Retainers in Craigdam at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist Aberdeen, Dyce — 12.7 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | Blairdaff Dental, Bograxie — 11.2 miles |
| Practices on our register | 1 within 5 miles, 9 within 10, 74 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Accessible Rural |
| 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 Craigdam listing retainers
On our practice register: 1 practice within 5 miles of Craigdam, 9 practices within 10 and 74 practices within 20. The closest is OLDMELDRUM DENTAL PRACTICE, 2.9 miles south-west. The nearest listing retainers is Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist Aberdeen, 12.7 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist AberdeenDyce | 12.7 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – | 4.8 (191 reviews) |
| Abercrombie Smile Design and Abercrombie OrthodonticsWesthill | 14.3 miles south | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.1 (41 reviews) |
| Mastrick Smile CareAberdeen | 14.6 miles south | ✓ | – | – | 4.9 (213 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Craigdam with practices listing retainers
The closest town with practices listing retainers is Dyce, 12.7 miles south-east; the next are Westhill (14.3 miles south) and Aberdeen (14.6 miles south).
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Craigdam
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Mastrick Smile Care in Aberdeen (4.9 from 213 reviews), 14.6 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Mastrick Smile CareAberdeen | 4.9 (213 reviews) | 14.6 miles south |
| Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist AberdeenDyce | 4.8 (191 reviews) | 12.7 miles south-east |
| Abercrombie Smile Design and Abercrombie OrthodonticsWesthill | 4.1 (41 reviews) | 14.3 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Craigdam
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist Aberdeen, Dyce (12.7 miles) | Abercrombie Smile Design and Abercrombie Orthodontics (14.3 miles); Mastrick Smile Care (14.6 miles) | 3 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | Blairdaff Dental, Bograxie (11.2 miles) | Bridge of Don Dental & Aesthetic Clinic (14.1 miles); Abercrombie Smile Design and Abercrombie Orthodontics (14.3 miles) | 3 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Bridge of Don Dental & Aesthetic Clinic (14.1 miles) | none other | 1 |
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.
Retention is a lifelong commitment, not a short-term measure many patients expect. Teeth are under constant biological pressure to move, and retainers are the only reliable counter. Any orthodontic practice in Craigdam can fit, replace or repair them if you need it.
Retainer Services in Craigdam
Practices serving Craigdam differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. Classified by ONS as accessible Rural, Craigdam sits within NHS Grampian for NHS dental commissioning. National deprivation data ranks Craigdam among Scotland's less deprived areas. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Craigdam is Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen, about 15 miles away. See local practice availability in Craigdam → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
As a guide, private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) in Craigdam 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 Craigdam can usually provide replacement retainers.
Types of Retainer Available in Craigdam
Fixed (bonded) retainers sit permanently behind the front teeth as a discreet bonded wire, holding the result with zero patient effort. The trade-off is cleaning: floss threaders or interdental brushes are needed to keep the area 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 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 Craigdam now provide both a fixed wire for continuous protection and a removable Essix tray for overnight use, combining the strengths of each.
The Retainer Wear Schedule
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.
Life After Braces in Craigdam
Finishing active treatment is the start of retention, not the finish line. The best clinical outcome can be lost within months if retention is neglected. This guide covers everything that happens after active treatment ends.
Aftercare Services in Craigdam
Orthodontic practices in and around Craigdam vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. Craigdam is classified as accessible Rural, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Grampian. By national deprivation ranking, Craigdam sits among the less deprived areas of Scotland. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Craigdam is about 15 miles from Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen. They typically offer post-treatment services including retainer fitting, replacement, and professional whitening.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in Craigdam
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Craigdam?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Craigdam is OLDMELDRUM DENTAL PRACTICE, about 2.9 miles to the south-west. The next closest are GARIOCH DENTAL PRACTICE (6.8 miles) and INVERURIE DENTAL CARE (6.8 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Craigdam?
Our register has 1 practice within 5 miles of Craigdam, 9 practices within 10 miles and 74 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Craigdam?
The nearest practice to Craigdam that lists retainers is Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist Aberdeen in Dyce, about 12.7 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include Abercrombie Smile Design and Abercrombie Orthodontics (14.3 miles) and Mastrick Smile Care (14.6 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Craigdam?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Grampian.
What kind of area is Craigdam?
By ONS classification, Craigdam falls under accessible Rural.
How deprived is Craigdam compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Craigdam 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 Craigdam?
Tarves, Hattoncrook, Udny Green are within easy reach of Craigdam.
Can I get retainers if my teeth have already shifted?
If teeth have shifted slightly, a new set of retainers made to your current tooth position will hold further movement. If the shift is significant, a short course of retreatment (aligners or braces) may be recommended first. An orthodontist assessment will determine the best approach.
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 Aberdeenshire
Explore retainers information for other towns and cities in Aberdeenshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: