Retainers in Carrick Knowe at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Sunrise Dental Clinic I Award Winning Paediatric I Orthodontic I Implant & Smile Design Clinic, Colinton — under a mile; 3 within 10 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | Sunrise Dental Clinic I Award Winning Paediatric I Orthodontic I Implant & Smile Design Clinic, Colinton — under a mile |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Practices on our register | 109 within 5 miles, 156 within 10, 245 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Large Urban Areas |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of Scotland |
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 Carrick Knowe listing retainers
On our practice register: 109 practices within 5 miles of Carrick Knowe, 156 practices within 10 and 245 practices within 20. The closest is Vermilion Orthodontics in Colinton, 0.3 miles north-west. The nearest listing retainers is Sunrise Dental Clinic I Award Winning Paediatric I Orthodontic I Implant & Smile Design Clinic, 0.5 miles north-west.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise Dental Clinic I Award Winning Paediatric I Orthodontic I Implant & Smile Design ClinicColinton | 0.5 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | – | 4.9 (219 reviews) |
| Ardmillan Orthodontics LtdEdinburgh | 1.7 miles east | ✓ | – | – | 4.5 (68 reviews) |
| Integrated DentalcareEdinburgh | 2.2 miles east | ✓ | – | – | 4.9 (323 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Carrick Knowe with practices listing retainers
The closest town with practices listing retainers is Colinton, 0.5 miles north-west; the next are Edinburgh (1.7 miles east).
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Carrick Knowe
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Integrated Dentalcare in Edinburgh (4.9 from 323 reviews), 2.2 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated DentalcareEdinburgh | 4.9 (323 reviews) | 2.2 miles east |
| Sunrise Dental Clinic I Award Winning Paediatric I Orthodontic I Implant & Smile Design ClinicColinton | 4.9 (219 reviews) | 0.5 miles north-west |
| Ardmillan Orthodontics LtdEdinburgh | 4.5 (68 reviews) | 1.7 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Carrick Knowe
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Sunrise Dental Clinic I Award Winning Paediatric I Orthodontic I Implant & Smile Design Clinic, Colinton (under a mile) | Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd (1.7 miles); Integrated Dentalcare (2.2 miles) | 3 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | Sunrise Dental Clinic I Award Winning Paediatric I Orthodontic I Implant & Smile Design Clinic, Colinton (under a mile) | none other | 1 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Sunrise Dental Clinic I Award Winning Paediatric I Orthodontic I Implant & Smile Design Clinic, Colinton (under a mile) | Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd (1.7 miles); Integrated Dentalcare (2.2 miles) | 3 |
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. During the months of remodelling, retainers hold the teeth precisely where treatment left them. Orthodontists in Carrick Knowe typically fit them the same day braces come off.
How Long Is Retention?
Guidance has shifted in recent years: removable retainers are now recommended indefinitely — full-time for the first 3–6 months, then nights only, then several nights a week for life. The old 'stop after two years' advice caused many relapses.
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.
Looking After Retainers in Carrick Knowe
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 Carrick Knowe can help, and catching a problem early is always far cheaper than dealing with relapse later.
Retainer Services in Carrick Knowe
Treatment range and appointment slots differ between the practices covering Carrick Knowe — comparing a couple is worthwhile. Carrick Knowe's ONS geography type is large Urban Areas. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Lothian. Carrick Knowe has 109 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 96% of towns in Scotland. Carrick Knowe's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of Scotland. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Carrick Knowe is Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee, about 38 miles away. See local practice availability in Carrick Knowe → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
Expect private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) costs in Carrick Knowe to fall roughly between £80 and £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 Carrick Knowe can usually provide replacement retainers.
After Your Braces Come Off in Carrick Knowe
Post-treatment aftercare is arguably the most important phase of orthodontic treatment in Carrick Knowe. The de-bond appointment, retainer fitting, whitening timing and retention habits all decide whether your result lasts. Getting aftercare right is what protects everything you've paid for.
Ongoing Check-ups After Treatment
Routine 6-monthly dental check-ups remain important after orthodontic treatment. Your dentist will check fixed retainer integrity, gum health around bonded wires, removable retainer fit, and early signs of tooth movement. Contact your orthodontist promptly if: your removable retainer no longer fits easily, a fixed retainer wire appears to have moved, or you notice teeth changing position.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in Carrick Knowe
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Carrick Knowe?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Carrick Knowe is Vermilion Orthodontics in Colinton, about 0.3 miles to the north-west. The next closest are CORNERSTONE SMILE (0.4 miles) and CORSTORPHINE DENTAL CARE (0.4 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Carrick Knowe?
Our register has 109 practices within 5 miles of Carrick Knowe, 156 practices within 10 miles and 245 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Carrick Knowe?
The nearest practice to Carrick Knowe that lists retainers is Sunrise Dental Clinic I Award Winning Paediatric I Orthodontic I Implant & Smile Design Clinic in Colinton, about 0.5 miles to the north-west. Others nearby include Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd (1.7 miles) and Integrated Dentalcare (2.2 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Carrick Knowe?
NHS dental commissioning in Carrick Knowe falls under NHS Lothian.
What kind of area is Carrick Knowe?
ONS classifies Carrick Knowe as large Urban Areas.
How deprived is Carrick Knowe compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Carrick Knowe is less deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Carrick Knowe?
Sighthill, Kingsknowe, Longstone are within easy reach of Carrick Knowe.
I lost my retainer — what should I do?
Get in touch with an orthodontist promptly to arrange a replacement. Wear an old retainer that still fits reasonably in the meantime to limit drift — most practices can turn around a new Essix retainer within a few days from a fresh scan.
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 City of Edinburgh
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