300£ for replacement orthodontic retainer !!!

[littlepurplerose]

I am outraged!!!

Already paid over 3k for whole treatment.

Lost retainers trays whilst on hols for first time since starting treatment 2 years ago.

When I messaged to order new one, they've charged me 300£!!!!

I mean I get they can't be replacing for free all the time but I feel like 300 is a piss take. I had to pay it because otherwise my teeth will move back :(

All companies the same? Or have I been totally ripped off here?

I was told for replacement £600 fortunately have kept mine in ok condition but that’s the latest price

How many times do you expect them to replace them for free then? If you bought a pair of shoes and lost them, would expect the shoe shop to replace them for free as well? If they'd broken then I'd agree with you, but it's not their fault you lost them and they are a business, they can't just keep replacing things for free.

£300 is about right if it is upper and lower retainers.

I don't understand the outrage, sorry. If you lost any other item you wouldn't get another one given to you for free. You'd pay the price again. As pp said, it wasn't faulty, why should they be out of pocket. Be cross that it got lost, but it's not on them.

Sorry they have to make them, pay staff, materials etc.

The money you paid was for your initial original treatment, dentist, materials etc it’s not a free for all just because it’s expensive.

That's how much they cost.

They warned me and I got two made at the same time.

My DD has an upper retainer - had it replaced recently and it cost £120 (north west UK)

They charge the going rate but of course there’s a mark up. I used to work in a dental practice and saw the process first hand.
There are cheaper alternatives available that you can buy whereby they send you the impression kit in the post and then use that to make your retainer..

I have long needed to wear a nightguard as I grind my teeth. My first one was free on the NHS (I can’t remember why I qualified at the time).
It comes under band 3 which is well over £300 and more than I can afford.
I now need to wear the harder ones which are also classed as retainers. The last one took about a fortnight with the back and forth in the post but it only cost me £35.

Outraged is a bit of an overreaction. This is what they cost and you’d be amazed at how little profit the dentist is making on that. Orthodontics is very specialised and no part of providing the service is cheap. Try not to lose them again.

Does your travel insurance cover lost belongings maybe?

That's gone up a lot. Used to be £60 per retainer (ten years ago)

It is worth checking other local orthodontists - when DD needed hers replacing her orthodontist has shut down so we had to find an alternative. We found that the prices varied hugely, as did the waiting time, but managed to find a lovely new practice who charged a lot less than most.

Ask another orthodontist- DD's were £50 a couple of years ago, I think she was recently quoted £120, so prices have gone up, but they are cheaper if you ask around.

We were told a replacement would be £160 if DD needed one.

We paid £80.

My son also lost his retainers on holiday. £240 for the replacement.

Fair enough, do you think they should be free?

If you lost a coat and then went to the shop to buy a replacement coat, would you also be outraged when they expected you to pay the price of the coat?

I don’t understand what you’re outraged about. If you think £300 is too expensive, shop around and get them from elsewhere 🤷🏻‍♀️

Could you link to where you got your night guard from? I have kept my moulds from when I had whitening trays made.

I was always told I would need new ones every couple years and it would be £300 when I do.

Sounds about right, ds had to have a follow up replacement and was around that price.

Quoted £500 for DD’s replacements if she loses them, that’s after paying £3,500 to get her teeth straightened, I’ve told her she’ll be contributing if she does lose them, hoping she’ll look after them.

I can’t believe you’re annoyed about this!

You lost them! Who else should pay for the replacements if not you?

My son has got £4’000 worth of orthodontic braces in his mouth and I would of course pay the expenses if he lost or damaged them.

We were told it would be £200-£300 for any replacements so it sounds like your quote is pretty fair.

You lost them so you pay for the replacements. It’s pretty obvious and straightforward.

I got an upper one for £100 recently. Same price at the other two orthodontists I looked at in town. Midlands.

I got them through a company that sells on eBay.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?item=314096160242&rt=nc&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l170197&_ssn=retainer.hut
I had a couple of questions and they were very helpful.

That's the price. If it's a straightforward Esseix retainer you might be able to shop around to get it cheaper. If it Vivera you won't. The labs set the prices generally and they aren't cheap.
I'd claim on your travel insurance