Retainers in Braintree at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Springfield Dental Practice, Chelmsford — 8.8 miles; 2 within 10 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | Braintree Dental Centre, Braintree — under a mile; 4 within 10 miles |
| Residents under 16 | 15.8% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 4.8% of 2,469 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Practices on our register | 3 within 5 miles, 11 within 10, 56 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Deprivation | Around the England average |
| Households without a car | 26.1% in the surrounding census area (Census 2021) |
| Residents per square kilometre | 5,702 in the surrounding census area (Census 2021) |
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 Braintree listing retainers
On our practice register: 3 practices within 5 miles of Braintree, 11 practices within 10 and 56 practices within 20. The closest is Horn Mews Dental Practice in Braintree, 0.1 miles south. The nearest listing retainers is Springfield Dental Practice, 8.8 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield Dental PracticeChelmsford | 8.8 miles south | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.3 (75 reviews) |
| Aloe Vera Dental StudioChelmsford | 9.6 miles south | ✓ | – | ✓ | 5.0 (120 reviews) |
| Goodleigh Dental PracticeChelmsford | 10.4 miles south | ✓ | – | – | 4.2 (332 reviews) |
| The Dental Abode (formerly Down Town Dental Clinic)Chelmsford | 10.6 miles south | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.8 (166 reviews) |
| Advent Dental PracticeChelmsford | 11.0 miles south | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.9 (143 reviews) |
| Advance Dental Clinic - Dentist ChelmsfordChelmsford | 11.3 miles south | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.9 (500 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Braintree with practices listing retainers
The closest town with practices listing retainers is Chelmsford, 8.8 miles south; the next are Sudbury (13.5 miles north-east) and Colchester (14.4 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Chelmsford | 7 | 8.8 miles south |
| Sudbury | 1 | 13.5 miles north-east |
| Colchester | 2 | 14.4 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Braintree
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Aloe Vera Dental Studio in Chelmsford (5.0 from 120 reviews), 9.6 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Aloe Vera Dental StudioChelmsford | 5.0 (120 reviews) | 9.6 miles south |
| Advance Dental Clinic - Dentist ChelmsfordChelmsford | 4.9 (500 reviews) | 11.3 miles south |
| The Dental StudioColchester | 4.9 (188 reviews) | 14.4 miles east |
| Advent Dental PracticeChelmsford | 4.9 (143 reviews) | 11.0 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Braintree
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Springfield Dental Practice, Chelmsford (8.8 miles) | Aloe Vera Dental Studio (9.6 miles); Goodleigh Dental Practice (10.4 miles) | 10 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | Braintree Dental Centre (under a mile) | Blake Dental (6.8 miles); Springfield Dental Practice (8.8 miles) | 17 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Blake Dental, Witham (6.8 miles) | Springfield Dental Practice (8.8 miles); The Dental Abode (formerly Down Town Dental Clinic) (10.6 miles) | 6 |
Built from what each practice's own published information mentions, so a missing entry means not mentioned, which does not mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
After braces or aligners, the bone and fibres around each tooth need time to settle. Relapse begins quickly once active treatment stops, which is why retention never truly ends. How diligently they're worn is what determines how long your Braintree treatment result lasts. People from Bocking, Bocking Churchstreet and Great Notley regularly visit orthodontists in Braintree.
Types of Retainer Available in Braintree
Fixed (bonded) retainers are thin wires bonded behind the front teeth — usually the lower six, sometimes the upper too. They're permanent, invisible from the front, and need no daily effort, though they require careful cleaning with floss threaders to keep the gum healthy.
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 use an acrylic plate with a wire across the front teeth. Sturdier and repairable, they last far longer than clear trays at the cost of being more noticeable.
Many orthodontists in Braintree now provide both a fixed wire for continuous protection and a removable Essix tray for overnight use, combining the strengths of each.
Looking After Retainers in Braintree
Essix retainers need replacing every one to three years on average — heat from dishwashers, hot drinks or a hot car warps the plastic. Clean them with a soft brush and cold water, never abrasive toothpaste, and use cleaning tablets occasionally.
Treat a lost or broken retainer as time-sensitive. Any orthodontic practice in Braintree can help, and catching a problem early is always far cheaper than dealing with relapse later.
Retainer Services in Braintree
Our database currently lists 3 orthodontic practices in and around Braintree. ONS classifies Braintree as urban: Nearer to a major town or city. For NHS dental services, Braintree falls under NHS Essex Integrated Care Board. Braintree's under-16 share sits at 15.8%, per the 2021 Census. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 4.8% of the 2,469 residents in Braintree's census neighbourhood, below the 6.9% average across Essex. With 3 orthodontic practices within five miles, Braintree is better served than 52% of towns in England. The closest secondary schools to Braintree are Tabor Academy (0.6 miles) and Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form (0.9 miles). 3 secondary schools are within three miles. National deprivation data puts Braintree close to the England median. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Braintree is Royal London Dental Hospital in London, about 36 miles away. See local practice availability in Braintree → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments. People from Bocking, Bocking Churchstreet, and Great Notley regularly make use of Braintree's orthodontic practices for retainer fitting and replacement.
As a guide, private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) in Braintree 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 Braintree can usually provide replacement retainers.
Orthodontic Aftercare in Braintree
The end of active orthodontic treatment in Braintree is a milestone — but not the end of the process. How diligently you wear retainers is what separates a lasting result from gradual relapse. Below we walk through the de-bond, retainers, whitening timing and long-term check-ups. People from Bocking, Bocking Churchstreet and Great Notley regularly visit orthodontists in Braintree.
Aftercare Services in Braintree
Our database currently lists 3 orthodontic practices in and around Braintree. Braintree's ONS geography type is urban: Nearer to a major town or city. NHS Essex Integrated Care Board is the NHS body responsible for dental commissioning in Braintree. Census data puts 15.8% of Braintree's population at under 16. In the census neighbourhood around Braintree, 4.8% of the 2,469 residents are aged 10 to 15, below the 6.9% average across Essex, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (3), Braintree has more choice than 52% of towns in England. Families in Braintree are served by secondary schools including Tabor Academy (0.6 miles) and Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form (0.9 miles). 3 secondary schools are within three miles. Braintree sits close to the England average for deprivation. The nearest university dental hospital to Braintree is Royal London Dental Hospital, London, about 36 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. They typically offer post-treatment services including retainer fitting, replacement, and professional whitening. People from Bocking, Bocking Churchstreet, and Great Notley regularly make use of Braintree's orthodontic practices for post-treatment retainer and whitening services.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in Braintree
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Braintree?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Braintree is Horn Mews Dental Practice in Braintree, about 0.1 miles to the south. The next closest are Braintree Dental Centre (0.2 miles) and Braintree Dental Studio (2.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Braintree?
Our register has 3 practices within 5 miles of Braintree, 11 practices within 10 miles and 56 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Braintree?
The nearest practice to Braintree that lists retainers is Springfield Dental Practice in Chelmsford, about 8.8 miles to the south. Others nearby include Aloe Vera Dental Studio (9.6 miles) and Goodleigh Dental Practice (10.4 miles).
What kind of area is Braintree?
ONS classifies Braintree as urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
How many families live in Braintree?
Census data puts 15.8% of Braintree's population at under 16.
How deprived is Braintree compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Braintree is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What county is Braintree in?
Braintree falls within Essex.
Can I get retainers without having had braces?
Retainers hold teeth in position but don't move them, so they're only useful once teeth are already well-aligned. If your teeth are naturally straight and you simply want to prevent age-related drift, a dentist can discuss whether retainers are appropriate — but they won't correct existing crookedness.
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 Essex
Explore retainers information for other towns and cities in Essex — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: