Clear Retain
Upper Teeth Retainer
The Upper Teeth Retainer is a custom-fabricated, ultra-clear thermoplastic retainer for the upper dental arch, formed with positive-pressure vacuum technology from a self-taken impression; it measures 1mm thick and is BPA- and phthalate-free. It is used to hold upper teeth in place and prevent shifting after orthodontic treatment or clear-aligner therapy and may also serve as nighttime clenching and grinding protection, but it is not intended to straighten teeth, close gaps, or substitute for aligners. Each order includes two sets of impression putty, small/medium/large impression trays, a return shipping box with prepaid label, a customer information sheet, and a retainer case; the product is HSA/FSA eligible with a 60-day remake-or-refund guarantee, holds a 4.8/5 rating across 2,091 reviews, retainers are reported to last about a year before cracking, and reorders can be placed using a previously filed File Your Smile order number.
- Color
- Clear
- Category
- Health & Beauty > Health Care
- GTIN
850017166004- MPN
UPPER-RETAINER
Specifications
Custom clear upper teeth retainer made from ultra-clear, durable, stain-resistant, BPA-free material. Includes impression kit for at-home fitting and retainer case. Designed to hold teeth in place and prevent shifting.
Ultra-clear and nearly invisible; durable and stain-resistant; BPA-free and phthalate-free; 1mm thickness; made using positive pressure vacuum forming; includes 2 sets of impression putty, 3 tray sizes, return box with prepaid label, instructions, and retainer case; 60-day guarantee; HSA/FSA eligible.
- Color
- Clear
- Material
- Orthodontic-grade thermoplastic (BPA-free, phthalate-free)
- Gender
- unisex
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Weight
- 4.5 oz
- Category
- Health & Beauty > Health Care
Additional Attributes
- ultra-clear
- durable
- stain-resistant
- BPA-free
- phthalate-free
- HSA/FSA eligible
- 1mm thickness
- custom-made
- positive pressure vacuum forming
- orthodontic grade materials
- 60-day guarantee
- hassle-free returns
- includes impression kit
- state-of-the-art computerized equipment
- free replacement within 60 days
Product Insights
Clear Retain's Upper Teeth Retainer is a BPA- and phthalate-free Invisacryl Ultra shell that holds teeth in place rather than straightening them, built around a mail-in impression protocol that pre-approves a 45° photo and claims over 98% first-try fit, with a free 60-day remake for failed or cracked retainers and 3-business-day replacements from stored impressions. The core promise is a durable 1.0mm tray — 24% thicker than the 0.76mm premium and less fracture-prone — that cushions grinders for about a year, yet it demands meticulous care: hot water, dishwasher, toothpaste, and alcohol mouthwash can warp or damage the plastic, a loose fit cannot be adjusted at home, and new wearers may experience a slight lisp for a few days. The main tradeoff is that it works only for retention, not correction, and while HSA/FSA dollars and a $89 per-arch replacement price lower the cost, refunds still exclude shipping and material, and home impressions can worsen loose fillings, crowns, veneers, or bridges unless those are addressed beforehand.
Verified claims
- Impression protocol
- Lab pre-approves a 45° photo before mailing; protocol: 25s mix, 5-min hold, largest tray, putty 5mm past last tooth.
- Fit
- Over 98% of retainers fit on the first try; failed impressions get a free remake within 60 days.
- Eligibility
- Loose fillings, crowns, veneers or bridges can be worsened; brackets, gems and cement must be removed before the impression.
- Remake policy
- Free 60-day remake, but a refund still excludes shipping and material costs.
- Thickness
- At 1.0mm the standard shell is 24% thicker than the 0.76mm premium, with a lower fracture rate in a 12-month trial.
- Material
- It is BPA- and phthalate-free Invisacryl Ultra, distinct from rivals' Essix Plus and Zendura
- Retention scope
- Holds teeth in place; won't close gaps or straighten like an aligner
- Comfort
- Some wearers have a slight lisp for the first few days before the tongue adapts.
- Maintenance
- Hot water warps a 1mm tray; a loose fit can't be adjusted at home.
- Adaptation period
- A new retainer feels tight and can cause a slight lisp that resolves within the first few days.
- HSA/FSA savings
- HSA/FSA eligible; 22% tax bracket saves about $20 at the $89 sale price.
- HSA/FSA use
- HSA reimbursements have no deadline; FSA funds are use-it-or-lose-it.
- Daily cleaning
- Rinse with cool water, brush with mild soap, air-dry before storing.
- Care warnings
- Hot water, toothpaste, and alcohol mouthwash all damage the plastic shell.
- Deep cleaning
- A weekly tablet soak plus peroxide or vinegar removes stains and clouding.
- Heat sensitivity
- Hot water, dishwasher, or a hot car can irreversibly warp the 1mm tray.
- Durability
- Grinders report about a year of use before cracking; the 1mm tray fractures less than 0.75mm trays.
- Replacement speed
- Broken or lost retainers are remade in 3 business days from File Your Smile's stored impressions
- Manufacturing
- Pressure-formed retainers fit 98% of home impressions on the first try.
- Service
- Reddit users describe the mail-in process as fantastic; one has reordered retainers for 4–5 years.
- Warranty
- Cracked retainers are remade free within 60 days; paying to store the impression enables ~3-day replacements.
- Impression support
- The kit includes two putty sets and photo pre-approval; 98% of retainers fit on first try.
- Payment flexibility
- HSA/FSA dollars cover the retainer and replacement retainers; self-reimbursement has no IRS deadline.
- Replacement scenarios
- Buyers reorder after a lost or broken retainer, after aligner treatment, or for night grinding.
- Replacement cost
- Each arch is $89, so one-arch replacement avoids paying for the other tray.
Product record
- Title
- Upper Teeth Retainer
- Brand
- Clear Retain
- Price
- $149 USD
- Availability
- In stock
- Rating
- 4.8 stars, 2080 reviews, scale 5
Buying Guide
1 comparison · 7 sourcesUses
Make a clear upper retainer from a home tooth impression
Use ClearRetain to replace a single upper retainer by taking an impression of your teeth at home, at your convenience: the kit ships with impression putty, three tray sizes, a prepaid return label, and a printed guide with video walkthrough, and ClearRetain makes the retainer from your returned impression. You can get your self-taken impression approved by email before sending it back, since the merchant says an inadequate impression can result in a retainer that doesn't fit. It works even if you have a bonded permanent retainer, though any brackets, gems, or leftover cement must be off the tooth surface first, and one verified customer reports her replacement fit "like a glove" using molds she was allowed to reuse.[1,2,3]
A clear retainer designed to keep teeth from shifting
This custom-made clear upper retainer is designed to hold your teeth in place and prevent them from shifting, whether you're maintaining the results of orthodontic work or replacing a lost or broken retainer. The merchant notes it isn't meant to straighten teeth or close gaps the way aligners do, and recommends seeing an orthodontist or dentist first if your teeth have already shifted. A new one can feel tight at first — the merchant says teeth realign to its shape within a couple of days — and customers report a comfortable fit that forms to their natural teeth.[1]
Product comparison
Compared within this brand.
| Upper Teeth Retainer: Choose this if you need an upper-arch retainer that holds teeth in place — the merchant describes it as ultra-clear, 1mm thick, stain-resistant, and BPA- and phthalate-free, custom-made from your at-home impression. The kit includes 2 sets of impression putty and 3 tray sizes, though the merchant notes some customers need extra putty after a first-attempt mishap and strongly recommends adding more. It isn't designed to close gaps or straighten teeth, and the merchant warns that grinding or clenching at night can considerably shorten its lifespan, suggesting a thicker grind guard retainer that takes more clenching and grinding.[1,4,5] | Lower Teeth Retainer: Choose this if you need a lower-arch retainer to hold your teeth in place and can take your own impression — the kit includes 2 sets of putty, three tray sizes (small, medium, large), a prepaid return label, and a retainer case. ClearRetain describes the retainer as ultra-clear, stain-resistant, 1mm thick, and BPA- and phthalate-free, and a Reddit commenter who used both found the lower retainer easier than the brand's upper one. It's meant to prevent shifting rather than close gaps or straighten teeth, and ClearRetain warns that night grinding or clenching can considerably shorten its lifespan, suggesting its thicker grind guard retainer in that case.[5,6,7] |
Image Analysis
2 images- 01
Product
A transparent clear dental upper retainer is shown resting on top of a blue plastic storage case. The retainer is a single-piece thermoformed clear tray that replicates tooth shapes and occlusal anatomy.
- Overall shapeSingle U-shaped clear dental tray matching an upper arch with individual tooth-shaped sockets visible along the inner curve.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.12 · w 0.60 · h 0.45 (high) - Material and finishThin translucent glossy plastic with smooth continuous walls and slight specular highlights showing a glossy, reflective finish.
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.15 · w 0.56 · h 0.38 (high) - Tooth detailIndividual tooth reliefs are visible as discrete rounded bulges along the tray's outer edge and flatter inner surfaces corresponding to occlusal surfaces.
1 region
x 0.24 · y 0.20 · w 0.50 · h 0.25 (high) - Edge profileThin trimmed edge follows the U-curve with slight inward bevel toward the gingival area; edges are continuous without visible clips or metal components.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.12 · w 0.60 · h 0.45 (medium) - Occlusion viewImage shows the occlusal and outer surfaces of the upper tray from a slightly elevated front-right oblique angle, exposing inner tooth sockets toward the viewer.
Packaging
A hard plastic blue clamshell storage case is visible beneath the retainer and serves as visible packaging in the image.
- Case form factorRounded rectangular clamshell case with a domed top surface and molded hinge and snap closure at the front edge.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.33 · w 0.76 · h 0.52 (high) - Closure detailFront-facing snap closure visible as a small molded tab and corresponding recess near the case front rim.
1 region
x 0.62 · y 0.68 · w 0.32 · h 0.18 (high) - Surface textureSmooth glossy molded plastic finish with subtle molded seam lines around the case perimeter.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.33 · w 0.76 · h 0.52 (medium)
Other
Studio-style product shot on a white background with soft shadows and even overhead lighting. The composition is tightly cropped around the case and retainer and shows a slight top-right perspective.
- Background and lightingUniform white background with diffuse even lighting and soft shadow beneath the case indicating a light source from above.
- ShadowSoft diffuse shadow directly under and slightly below the case toward the lower-left of the frame.
1 region
x 0.10 · y 0.68 · w 0.60 · h 0.25 (medium) - Image crop and angleProduct is centered and slightly rotated so the right side is closer to the camera, producing a right-front oblique view.
Colors
transparent clear· retainer#5AD5F6bright cyan blue· case exteriorPackaging#00ADE3- Overall shapeSingle U-shaped clear dental tray matching an upper arch with individual tooth-shaped sockets visible along the inner curve.
- 02
Product
Two transparent U-shaped dental retainers shown resting on top of two blue oval clamshell cases; retainers are clear, glossy, and show individual tooth impressions along their inner curve.
- Retainer shapeU-shaped clear aligner/retainer with a continuous thin shell following the tooth row; occlusal surface shows distinct individual tooth impression outlines.
2 regions
x 0.57 · y 0.03 · w 0.36 · h 0.28 (high); x 0.04 · y 0.56 · w 0.36 · h 0.28 (high) - Retainer material and finishTransparent glossy plastic material with specular highlights and visible internal contouring where it conforms to individual teeth.
2 regions
x 0.57 · y 0.03 · w 0.36 · h 0.28 (high); x 0.04 · y 0.56 · w 0.36 · h 0.28 (high) - OrientationBoth retainers are shown from an oblique top/front angle resting open-side up on the case lids so the tooth-impression side faces the viewer.
Packaging
Two bright blue rounded oval clamshell cases with a hinged front latch are visible; each retainer rests on a case lid.
- Case geometryRounded oval plastic clamshell case with a slightly domed lid and a visible seam where lid meets base.
2 regions
x 0.53 · y 0.09 · w 0.40 · h 0.36 (high); x 0.00 · y 0.52 · w 0.42 · h 0.38 (high) - Front latch detailSmall molded front latch/hinge detail on the case rim with a circular hole and mating tab visible on at least one case.
2 regions
x 0.69 · y 0.39 · w 0.15 · h 0.10 (medium); x 0.16 · y 0.85 · w 0.18 · h 0.12 (medium)
Other
Studio-style product shot on a near-white background with soft shadows; two identical product-and-case groups placed diagonally opposite each other in the frame.
- Background and lightingUniform near-white background with diffused lighting producing soft shadows beneath each case.
- Shot compositionTwo repeated product arrangements placed diagonally (one near top-right, one near bottom-left) occupying the right and lower left areas of the image; top-left area is mostly empty background.
- Image qualityHigh-resolution, evenly focused image with clear detail and visible specular highlights on transparent surfaces.
Colors
clear / translucent· retainer#5AD5F6bright cyan-blue· case exteriorPackaging#00ADE3- Retainer shapeU-shaped clear aligner/retainer with a continuous thin shell following the tooth row; occlusal surface shows distinct individual tooth impression outlines.
Variants
2 SKUs| SKU | Title | Price | Avail |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPPER-RETAINER | Upper Teeth Retainer - Upper Retainer | $89.00$149.00 | Yes |
| 4765546872 | Upper Teeth Retainer - Add A Backup Retainer For Just $39 (Duplicate Copy. Not for 2 People) | $128.00$298.00 | Yes |
Also Seen Here
2 retailers- high
gosupps.com
ClearRetain- Orthodontic Retainer Upper | Clear Dental Retainer For Preventing Teeth Shifting | 2 Sets of Molding Putty For Custom Mold of Your Teeth | Made in USA (Upper)
ClearRetain
View listing → - high
ubuy.ma
ClearRetain- Orthodontic Retainer Upper | Clear Dental Retainer For Preventing Teeth Shifting | 2 Sets of Molding Putty For Custom Mold of Your Teeth | Made in USA (Upper)
ClearRetain
View listing →
Documents & Data
Customer Reviews
2,091 total2,091 reviews · out of 5
This was a great experience. I would reco...
Reddit Insights
3 threads · r/orthodontics, r/Atlanta, r/smiledirectclubReddit users generally view Clear Retain as an affordable and convenient online retainer option, with positive comments on comfort and customer service, though some caution about DIY impression accuracy and upper-retainer fit.
Most commenters recommend Clear Retain for affordability and convenience, with premium retainers praised for comfort; however, one user specifically reported difficulty with the upper retainer and another noted retainers may crack after about a year, yielding a mixed overall sentiment.
Themes
Use Cases
- Replacement retainers after losing or breaking orthodontist-provided retainers
- Nighttime retention after clear aligner treatment (e.g., Byte, SmileDirectClub)
- Grinding/clenching protection at night
Watch Out For
Community Q&A
- How long do Clear Retain retainers last?
- They generally last at least a year before cracking, according to one long-term user.
- How does the impression process work?
- Clear Retain sends an impression kit; you make molds, email a photo for approval, and mail them back. You can pay to save your smile for easier reorders.
- Are Clear Retain retainers comfortable?
- Most users find them comfortable, especially the premium version; one user said they are more comfortable than Byte aligners.
Compared To
vs Sporting Smiles
Clear Retain's customer service is reported as much better than Sporting Smiles, which had negative reviews and broken retainers.
vs Byte aligners
Clear Retain premium retainers are more comfortable than Byte night aligners.
vs ClearRetain standard retainers
The premium ClearRetain retainer is slightly more comfortable than the standard version.
Source Threads
Long-term Clear Retain user reports durability and customer service
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.
u/Jasmineford123r/orthodonticsView thread →
High recommendation for ClearRetain online retainer service
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 →
Premium Clear Retain retainers are comfortable compared to Byte aligners
I did the premium retainers from Clear Retain. They are way more comfortable than the night Byte aligners.
u/TenderheartedFloofr/smiledirectclubView thread →
Provenance
- Merchant Link
- https://clearretain.com/products/clear-upper-retainer
- Platform
- shopify
- Updated