Dear Dr Ted
 
If I send you my invisalign retainer would you be able to bond brackets on and headgear tubes?
 
How much would this be
 
Thanks
JAmes

 
Re: Removable braces-look-alike appliance made from an Invisalign tray
 
In a message dated 04/20/2008 5:45:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, Dr ted35 writes:
Dear James,
 
Go see: http://drted.com/Fetish braces for KG.htm
 
Yes this is doable with the following provisos.
 
You are are the first one to ask me to do it this way.
 
When I make the BrB appliance I usually make it on a model of the patient's teeth that they provide or that I make for them.
 
That way  I can verify the fit of the clear shell (what you call the  "invisalign retainer") upon which I bond the brackets and tubes and then mount dead-soft wire as thick as the slots of the brackets I bond on (.018" -020").
 
I prefer to make it on a current precise model of your teeth since I believe that that minimizes any warpage that takes place when the parts are being bonded on. 
 
If I agree to do this for you and the finished piece does not fit well or does not fit at all you would accept that proviso.
 
The usual trays that Invisalign uses to correct the teeth are somewhat less thick that the material I usually use to make the BrB.
 
However, having said that,  it I also can tell you that they do make retainers that your  orthodontist can order for you.  See https://vip.invisalign.com/vip/us/en/auth/patient/rclub/getStarted.jspx  (The "Vivera" retainer).
 
I believe these retainers may be made of a more durable (thicker) material.
 
Is the "invsalign retainer" a Vivera? or a tray that came from the set you were given to make your teeth straight?
 
Or perhaps it is  a clear retainer that your orthodontist made for you in his office as I do for may patients since it is provide free with the treatment.
 
Your retainers must go cover the first molars to have "buccal" tubes.
 
Proviso: you must realize that the tubes are not functional in so far as actually being  able to resist the force of a night brace. Consequently, if you intend to apply a headgear to it will detach the tube.
 
I do my best to bond the metal parts on so that they are not easily detached, however, if you do not treat the BrB like the jewelry it is, you can soon trash it.
 
The fee is $385.
 
Cordially, Dr. Ted