Teeth are prone to shifting, and retainers are the best way to keep them in place. Purchasing retainers used to involve in-office appointments and high prices, but thankfully, companies like Dental Lab Direct let you purchase retainers online without the hassle.
With superior convenience and affordable pricing, it’s no wonder online retainer retailers are soaring in popularity. But is Dental Lab Direct the right match for you? In this guide, we’ll cover all the must-know details, so you can determine if they’re the best option for your needs and priorities.
Table of Contents
Dental Lab Direct at a Glance
Perhaps their name gave it away, but Dental Lab Direct got their start as a commercial dental laboratory. For 25 years, they sold their dental appliances to dentists and orthodontists, who would set their own prices when selling to consumers. In 2020, Dental Lab Direct shifted from selling to dental practices to selling directly to consumers.
So far, Dental Lab Direct’s versatility stands out among their peers. They sell more retainer options than their competitors, including both clear plastic retainers, as well as the more durable Hawley model.
How Does Dental Lab Direct Work?
Before Dental Lab Direct can make your customized retainer, they need to evaluate your teeth, which means you need to purchase an at-home impression kit.
Once you place your retainer order, Dental Lab Direct will mail your impression kit within one business day. It comes with everything you need to take a great impression: step-by-step instructions, putty, two different sized trays, and a soft wax bite. They even include extra putty in case your first try isn’t perfect.
To get a well-fitting retainer, you need to make an accurate impression. These impressions are the only reference Dental Lab Direct will have of your teeth, so if they’re not perfect, your appliance probably won’t be either.
Dental Lab Direct works hard to make the impression process as simple as possible. Besides their detailed instructions, they also offer an instructional video that helps walk you through the process.
Once the company receives your impressions, they can begin crafting your customized retainers, which takes 2–4 weeks.
Pros and Cons of Dental Lab Direct
Dental Lab Direct is among our top-rated online retainer providers, but that doesn’t mean they’re the right fit for everyone. Here, we’ll outline some of Dental Lab Direct’s main advantages and disadvantages.
Dental Lab Direct Advantages
- If you’re not sure which retainer model is best for you, Dental Lab Direct has dental technicians available to discuss your options.
- Dental Lab Direct is the only company we reviewed that offers Hawley retainers in addition to clear plastic ones.
- They offer flexible financing that helps you break your total into more manageable installments.
- Their customer support team comprises dental technicians who are deeply knowledgeable about the products.
- If your retainer has any fit or function issues, Dental Lab Direct will adjust, remake, or refund your product thanks to their 60-day warranty.
Dental Lab Direct Drawbacks
- Dental Lab Direct’s retainers cost more than many of their competitors.
- They don’t have very many third-party reviews, and most of the ones we could find are for their other dental appliances, not retainers.
- They don’t currently have an easy way to reorder their products. Some competitors store your information or offer steep discounts for repeat customers, but Dental Lab Direct requires new impressions for every new retainer you order.
Who Should Wear Retainers?
Often we hear people incorrectly using “aligner” and “retainer” interchangeably. We understand the confusion, as these dental appliances look very similar. However, they have drastically different uses.
Clear aligners are an orthodontic treatment, like braces. They apply focused pressure, which gradually moves your teeth into alignment. Retainers, on the other hand, keep teeth in their current positions.
You’ll need to wear an overnight retainer indefinitely after orthodontic treatment. That’s a long time, and many people get lax with their retainer use. If you notice your teeth shifting out of alignment, a retainer can stop further movement.
Selection
Dental Lab Direct offers more product variety than any other retainer provider we cover. As we mentioned earlier, they offer both Hawley and clear plastic retainers.
Dental Lab Direct’s clear plastic retainers are thin (1.5 millimeters), but durable. The lifespan of a plastic retainer varies a lot from person to person. Some people grind their teeth or clench their jaws — often without knowing it. However, with proper care, Dental Lab Direct retainers should last at least one year.
Hawley retainers are made of wire and acrylic. The wire rests across the front of your teeth and wraps around select rear teeth to meet an acrylic plate resting on the roof of your mouth or lower arch. Hawley retainers are more visible than clear plastic options, but they’re also more durable — lasting 5–10 years.
Dental Lab Direct sells a wide variety of other products as well. From dentures, to whitening treatments, to an anti-snoring device, Dental Lab Direct offers pretty much any oral product you can think of.
Affordability
By removing office visits, online retainer providers are able to deliver products at a fraction of the cost of traditional in-office options. But even though Dental Lab Direct is more affordable than retainers you’d get from the orthodontist, they’re more expensive than some of their remote competitors.
Sticker Price
For clear plastic retainers, Dental Lab Direct charges $129 for one arch or $229 for both. For Hawley retainers, you’ll pay $249 for a single arch, and $478 for both. Hawley retainers are more expensive, but they last longer than plastic retainers.
Financing
It’s typically more affordable to purchase retainers from Dental Lab Direct than through traditional in-office options, but that doesn’t mean these products are cheap. Thankfully, Dental Lab Direct partners with Splitit to offer interest-free payments that don’t require a credit check. With Splitit, anyone can break up their retainer payments into reasonable installments, making the ongoing commitment of retainer wear less daunting.
Convenience
Since Dental Lab Direct doesn’t involve any in-person appointments, remote retainer providers are already pretty convenient. That said, some companies offer more streamlined service than others, and Dental Lab Direct isn’t quite as convenient as some other remote providers.
Production Time
Remote retainer companies require three different legs of shipping. First, the company ships your impression kit, then you send it back, then they produce and mail your retainers.
Once Dental Lab Direct determines they can work with your completed impressions, they’ll craft your personalized retainers. Dental Lab Direct’s website doesn’t make any specific claims about their production times, but when we reached out, they told us that plastic retainers can ship out in as little as two weeks, and Hawley retainers often ship within 3–4 weeks.
Dental Lab Direct doesn’t offer any expedited production options, but you can pay to upgrade your shipping. The added cost varies depending on your location.
Reordering Process
When it comes to reordering your retainers, Dental Lab Direct comes up a little short. Some competitors offer memberships that keep your information on file, eliminating the need for future impression kits. Unfortunately, Dental Lab Direct doesn’t have a comparable program. They hold onto your impressions for 60 days, so you could reorder within that time frame, but most people won’t be ready for another retainer just yet.
Since they won’t have your information on file after 60 days, every time you need a replacement retainer, you’ll need to complete another impression kit. Hawley retainers last 5–10 years, so it may not feel like a big deal to complete an impression kit for each reorder. Plastic retainers last closer to one year, so you’ll need to make impressions more frequently.
Unlike most of their online competitors, Dental Lab Direct does not offer discounts on reorders.
Appearance
Dental Lab Direct claims their retainers are crystal clear, which are reflective and can actually be more noticeable than the slightly frosted plastics some competitors use. Since your teeth are porous, they appear matte, which makes frosted retainers the more natural-looking option. That said, appearance is subjective — plenty of people like the gleam that shiny aligners give your smile.
Unlike plastic retainers, Hawley retainers are fairly noticeable. Dental Lab Direct lets you choose the color of your acrylic plate. You can choose between blue, red, clear, or pink.
At first, you’ll need to keep your retainers on all day, but eventually, you can just wear them overnight. Since you’re likely to only wear these appliances in the comfort of your own home, you might not care about their visibility.
Customer Experience
Most of us are used to looking for a good deal on a quality product, but when choosing a retainer provider, it’s also important to evaluate the way each company treats their customers. While they can’t match the personal touch of an orthodontist’s in-person care, Dental Lab Direct provides solid support and guarantees.
60-Day Return Policy
If you have any issues with the fit or function of your retainers, you’ll be eligible for an adjustment, remake, or refund. This 60-day period starts when your products arrive, so you’ll have more than enough time to determine how well they fit.
Any return policy on a custom-made product is generous, but Dental Lab Direct’s policy is slightly less robust than some of their competitors. For example, if your product doesn’t fit and you’re still within the 60-day return window, opting for a refund over a remake or adjustment means you’ll still need to pay 40% of your total, as well as the cost of the impression kit ($59). If you choose a retainer remake, you are no longer eligible for a refund.
Recouping some money is better than none, but most people would prefer getting their full payment back.
Customer Education
Dental Lab Direct’s blog covers a wide range of topics. You can learn about the importance of retainers, how to clean them, and teeth whitening tips. The company also has a YouTube channel that features step-by-step impression kit instructions and other helpful content.
However, Dental Lab Direct’s FAQ section has some room for improvement. It only includes a few, fairly broad questions. While it’s helpful to get a general sense of the process, it would be nice to have information that’s specific to each dental appliance.
Customer Support
Dental Lab Direct offers excellent customer support. We’ve gotten especially quick and thorough responses over the phone, but you can also reach out via email. Customers leave glowing reviews about the customer support they receive.
Unlike many other remote retainer providers, Dental Lab Direct always has dental technicians available to answer your questions. When you’re trying to decide which retainer option is best for you, speaking to someone who has hands-on experience can make a world of difference.
What Are Dental Lab Direct Customers Saying?
Compared to their competitors, Dental Lab Direct has very few third-party reviews. They have a few dozen through their Etsy page, but many are reviewing their other products, not retainers. That said, we read through all available reviews and noticed some trends.
Top Praises
- Customers consistently praise Dental Lab Direct’s customer support team. Even critical reviews mention their efficiency and helpfulness.
- Comparable quality to products purchased through a dentist.
- Simple, streamlined ordering process.
Main Complaints
- Some customers are frustrated when they have to repeat the impression kit process.
- Some customers experienced initial fit issues. Thankfully, under their 60-day warranty, Dental Lab Direct will adjust your retainers if they don’t fit.
We understand it’s frustrating to repeat the impression process, but getting an accurate impression is crucial to making an accurate appliance. Fortunately, Dental Lab Direct will send you another impression if you need to try again. The first backup impression kit is free, but you’ll need to pay for any additional ones.
What’s clear from Dental Lab Direct’s reviews is that their customer support is excellent. It’s encouraging to see praise for their support team even in critical reviews. After all, you want a provider that will be there for you no matter what, not just when everything is going well.
Alternatives
Dental Lab Direct is an experienced retainer provider, but they aren’t the only great option. Here’s how they stack up against their top competition.
Dental Lab Direct vs. Retainers Direct
Retainers Direct is an industry newcomer, but they’ve quickly made a name for themselves thanks to their affordable pricing, excellent customer support, and convenient membership program. Despite their 2020 start, Retainers Direct already has more third-party reviews than many of their competitors, including Dental Lab Direct.
Dental Lab Direct vs. Sporting Smiles
Sporting Smiles has sold over one million products since their 2009 start, and they show no signs of slowing down. They have affordable pricing and even lower prices on reorders. Though they don’t offer Hawley retainers like Dental Lab Direct, they do offer two different models of plastic retainer with varying durability. So even if you clench your jaw or grind your teeth, Sporting Smiles still has a product that can work for you.
Dental Lab Direct vs. ClearRetain
Dental Lab Direct offers flexibility with its products, but ClearRetain offers flexibility at every step of the process. For a small fee you can opt to “File Your Smile,” and ClearRetain will store your impression information indefinitely, so you won’t have to complete an impression kit every time you need a new retainer. This ensures quick replacements, which is a major plus for a product you’ll wear indefinitely.
Final Thoughts
Dental Lab Direct is a high quality online retainer provider that’s proven their quality and versatility over their 25+ year manufacturing career. Though their pivot to direct-to-consumer sales is new, we feel confident that Dental Lab Direct is among the top online retainer providers out there.
Choosing a retainer provider comes down to your individual priorities. Since retainers will be an ongoing part of your routine, it’s important to select a company that works well within your lifestyle and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my retainer affect the way I speak?
There’s usually a small adjustment period when you first start wearing any dental appliance, and retainers are no exception. Particularly Hawley retainers, since the plate extends further back than a plastic retainer. That said, the more you speak while wearing your retainers, the quicker your speech will adjust.
Can I eat while wearing my retainer?
You should remove your retainers whenever you consume anything other than water. Chewing can put too much stress on retainers, potentially wearing them out prematurely. Plus, pigmented foods and drinks can stain them.
Does Dental Lab Direct offer financing?
Yes! They offer financing through a third party called Splitit. This option doesn’t require a credit check, and it doesn’t incur interest or fees.
If I had Invisalign treatment, do I need to purchase their Vivera brand retainers?
You can purchase retainers from whichever company best fits your needs. If that’s Invisalign’s Vivera retainers, then great! If not, you can choose another company that works well for you.
How can I extend the lifespan of my retainer?
Taking great care of your retainer will help it last as long as possible. Any time you aren’t wearing it, keep it in a protective case. Any time you remove it to eat or anything else, clean it with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a gentle cleaning solution (not toothpaste). For detailed cleaning tips, check out Dental Lab Direct’s blog post about cleaning their appliances.
Are Hawley or plastic retainers better?
“Better” depends on your particular aftercare goals. If you’d like a more discreet retainer option, clear plastic retainers may be a good fit. If your main focus is durability, then go with a Hawley retainer.
What if my custom retainer doesn’t fit?
If your retainer doesn’t fit, you can have the appliance adjusted or remade at no cost under Dental Lab Direct’s 60-day warranty.
How should I store my retainer?
When your provider sends you your retainers, they’ll include a hard protective case. Whenever you aren’t wearing or cleaning your retainers, keep them in that case.
Does Dental Lab offer expedited shipping?
Yes. At checkout, you’ll see your options depending on your location.
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