale office, and we’re upfront when shifted teeth need more than a retainer. It doesn’t matter where you had your original treatment.
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