What's proven, and what isn't.
The honest separation between what the science supports and what's still being studied.
What are bio. retainers made of? +
A bio-derived, plant-based polymer — independently tested for microplastic and BPA-derivative release, with results published by lot, BPA, BPS, BPF and phthalates. No other UK retainer brand has published equivalent testing. Full results are on The bio. Standard.
Why is bio. the only retainer brand to publish microplastic testing? +
Every retainer in the UK market — including those from dental practices and other DTC brands — is made from standard thermoplastic that has not been independently tested for microplastic shedding. bio. is the first to test ours and the first to publish the data.
How does the impression kit work? +
Order online. Your kit arrives next day with step-by-step instructions and a video walkthrough. It takes about 10 minutes at home. Post it back in the included pre-paid packaging. Custom retainers are crafted and delivered within 5 working days.
Can I use an existing scan or model? +
Yes. If your dentist has an intraoral scan, upload the STL or PLY files directly. Or post physical study models and we'll digitise them in our lab — your originals are returned with your finished set.
Why do I need to replace my retainer each year? +
Teeth shift and materials age. An annual replacement is the standard of care, and the annual subscription keeps a fresh, tested set on your teeth without re-ordering.
Is this teledentistry? +
No. bio. is not unsupervised teledentistry. Every case is managed by a registered UK clinician. Clean materials and proper supervision are part of the same product.
Are aligners tested like the retainers? +
bio.aligners are the only UK aligners made from a plant-based, BPA-free material rather than petroleum-based plastic — independently tested, with results published by lot at the bio. Standard. Aligners are worn one to two weeks per tray, so their exposure profile differs from a retainer worn nightly for years; we publish what we find for both.
Where can I read the actual lab results? +
On The bio. Standard page, published by lot number and test date, and re-tested on every new production batch.