Hawley Retainers
Classic wire-and-acrylic retention, made properly: precise wirework, smooth acrylic, dependable fit. Each one is fabricated to your prescription in our California, Colorado, and Texas labs and shipped nationwide to your practice.
What Is a Hawley Retainer?
The Hawley retainer is the classic removable orthodontic retainer: an acrylic baseplate that hugs the palate or lingual arch, combined with a stainless steel labial bow and clasps that hold the achieved tooth positions after active treatment. Its strength is longevity and control. The wire can be adjusted chairside, the acrylic withstands years of daily wear, and repairs are possible instead of replacements. For many patients and many retention protocols, Hawley retainers remain the most durable long-term solution available. Classic design elements such as Adams clasps, ball clasps, or circumferential clasps can be combined freely, and the baseplate can be adapted for deep palates or fabricated as a lingual variant where comfort demands it.
When to Choose a Hawley Retainer for Your Patient
Prescribe a Hawley retainer when you want adjustability and durability: the labial bow allows minor corrections during retention, posterior occlusion can settle naturally because the occlusal surfaces stay uncovered, and the appliance tolerates bruxism far better than thin thermoformed alternatives. Hawley retainers are also a robust choice after fixed retention fails, or for patients who repeatedly crack thermoformed retainers; the acrylic-and-wire construction simply forgives more. For patients who prioritize invisibility, an Essix or clear retainer may be the better fit; we fabricate both.
Materials & Options
- Materials
- Orthodontic acrylic + stainless steel wire
- Design Options
- Standard Hawley & wrap-around designs, clasp variations per Rx
- Turnaround
- 5–7 working days (digital) / 7–10 working days (impression)
- Rush Available
- Yes, contact us for scheduling
- Delivery
- Nationwide UPS/FedEx
- Digital Files
- STL, OBJ accepted
How We Process Your Hawley Retainer Case
- 1
Send Your Case
Physical impressions or digital STL scan via our portal
- 2
Model & Wirework
Model preparation, hand wire bending & acrylic processing to your Rx
- 3
Finish & QC
Polishing, fit verification & documented quality control
- 4
Deliver
Nationwide UPS/FedEx, scheduled to your seat date
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Start Sending Retainer Cases Today
New accounts: we respond within 24 hours. Pickup & nationwide delivery available.
Open a Lab AccountHawley retainer vs. Essix retainer: which should I prescribe?
It depends on the retention goal. A Hawley retainer offers adjustability, durability, and free occlusal settling; an Essix retainer offers near-invisible esthetics and full coverage. Many practices prescribe Hawley for long-term nighttime retention and Essix where esthetics or interim protection matter most. We fabricate both from the same scan or impression, so switching is simple.
Can Hawley retainers be adjusted or repaired?
Yes, that is their biggest advantage. The labial bow and clasps can be activated chairside, and cracked acrylic or bent wirework can usually be repaired in the lab instead of remaking the appliance. Send us the retainer with a short note, and we will tell you honestly whether repair or remake is the more economical option.
Do you make Hawley retainers from intraoral scans?
Yes. Upload your scan as an STL or OBJ file through our portal; we print or mill the working model and fabricate the retainer on it. Conventional alginate or PVS impressions work just as well. Choose whichever workflow fits your practice.
What should I specify on the Rx?
The arch (upper, lower, or both), the design (standard Hawley or wrap-around), clasp type and placement, any labial bow modifications, and the patient's relevant history, for example bruxism or a previously broken retainer. If anything is open, the responsible technician calls you before fabrication.