
ClearRetain
Upper and Lower Retainers Set
The ClearRetain Upper and Lower Retainers Set is a custom-made, clear thermoformed retainer kit that includes both upper and lower trays, designed to maintain tooth alignment after orthodontic treatment or replace lost or damaged retainers. Each set includes impression putty, 3 upper and 3 lower impression trays, a return box with prepaid shipping, and a retainer case; the retainers are fabricated via positive pressure vacuum forming from BPA-free, phthalate-free, stain-resistant material with a 1mm thickness. User reviews indicate the retainers typically last about a year before cracking, are comfortable for nighttime wear, and are noted as more affordable than orthodontist-provided retainers, though some users report fit issues with the upper retainer.
- Color
- Ultra-clear
- Category
- Health & Beauty > Health Care > Supports & Braces
- GTIN
850017166042- MPN
UPPER-LOWER-RETAINERS
Specifications
A set of custom-made ultra-clear upper and lower retainers that are durable, stain-resistant, and free of BPA and phthalates, designed to hold teeth in place after orthodontic treatment.
Ultra-clear, durable, stain-resistant, BPA-free, phthalate-free; 1mm thickness; custom-made using positive pressure vacuum forming; includes retainer case, impression putty, impression trays, and prepaid return label.
- Color
- Ultra-clear · white
- Gender
- unisex
- Condition
- new
- Weight
- 7 oz
- Category
- Health & Beauty > Health Care > Supports & Braces
Additional Attributes
- ultra-clear
- durable
- stain-resistant
- BPA-free
- phthalate-free
- 1mm thickness
- custom-made
- positive pressure vacuum forming
- HSA/FSA eligible
- 60-day guarantee
- includes retainer case
- includes impression putty and trays
- prepaid return shipping label
- orthodontic grade material
Product Insights
ClearRetain's Upper And Lower Retainers Set brings lab-grade, dentist-family materials (BPA-free PETG/polyurethane/polypropylene) into a mail-order retainer, fabricated by a 60-year orthodontic lab and guided by a meticulous at-home impression kit: lower arch first, putty mixed for 25 seconds, held still for 5 minutes, then photo-approved by the lab before you ship the mold, with three full attempts included. The core promise is a snug, comfortable fit — over 98% fit perfectly, and misfits trace back to the impression, not the lab — with better gum-line comfort than orthodontist retainers or Byte, backed by a 60-day remake guarantee and HSA/FSA eligibility. The main tradeoff is the 1mm shell's fragility: it loses 30–60% of its thickness after about 2,000 wear cycles, so night-only wearers often get about a year before cracking; saliva can pool overnight, raising cavity concerns; and the retainer demands strict care — cool-water rinses, soft-brush cleaning, no toothpaste, alcohol mouthwash, or heat, and removal before coffee, tea, red wine, or turmeric. Grinders are steered toward a thicker guard instead. Reorders are easy because ClearRetain stores your impression (File Your Smile), and the standard pair costs $139 on sale — mid-market versus NewSmile's $129 and Retainers Direct's $139.99.
Verified claims
- Impression prep
- Remove brackets, buttons, or cement; fit the largest tray; keep 2–3 mm putty clearance to prevent show-through.
- Impression timing
- Start with the lower arch; mix the putty for 25 seconds, then hold still 5 minutes.
- Photo approval
- ClearRetain requires photo approval of the dried impression before returning it.
- Remake coverage
- Three full attempts are included, and a defective retainer is replaced free within 60 days.
- Break-in
- New retainers feel tight for a couple of days, then settle as teeth realign.
- Misfit handling
- A clear retainer that stays tight must be remade, not adjusted — free within 60 days.
- Durability
- The 1mm shell loses 30–60% of its thickness after about 2,000 wear cycles.
- Comfort vs alternatives
- Switchers from orthodontist retainers and Byte aligners report better gum-line comfort with ClearRetain.
- Impression workflow
- Final fit is set by the at-home impression: lower arch first, photo approval, and 2-3mm of clearance.
- Price context
- Standard pair costs $139 on sale, on par with NewSmile's $129 and under Retainers Direct's $139.99, and is HSA/FSA-eligible.
- Saliva pooling
- Saliva can pool inside the tray overnight, which some wearers flag as a cavity risk.
- Lifespan
- Repeat buyers report a year before cracking with night-only wear.
- Care
- Hot water, toothpaste, and alcohol-based mouthwash can warp or cloud the shell.
- Grind guard
- For grinders, ClearRetain recommends its thicker grind guard over this 1mm tray.
- Oral health caveat
- Night wear can raise cavity risk in susceptible mouths; ClearRetain warns it may aggravate loose dental work.
- Cleaning
- Clean daily with cool water and a soft brush; never toothpaste or alcohol mouthwash.
- Heat sensitivity
- Boiling, hot car, or dishwasher warps the 1mm shell; use cool water only.
- Material
- Same material family as dentist-made retainers (PETG/polyurethane/polypropylene), BPA- and phthalate-free
- Fit
- Over 98% of retainers fit perfectly; misfits trace to the at-home impression, not the lab.
- Price parity
- Standard pair is $139 — between NewSmile's $129 and Retainers Direct's $139.99.
- Build quality
- Trays are pressure-formed at 4–6 bar by a 60-year orthodontic lab for a snug fit.
- Customer experience
- Buyers report better service and comfort than Sporting Smiles and Byte, and ClearRetain approves your impression photo before you ship the mold.
- Warranty
- 60-day guarantee covers remakes or refunds (minus shipping and material costs) and normal-use cracks, but not loss or pet damage.
- Impression process
- Kit includes three complete impression attempts, with a photo-approval step that catches unusable molds before they ship.
- Reorder
- Reorders reuse the stored impression via File Your Smile — no new impressions needed.
- Guarantee
- List $199, sale $139; replacements cost $89 for one arch or $35 as a backup set.
- Wear schedule
- Recommended wear is 22 hours a day for 3–6 months, then nighttime-only.
- Hygiene
- Rinse after removal, air-dry before storage, soak weekly in denture cleaner; never toothpaste, alcohol, or hot water.
- Impression eligibility
- Impression kit requires brackets, buttons, gems, and leftover cement removed; bonded permanent wires are fine.
- Customer service
- Buyers describe the service as night-and-day better than rival Sporting Smiles and recommend the mail-order loop.
- Impression support
- Each kit includes three full impression attempts with a mandatory lab photo-approval before mailing.
- HSA/FSA value
- HSA/FSA-eligible, so pre-tax payment cuts the effective cost 20–35% by tax bracket.
Product record
- Title
- Upper And Lower Retainers Set
- Brand
- ClearRetain
- Price
- $199 USD
- Availability
- In stock
- Rating
- 4.8 stars, 2417 reviews, scale 5
Image Analysis
3 images- 01

Product
Two transparent thermoformed dental retainers (upper and lower) shown resting on and beside a glossy purple round storage case; retainers are clear, tooth-shaped trays with visible tooth impressions and thin rims.
- Upper retainer geometryClear thermoformed tray shaped to an upper dental arch with individual tooth-shaped cavities and a thin continuous rim; tray sits on top of the case with the open side facing down toward the case.
1 region
x 0.43 · y 0.12 · w 0.45 · h 0.34 (high) - Lower retainer geometryClear thermoformed tray shaped to a lower dental arch with distinct occlusal and interproximal tooth detail; draped partly over the foreground and lower-left edge of the case.
1 region
x 0.03 · y 0.48 · w 0.60 · h 0.50 (high) - Transparent material and surfaceBoth trays are transparent glossy plastic with internal reflections and small surface highlights that reveal smooth, slightly curved walls and molded tooth depressions.
- Detached partial tray sectionA short section of a tray (occlusal surface visible) lies at the front-right of the case overlapping the case rim.
1 region
x 0.45 · y 0.64 · w 0.16 · h 0.22 (medium)
Packaging
Glossy circular purple hard plastic storage case with a visible hinge and snap-style closure; case is the main colored object beneath the clear retainers.
- Case shapeRounded, shallow circular case with a slightly domed lid resting closed beneath the upper tray.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.30 · w 0.50 · h 0.40 (high) - Hinge and snap closureA small integrated hinge and snap latch are visible at the front-right edge of the case where the two halves meet.
1 region
x 0.66 · y 0.64 · w 0.22 · h 0.12 (high) - Case finishCase surface is glossy and reflective, showing specular highlights and a smooth plastic finish.
Other
Studio-style product shot on a clean white background with soft shadows; even lighting produces visible reflections on glossy surfaces.
- BackgroundPlain white backdrop with no visible textures or props.
- Lighting and shadowsSoft directional lighting from above-left creates gentle shadows beneath the case and retainers and produces specular highlights on plastic surfaces.
- Shot compositionClose-up angled top-down view centered on the case and retainers; parts of the retainers extend toward the image bottom-left and bottom-center, and the image is cropped close to the product edges.
Colors
transparent (clear)· retainers (both trays)#CBCBCDvivid purple· storage case exteriorPackaging#3D2C9B- Upper retainer geometryClear thermoformed tray shaped to an upper dental arch with individual tooth-shaped cavities and a thin continuous rim; tray sits on top of the case with the open side facing down toward the case.
- 02

Product
Two transparent U-shaped dental retainers (clear thermoformed trays) are shown resting on and beside two round purple plastic cases. The retainers are glossy and show individual tooth-shaped cavities and occlusal surface detail.
- U-shaped traysThree transparent U-shaped dental trays visible; each tray is glossy, thin-walled, and shaped to fit a dental arch with individual tooth-shaped cavities and occlusal surface texture visible.
3 regions
x 0.38 · y 0.25 · w 0.30 · h 0.50 (high); x 0.58 · y 0.02 · w 0.33 · h 0.25 (medium); x 0.02 · y 0.55 · w 0.45 · h 0.35 (medium) - Tray surface detailEach tray shows molded tooth anatomy including individual cusp and groove shapes and a continuous thin rim following the arch shape.
1 region
x 0.38 · y 0.25 · w 0.30 · h 0.50 (high) - Material appearanceTrays appear transparent and colorless with clear glossy reflections and slight specular highlights.
1 region
x 0.38 · y 0.25 · w 0.30 · h 0.50 (high)
Packaging
Two round hinged plastic cases in a saturated purple color are visible; one case is near the top-right and one near the bottom-left. Each case has a shallow dome lid and a visible snap clasp on the front edge.
- Round hinged caseRound plastic case with a domed lid and a matching base; hinge and snap clasp visible on the outer edge of the case.
1 region
x 0.55 · y 0.05 · w 0.40 · h 0.40 (high) - Second casePartial view of a second identical round case at lower-left, showing the same domed lid and snap mechanism.
1 region
x 0.02 · y 0.50 · w 0.50 · h 0.45 (high)
Other
Studio product shot on a uniform white background with soft shadows; three-quarters top-down angle showing cases and trays arranged diagonally across the frame.
- Shot compositionThree-quarters top-down view with objects arranged diagonally from lower-left to upper-right, with parts cropped by the image edges.
- Background and lightingPlain white background with soft diffuse lighting that produces subtle soft shadows beneath the cases and trays and distinct glossy highlights on shiny surfaces.
- Shadows and reflectionsSoft drop shadows are visible under each case and faint reflections/highlights appear on the glossy plastic surfaces.
Colors
clear (transparent)· clear trays#4A3D9Evivid purple· round case exteriorPackaging#3D2B9A- U-shaped traysThree transparent U-shaped dental trays visible; each tray is glossy, thin-walled, and shaped to fit a dental arch with individual tooth-shaped cavities and occlusal surface texture visible.
- 03

Product
Two clear, U-shaped dental retainers held separately between the thumb and forefinger of a smiling person; retainers are translucent with molded tooth impressions visible.
- Retainer shapeEach retainer is a U-shaped, single-piece transparent shell molded with individual tooth impressions following an arch shape.
2 regions
x 0.07 · y 0.43 · w 0.23 · h 0.26 (high); x 0.71 · y 0.43 · w 0.17 · h 0.26 (high) - Material appearanceRetainers appear translucent and glossy with internal molded anatomy and subtle surface reflections; edges are thin and slightly rounded.
2 regions
x 0.07 · y 0.43 · w 0.23 · h 0.26 (high); x 0.71 · y 0.43 · w 0.17 · h 0.26 (high) - Molded tooth detailIndividual tooth indentations and occlusal surface textures are visible across the arch of each retainer, including deeper impressions where molars would be.
2 regions
x 0.07 · y 0.43 · w 0.23 · h 0.26 (high); x 0.71 · y 0.43 · w 0.17 · h 0.26 (high) - Holding methodEach retainer is held near one end between the thumb and forefinger; the left retainer is held by the subject's left hand and the right retainer by the right hand.
2 regions
x 0.06 · y 0.56 · w 0.26 · h 0.33 (high); x 0.69 · y 0.56 · w 0.24 · h 0.33 (high)
Other
Lifestyle shot showing a smiling person holding the retainers against an out-of-focus outdoor background; even daylight lighting with soft shadows and some hair strands over the face.
- Model face and expressionA person is centered in the frame from shoulders up, smiling with teeth visible; the face occupies the upper-central area of the image.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.04 · w 0.63 · h 0.42 (high) - ClothingSubject wears a purple knit top with a visible ribbed cuff on the right wrist.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.62 · w 0.48 · h 0.36 (high) - BackgroundOut-of-focus architectural background with neutral gray tones and a small patch of green lawn visible on the right side.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 1.00 (medium) - Lighting and image qualityEven natural light with soft, diffuse shadows; image is sharp on the subject and retainers with shallow depth of field causing blurred background.
Colors
translucent clear· retainer#DAC3BB- Retainer shapeEach retainer is a U-shaped, single-piece transparent shell molded with individual tooth impressions following an arch shape.
Documents & Data
Reddit Insights
3 threads · r/orthodontics, r/Atlanta, r/smiledirectclubReddit users generally find ClearRetain retainers comfortable, durable, and affordable for nighttime wear, though there are notable complaints about upper-retainer fit and customer service.
Most comments are positive about comfort, durability, and affordability, but one detailed negative review cites upper-retainer fit issues and concerns about refunds and review practices.
Themes
Use Cases
- Nighttime retainers after orthodontic treatment to maintain alignment
- Replacement for lost or damaged retainers
- Alternative to Byte night aligners for post-treatment retention
Watch Out For
Community Q&A
- How long do ClearRetain retainers last?
- Users report at least a year before cracking with the cheaper option, and some have used them for about two years.
- How does the at-home impression process work?
- They send a kit with putty, you email a photo of impressions for approval before mailing them back; the first order takes about three weeks, and you can save your smile for faster reorders.
- Are ClearRetain retainers comfortable?
- Most users say yes, especially the premium option, and some find them more comfortable than original or old-school retainers, but upper fit can be problematic for some.
Compared To
vs Byte aligners
ClearRetain premium retainers were described as more comfortable than Byte night aligners.
vs Sporting Smiles
ClearRetain customer service was called night and day compared to Sporting Smiles, though durability was unknown.
vs Orthodontist-provided retainers
Users found ClearRetain more comfortable on the gum line than original retainers and a cheaper replacement option.
Source Threads
Long-term ClearRetain durability and value from repeat buyer
I have been buying my retainers from clear retain ever since I lost my first set from my ortho, which was about 4-5 years ago. I just got my 4th set from clear retain last week, so I can say from experience that they last at least a year before they start cracking. Considering that I always buy the cheaper ones, I think that’s pretty good. There’s a slightly more expensive option that’s supposed to be ultra clear, but the cheaper ones have been fine for me. I only sleep in them anyway.
u/Jasmineford123r/orthodonticsView thread →
ClearRetain recommendation with at-home impression process
I HIGHLY recommend ClearRetain. They're online. They send you a little kit to do a mold, you mail it back, they send you a retainer. Fucking fantastic.
u/lovebylettersr/AtlantaView thread →
ClearRetain premium vs standard comfort and availability
I've tried both from ClearRetain and like them both, the Premium are a little more comfortable for me personally. However I noticed recently that the standard ones are on Amazon and are even cheaper than the website's
u/megan_hughesr/smiledirectclubView thread →
Provenance
- Merchant Link
- https://clearretain.com/products/upper-and-lower-retainer-set
- Platform
- shopify
- Updated