Orthodontic Appliances for Dentists and OrthodontistsSteph - flora2026-10-01T10:47:14+01:00

Retainers & Orthodontics

Orthodontic appliances built from the records you send

Essix and Hawley retainers, bonded retainers, MARPE, clear aligners and functional appliances.

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Retainers & Orthodontics made by Flora Dental Lab

Everything in this category, one lab

Clinical lab guides for each appliance we make. Click any to see what to send and what you get back.

How to Clean a Retainer→Bonded Fixed Retainers→Hawley Retainer Cost→Hawley Retainers→Essix Retainer With a Tooth→Essix Retainers→

Most retainer and appliance remakes come from a mismatch between what was prescribed and what the lab could build from the records: an Essix taken from a distorted impression, a Hawley with no note on clasp position, a bonded retainer with no clear model of the arch. Flora Dental Lab fabricates the full orthodontic range: Essix and Hawley retainers, bonded fixed retainers, clear-aligner retainers and functional appliances, and this guide sets out how to choose and prescribe them.

Choosing the Right Retainer for the CaseHow much retention the case needsA stable, well-finished case holds with a removable Essix or Hawley; a high-relapse-risk case with rotations, spacing or perio often needs a bonded fixed retainer, sometimes with a removable one at night. Match the appliance to the relapse risk.Removable or fixed, and patient complianceRemovable retainers depend on the patient wearing them; fixed retainers do not but need hygiene and carry a debond risk. For low-compliance patients a bonded retainer protects the result, with a removable back-up.Whether a tooth needs replacingAn Essix or Hawley can carry a prosthetic tooth where a unit is missing or being held. Tell us the tooth, the shade and the space, and we build it into the appliance.

The options compared

Retainers and Appliances at a Glance

The table below summarises when each appliance fits and what it asks of the records.

A quick comparison for prescribing.


Appliance	Best for	Retention	Note
Essix (clear)	Discreet full-arch retention, low relapse risk	Removable, full coverage	Warps with heat; can carry a false tooth
Hawley	Adjustable retention, settling the occlusion	Removable, wire and acrylic	Durable and adjustable; more visible
Bonded fixed	High relapse risk, low compliance	Permanent lingual wire	No compliance needed; hygiene and debond risk
Clear-aligner retainer	Continuing an aligner case	Removable, full coverage	Matches the aligner workflow
Functional appliance	Growth modification cases	As designed	Case-specific; confirm design with the lab

Whichever appliance the case takes, a clean impression or scan and clear notes on tooth position and clasps are what let it fit at the first appointment.

The Flora retainer and appliance guides

The Digital Orthodontic Range

Flora offers a full range of digital TADs cases, where precision and planning are everything for your patients. Each appliance below is made from a scan, so the plan you approve is the appliance you fit.

Digital MARPE

Miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion, made from a digital scan rather than an impression.

Made from digital scans
TADs are placed before the digital scan is taken
A CBCT scan is required
Fully customisable to the case

Lab turnaround: 4 weeks.

Flora Clear Aligners

For mild through to complex crowding, planned with attachments and an IPR guide.

Ideal for mild or complex crowding cases
Used with attachments and an IPR guide
Suits Social 6 smile cases
Suits ABC cases: align, bleach and composite
Also ideal for post-orthodontic minor corrections

Lab turnaround: 10 working days from approval of the treatment proposal.

Digital Debond Solutions

Attachments and fixed appliances are debonded in the lab, on a scan you take before the final debond appointment.

Fixed appliance and aligner attachments debonded in the lab
One single scan produces the digital debond, the fixed retainer with a jig, and a removable appliance
Saves the clinician up to 6 hours of chair time
Full digital workflow

Lab turnaround: 5 full working days in the lab. Delivery is next day by 1pm.

Twin Block Appliances

Functional appliance work for growing patients, fabricated to your prescription.

Made from a scan or from models
Specify the bite registration and the activation in your Rx notes

Lab turnaround: [[To be confirmed with the lab]]

Flora Premium Retainers. A semi-rigid material ideal for adult arches: it allows sufficient retention while staying easier to insert and remove, and it lasts longer. An extra thick material is available for mild bruxism cases, and a flexible C-type material where less retention is required. Tell us which you want in the Rx notes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you should know

Do you accept digital scans for retainers?+

Yes, STL from 3Shape, Medit, iTero and Dexis, or a well-taken impression. A clean full-arch capture is what matters.

Essix or Hawley?+

Essix for discreet, low-relapse retention; Hawley where you want durability, adjustability or to settle the occlusion. Bonded is the answer for high relapse risk.

Can you add a false tooth to a retainer?+

Yes, an Essix or Hawley can carry a prosthetic tooth. Send the tooth position, the shade and the space available.

What is your turnaround on retainers?+

Retainers are our fastest line: a quick, confirmed turnaround delivered by tracked courier or post to practices across England. We confirm on receipt.

How should patients care for a retainer?+

Cold water only, brush gently, never boiling water or a dishwasher, and store in a ventilated case. We include care guidance and cover it in our retainer-care guide.

Submit a Case to Flora Dental Lab

Clear prescriptions and complete records are the foundation for restorations that seat first time. Send us your first case and see the difference.

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