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How to Order a Retainer & Finish the Case

Dr. Alex Molayem avatar
Written by Dr. Alex Molayem
Updated today

How to Order Retainers Only

Watch this video to see how to order retainers only. This is for a patient for who you have not ordered any aligners through Orthosnap.

Finishing a Case & Ordering Aligners

Considerations Before Finishing a Case

When your patient has finished the active part of treatment, a retainer can be ordered to prevent relapse. There is always a risk of some relapse, so a retention system is required to prevent this, whether a fixed lingual arch, Essex, or Hawley retainer.

If additional work is desired, consult with the patient to continue the treatment and create a continuation order with a new scan (or impressions) and a prescription for the additional work needed. If the result is satisfactory, we recommend discussing a retention system with your patient.

Workflow for Finishing a Case

We recommend performing the following within 45 days of the last step being worn:

Review the final Dental Monitoring scan. Schedule a final clinical evaluation to take photos/records/radiographs.

At the visit, remove all attachments, equilibrate the bite with spot adjustments, enameloplasty the incisal edges to optimize their smile esthetics (if you feel comfortable performing this procedure and have patient consent).

If you are proud of your results, send us the records!

Do a thorough exam and perform all restorative and elective procedures before ordering the retainer.

Scan the teeth for retainers (or take new impressions). The patient can wear their final aligner while waiting for the retainers to come in.

The patient should wear the retainer on the same 22-hour schedule as usual for the first 6 to 8 weeks and then change to a “night-only” schedule.

Patients can wear each retainer for 6 to 12 months before switching. Keep patient records on file for additional ordering.

This is a great time to offer a whitening system or address any white spot lesions.


❓3 ways on How to order Retainers in the Orthosnap Portal

Need to order retainers? Here are three simple ways to do it.

  • To order retainers, start by logging into your Doctor Portal. Once logged in, you'll be taken to your dashboard.

  • In the Orthosnap Portal, start by locating the patient’s profile. Once there, look for the Action labeled “Order Next Aligners.”

  • Or on your Dashboard, click the “Create Order” button.

From there, you’ll be prompted to choose the type of order you’d like to place—whether it’s a New Patient Order, a Continuation Order, or a new patient who only wants retainers.


🆕 New Patient Order

Note: Currently, the 4-set retainer package is only available when you select New Patient and then choose the package directly from the list.

  • Select the “New Order” option.

  • Once selected, simply follow the prompts until you reach the page where you can choose the 4-set retainer package. From there, just complete the order as you normally would.

Before submitting your case, you also have the option to add any special instructions.


🔁Continuation Order

  • Select the “Continuation Order” option

  • Choose the Next Order Type
    As part of the process, you’ll be asked what type of order you'd like to place next. You can select:

    • Aligners – the most common option for ongoing treatment

    • Retainers – usually selected at the end of a case

    • Both – if you need a combination of aligners and retainers

  • Specify Retainer Quantity
    When using this method, doctors have the option to enter the exact number of retainers they want to order.


✨ Retainers Only

Note: This option includes only one set of retainers by default, but you can always use the special instructions field to request a retainer package instead.

  • Select the “A new patient who only wants retainers” option.

  • Then, follow the prompts to fill in the required information. If there’s anything specific you'd like the lab to know, feel free to add special instructions before submitting your order.

From there, Orthosnap will handle everything—production, shipping, and billing—just like a standard clear aligner treatment.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, feel free to click here to contact us—we’re here to help!🌟

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