Retainers in Aikers at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | None within 30 miles on our register |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Practices on our register | 0 within 5 miles, 0 within 10, 5 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Remote Rural |
| Deprivation | Around the Scotland average |
Sources: Census 2021 (NOMIS), DfE Get Information About Schools, ONS geography, UK NHS dental charge schedules and our orthodontic practice register. Distances are straight-line.
Practices near Aikers listing retainers
On our practice register: None within 10 miles of Aikers; 5 practices within 20. The closest is THE BALFOUR in Kirkwall, 12.0 miles north. Few practices near here list retainers in their published information, so this lists the nearest of any kind.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE BALFOURKirkwall | 12.0 miles north | – | – | – | – |
| ORKNEY DENTALKirkwall | 12.5 miles north | – | – | – | – |
| KIRKWALL DENTAL PRACTICEKirkwall | 12.6 miles north | – | – | – | – |
| DAISYBANK CLINICKirkwall | 12.7 miles north | – | – | – | – |
| ORKNEY DENTALStromness | 17.1 miles north-west | – | – | – | – |
| WICK DENTAL PRACTICEWick | 24.4 miles south | – | – | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Aikers with orthodontic practices
The closest town with orthodontic practices is Kirkwall, 12.0 miles north; the next are Stromness (17.1 miles north-west) and Wick (24.4 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkwall | 4 | 12.0 miles north |
| Stromness | 1 | 17.1 miles north-west |
| Wick | 2 | 24.4 miles south |
| Thurso | 3 | 25.3 miles south-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Aikers
None of the 10 practices nearest Aikers on our register mentions the treatments or services in its own published information, so this page cannot say which of them offers what. The nearest practice of any kind is THE BALFOUR, Kirkwall, 12 miles away, and a call or its website will say what it offers.
Retainers are the final — and permanent — phase of any orthodontic treatment. During the months of remodelling, retainers hold the teeth precisely where treatment left them. Practices across Aikers usually supply both a fixed wire and a removable tray for belt-and-braces protection.
Retainer Options in Aikers
Fixed (bonded) retainers are the set-and-forget option — a hidden wire fixed behind the incisors that never relies on you remembering to wear it. They do demand a bit more care at brushing time to avoid plaque around the wire.
Essix retainers are the transparent tray-style retainer worn over the teeth — nearly invisible and comfortable, though the plastic warps if exposed to heat and usually lasts one to three years.
Hawley retainers are the traditional acrylic-plate-and-wire design. They're more durable than Essix trays, adjustable if minor movement occurs, and can last many years — but they're more visible when worn.
Many orthodontists in Aikers now provide both a fixed wire for continuous protection and a removable Essix tray for overnight use, combining the strengths of each.
Retainer Services in Aikers
Provision in Aikers varies by practice — it's worth comparing more than one before committing. ONS classifies Aikers as remote Rural. NHS Orkney is the NHS body responsible for dental commissioning in Aikers. People in Aikers usually travel further for an orthodontist: the nearest on our register is about 12 miles away. By national deprivation ranking, Aikers is roughly mid-table for Scotland. See local practice availability in Aikers → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
As a guide, private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) in Aikers usually ranges from £80 to £150. Most practices can fabricate a replacement from a new scan or impression within a few working days. If you have moved away from your original treating practice, any orthodontic or dental practice in Aikers can usually provide replacement retainers.
How Long Is Retention?
The current standard is to keep wearing removable retainers indefinitely, tapering from full-time to nights only. Abandoning them after a couple of years — once routine advice — is now recognised as a leading cause of relapse.
Fixed bonded retainers stay in place permanently unless they break, needing no daily decision — which makes them the most reliable long-term method.
If a removable retainer stops fitting after a gap in wear, don't force it — contact your orthodontist. A new retainer, or occasionally a short retreatment, is far cheaper than letting relapse set in.
After Your Braces Come Off in Aikers
When braces come off or aligner treatment completes in Aikers, protecting the result begins. The de-bond appointment, retainer fitting, whitening timing and retention habits all decide whether your result lasts. Below we walk through the de-bond, retainers, whitening timing and long-term check-ups.
Protecting Your Result After Treatment in Aikers
Two things keep a result stable long-term: a fixed retainer you don't have to think about, and a removable one worn consistently at night. Skipping the removable retainer for even a few weeks is often enough for a tooth to start shifting back.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in Aikers
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Aikers?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Aikers is THE BALFOUR in Kirkwall, about 12.0 miles to the north. The next closest are ORKNEY DENTAL (12.5 miles) and KIRKWALL DENTAL PRACTICE (12.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Aikers?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Aikers, 0 practices within 10 miles and 5 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Kirkwall, 12.0 miles away.
Where can I get a retainer near Aikers?
None of the practices within 30 miles lists retainers in its published information. Most orthodontic practices supply them, so ask the nearest ones directly.
Which NHS body covers Aikers for dental care?
Aikers sits within NHS Orkney for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is Aikers?
ONS classifies Aikers as remote Rural.
How deprived is Aikers compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Aikers is close to the Scotland average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What towns are near Aikers?
Liddel, Widewall, Cleat are within easy reach of Aikers.
Can I wear a retainer if I also have aligners?
If you completed aligner treatment, your final aligner tray can act as a temporary retainer while a permanent retainer is made. Your clinician may also supply Vivera retainers (made by Align Technology) which are designed specifically for post-Invisalign retention.
Last updated: October 2026, compiled by the Virtual Consultant Online editorial team from our practice register and public data. Information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice; it is not reviewed by a clinician. Sources: NHS, General Dental Council. How we compile our information.
Retainers Across Orkney Islands
Explore retainers information for other towns and cities in Orkney Islands — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: