An Essix retainer is billed under D8680, orthodontic retention. A replacement retainer is D8703 for the upper arch and D8704 for the lower. When the Essix carries a tooth, offices often bill it as an interim partial denture, D5820 or D5821.
The code tells your plan what the appliance is. It does not set the price. An Essix retainer is $139 an arch here, and $239 with a tooth, impression kit and postage included.
| Code | What it is | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| D8680 | Orthodontic retention | The first retainer after braces or aligners, usually inside the orthodontic fee |
| D8703 | Replacement retainer, upper | A lost or broken upper retainer |
| D8704 | Replacement retainer, lower | A lost or broken lower retainer |
| D5820 and D5821 | Interim partial denture | An Essix with a tooth, because it replaces a missing tooth |
D8680 is the code most plans know. D8703 and D8704 arrived in 2022 to split replacements from the first retainer. The old general code D8692 is no longer used by most plans.
At an orthodontist a replacement Essix runs $150 to $400 an arch, and an Essix with a tooth $300 to $700. Online the same clear retainer is $139 an arch, and $239 with a tooth, made from the mold you take at home.
If the retainer is a replacement, most plans pay little or nothing under D8703 and D8704. That is why many people simply order online and pay with an HSA or FSA card.
HSA and FSA cards work here without any code. Check with your plan administrator if you want it in writing.
Order the arch online, we mail the impression kit, you take the mold in about half an hour and send it back with the prepaid label. A licensed dentist reviews your photos, our technicians press the retainer, and it reaches you in 6 to 10 business days door to door. The Essix retainer with a tooth from $239 is the same process with one tooth set into the tray.
D8680 for the first retainer after orthodontic treatment, D8703 or D8704 for a replacement, upper or lower.
D8703 for the upper arch and D8704 for the lower arch.
Offices usually bill an Essix with a tooth as an interim partial denture, D5820 for the upper and D5821 for the lower, because it replaces a missing tooth.
Yes, a retainer is a dental appliance, so HSA and FSA cards work here. Keep the itemized receipt and check with your plan administrator.
Rarely in full. Many plans cover one retainer inside the orthodontic fee and pay little for replacements, which is why a $139 online retainer is the usual route.