Repairing a bonded retainer, upper

D8696. Fixes the thin wire glued behind the upper front teeth.

After braces come off, a retainer holds the teeth in place. It may be removable or a thin wire bonded behind the teeth. Codes cover the retainer at the end of treatment, adjusting it, and repairing either type.

A removable retainer is worn at night, and a fixed one is a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth that stays put. Teeth drift for years after treatment, so retainers are a long-term habit rather than a short one. Codes cover the retainer made at the end of treatment, adjusting it, and repairing either kind. Most plans file this as Basic. What they actually pay varies by plan.