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Calcimator

Retention Protocol Calculator

Determine retainer type, wear schedule, and replacement interval based on relapse risk factors and time since treatment.

Inputs

mo
years

Results

Relapse Risk Score

45

Daily Wear Hours22
Essix Replacement Interval (months)6
Annual Essix Cost ($)$300.00
Annual Fixed Retainer Cost ($)$75.00
Next Replacement (months)6
Months Since Debond0
Upper RetainerEssix clear retainer
Lower RetainerFixed bonded wire (3-3)
Wear PhaseFull-time (remove only to eat/brush)
Annual Hawley Cost$117.00
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter treatment type completed (full fixed, limited, aligner), patient age, and growth status.
  2. Enter any high-risk relapse factors: spacing, rotations, periodontal history.
  3. Read the recommended retention protocol: retainer type, wear schedule, and monitoring interval.
  4. Review evidence-based retention duration — most patients require indefinite nighttime retainer wear.
  5. Document the retention protocol in the treatment record and review with the patient at debond.

How the result changes with Patient Age

Patient AgeRelapse Risk Score
1450
3035
4835
6435

What each input means

Months Since Debond
Months since braces were removed or aligner treatment ended.
Original Crowding Severity
0=Mild (<4mm), 1=Moderate (4-8mm), 2=Severe (>8mm).
Patient Age
Current patient age in years.
Treatment Type
0=Fixed braces, 1=Clear aligners.
Extraction Case
0=No extractions, 1=Teeth were extracted during treatment.
Rotations Corrected
0=No significant rotations, 1=Rotations were corrected.
Diastema Closed
0=No diastema, 1=Midline or other diastema was closed.

What each result means

Relapse Risk Score
Risk of orthodontic relapse (0-100). Higher = more risk.
Daily Wear Hours
Recommended hours per day to wear removable retainer.
Essix Replacement Interval (months)
How often to replace clear Essix retainers.
Annual Essix Cost ($)
Estimated annual cost for Essix retainer replacements.
Annual Fixed Retainer Cost ($)
Estimated annual maintenance cost for bonded retainer.
Next Replacement (months)
Months until next retainer replacement is due.
Months Since Debond
Current time since orthodontic appliances were removed.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Months Since Debond = 0, Original Crowding Severity = 1, Patient Age = 16, Treatment Type = 0 = 7 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Relapse Risk Score
    Relapse Risk Score
    45 = 45
  3. Calculate Daily Wear Hours
    22 = 22
  4. Calculate Essix Replacement Interval
    Essix Replacement Interval
    6 = 6

Engine last updated . Checked against 4 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.

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