We got two and a lifetime plan. DD lost one of a pair on vacation, so now we’re down to one pair. I should get a spare before we travel again.

Our insurance covers retainers. Our retainers was in the braces price. See if your insurance covers it. Who is the lifetime with. The ortho or Invisalign. If Invisalign, depending on price I would.

We weren’t offered a lifetime plan but we purchased a 4 pack for each of our kids. The price had gone up to $560 the last time around. My oldest has been out of braces for 6 years and is on her 2nd so it was a good move. My middle has been out for 4.5 years and on his first but I suspect he doesn’t wear it now that he’s at college so it was probably a waste. We’ll see if #3 wears his.

Ours includes lifetime replacement included. One of the reasons we chose them. Already on our third one I think.

Don't do it! It didn't even last 2 years. Always go with traditional.

10 years? I wish my kids' (who had traditional braces, but their retainers are Invisalign-like) lasted that long.

I'm not sure how the lifetime replacement works, that wasn't an option presented to us, but they've definitely worn out a lot after nothing near 10 years.

We will be there in a few weeks and I am pretty sure we are going to pay for the lifetime plan. I do think the retainers are much stronger/thicker than the aligners, but still, I am sure it will break or get lost and it only takes a couple of times before you have paid for the lifetime program.

My DC orthodontist offered a plan where we bought 4 (identical) retainers for an additional fee, instead of just the one that was "included" in the original price. We did that because I also have a hard time imaging that one will not wear out, get lost, get broken...

If your tween did Invisalign and finishing at 13 or 14, what did you do for retainer? We have been told 1 retainer can last 10 years but that we are better to pay for a “lifetime replacement”…. What are people finding actually makes sense? I cannot imagine a plastic liner will last 10 years so expecting will have to buy new ones.