Replacement Retainers: Records and Options

How do I get a replacement retainer through registered care?

A replacement retainer starts with an assessment by a dentist or

orthodontist registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand. The

practitioner examines the teeth, checks what records exist, and arranges

new records — typically impressions or a scan — before a retainer is made

and fitted.

What can this page establish, and what can't it?

This page explains what the process typically involves. It cannot tell you

whether you need a retainer, or which type, because that depends on an

examination.

What helps the process

• Any records from your previous treatment, including scans or plans.
• A clear account of what you were told about retention.
• The current state of your teeth, which only an in-person assessment can

establish.

What to ask

• What records are needed, and how will they be taken?
• What retainer is proposed, and what does it involve?
• What follow-up is included after fitting?

Source: Dental Council of New Zealand

(https://dcnz.org.nz/)

Sources checked: 2026-08-11

_The Aligner Guide editorial team. Editorially checked against cited

sources; not clinically reviewed._

This page provides general information, not diagnosis or treatment

advice. For advice about your circumstances, consult an oral-health

practitioner registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand.