Retainers in Craigleith at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Integrated Dentalcare, Edinburgh — 1.1 miles; 3 within 10 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | Edinburgh Dental Studio, Edinburgh — 1 miles; 2 within 10 miles |
| Practices on our register | 114 within 5 miles, 153 within 10, 243 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 Craigleith listing retainers
On our practice register: 114 practices within 5 miles of Craigleith, 153 practices within 10 and 243 practices within 20. The closest is 3 COMELY BANK in Edinburgh, 0.4 miles east. The nearest listing retainers is Integrated Dentalcare, 1.1 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated DentalcareEdinburgh | 1.1 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – | 4.9 (323 reviews) |
| Cherrybank Dental SpaEdinburgh | 1.3 miles east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.8 (419 reviews) |
| Ardmillan Orthodontics LtdEdinburgh | 1.5 miles south | ✓ | – | – | 4.5 (68 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Craigleith
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), 1.1 miles south-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated DentalcareEdinburgh | 4.9 (323 reviews) | 1.1 miles south-east |
| Cherrybank Dental SpaEdinburgh | 4.8 (419 reviews) | 1.3 miles east |
| Ardmillan Orthodontics LtdEdinburgh | 4.5 (68 reviews) | 1.5 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Craigleith
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Integrated Dentalcare, Edinburgh (1.1 miles) | Cherrybank Dental Spa (1.3 miles); Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd (1.5 miles) | 3 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | Edinburgh Dental Studio (1 miles) | Cherrybank Dental Spa (1.3 miles) | 2 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Integrated Dentalcare, Edinburgh (1.1 miles) | Cherrybank Dental Spa (1.3 miles); Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd (1.5 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. Any orthodontic practice in Craigleith can fit, replace or repair them if you need it.
Looking After Retainers in Craigleith
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.
If you lose or break a retainer, contact an orthodontist in Craigleith promptly — most can make a replacement Essix within a few days from a scan. In the meantime, wear your old one if it still fits: even a damaged retainer beats none.
How Long Is Retention?
Modern practice is lifelong retention for removable retainers — daily wear at first, easing to nights only long-term. Stopping entirely, even years later, remains the commonest cause of teeth drifting back.
Fixed bonded retainers stay in place permanently unless they break, needing no daily decision — which makes them the most reliable long-term method.
Should your retainer feel tight after time away from it, that's early drift; see your orthodontist rather than forcing it back on. Acting quickly avoids a bigger, costlier correction later.
Retainer Services in Craigleith
Provision in Craigleith varies by practice — it's worth comparing more than one before committing. Classified by ONS as large Urban Areas, Craigleith sits within NHS Lothian for NHS dental commissioning. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (114), Craigleith has more choice than 96% of towns in Scotland. Craigleith's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of Scotland. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Craigleith is about 36 miles from Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee. See local practice availability in Craigleith → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
Private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) in Craigleith typically costs between £80 and £150, depending on case complexity. 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 Craigleith can usually provide replacement retainers.
After Your Braces Come Off in Craigleith
Post-treatment aftercare is arguably the most important phase of orthodontic treatment in Craigleith. How diligently you wear retainers is what separates a lasting result from gradual relapse. This guide covers everything that happens after active treatment ends.
Teeth Whitening After Braces in Craigleith
Many patients want to whiten their teeth immediately after braces come off. Wait at least 4 weeks before starting whitening — enamel is temporarily more porous after de-bonding and needs time to remineralise. Professional whitening after this period produces excellent results on freshly straightened teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in Craigleith
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Craigleith?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Craigleith is 3 COMELY BANK in Edinburgh, about 0.4 miles to the east. The next closest are 4 GREAT STUART STREET (0.9 miles) and E H DENTAL CARE (1.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Craigleith?
Our register has 114 practices within 5 miles of Craigleith, 153 practices within 10 miles and 243 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Craigleith?
The nearest practice to Craigleith that lists retainers is Integrated Dentalcare in Edinburgh, about 1.1 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include Cherrybank Dental Spa (1.3 miles) and Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd (1.5 miles).
Which NHS body covers Craigleith for dental care?
Craigleith sits within NHS Lothian for NHS dental commissioning.
Is Craigleith rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Craigleith falls under large Urban Areas.
How deprived is Craigleith compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Craigleith 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 Craigleith?
Nearby towns include Roseburn, Warriston, Inverleith.
Do fixed retainers cause tartar build-up?
It can, since a bonded wire makes flossing the lower front teeth harder — a floss threader or interdental brush daily, plus regular hygienist visits, keeps it under control. Most people manage fine once shown the technique.
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
Explore retainers information for other towns and cities in City of Edinburgh — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: