Retainers in Crawley Down at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Saint Faith Dental Clinic, East Grinstead — 2.6 miles; 10 within 10 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | Saint Faith Dental Clinic, East Grinstead — 2.6 miles; 13 within 10 miles |
| Residents under 16 | 19.9% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7.7% of 1,486 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Practices on our register | 12 within 5 miles, 26 within 10, 109 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of England |
| Households without a car | 7.7% in the surrounding census area (Census 2021) |
| Residents per square kilometre | 3,755 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 Crawley Down listing retainers
On our practice register: 12 practices within 5 miles of Crawley Down, 26 practices within 10 and 109 practices within 20. The closest is Saint Faith Dental Clinic in East Grinstead, 2.6 miles east. The nearest listing retainers is Saint Faith Dental Clinic, 2.6 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Faith Dental ClinicEast Grinstead | 2.6 miles east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.6 (314 reviews) |
| Oakmead Dental Care East GrinsteadEast Grinstead | 3.1 miles east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 5.0 (100 reviews) |
| The High Street Dental PracticeEast Grinstead | 3.1 miles east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.9 (181 reviews) |
| Dentist Crawley | Enhance Dental Surgery CrawleyCrawley | 4.7 miles west | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.9 (340 reviews) |
| West Green Dental PracticeCrawley | 4.9 miles west | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.4 (96 reviews) |
| Crawley Dental ClinicCrawley | 5.6 miles west | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.7 (105 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Crawley Down with practices listing retainers
The closest town with practices listing retainers is East Grinstead, 2.6 miles east; the next are Crawley (4.7 miles west) and Haywards Heath (8.4 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| East Grinstead | 3 | 2.6 miles east |
| Crawley | 3 | 4.7 miles west |
| Haywards Heath | 2 | 8.4 miles south |
| Horsham | 1 | 9.9 miles west |
| Reigate | 1 | 9.9 miles north-west |
| Redhill | 1 | 10.1 miles north-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Crawley Down
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Reigate Specialist Orthodontic Practice in Redhill (5.0 from 141 reviews), 10.1 miles north-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Reigate Specialist Orthodontic PracticeRedhill | 5.0 (141 reviews) | 10.1 miles north-west |
| Oakmead Dental Care East GrinsteadEast Grinstead | 5.0 (100 reviews) | 3.1 miles east |
| Dentist Crawley | Enhance Dental Surgery CrawleyCrawley | 4.9 (340 reviews) | 4.7 miles west |
| The High Street Dental PracticeEast Grinstead | 4.9 (181 reviews) | 3.1 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Crawley Down
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Saint Faith Dental Clinic, East Grinstead (2.6 miles) | Oakmead Dental Care East Grinstead (3.1 miles); The High Street Dental Practice (3.1 miles) | 11 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | Saint Faith Dental Clinic, East Grinstead (2.6 miles) | Oakmead Dental Care East Grinstead (3.1 miles); Kings Dental Care (3.1 miles) | 15 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Oakmead Dental Care East Grinstead (3.1 miles) | The High Street Dental Practice (3.1 miles); Crawley Dental Clinic (5.6 miles) | 5 |
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.
The result you paid for is only as durable as your commitment to retainers. Without them, teeth start drifting back towards their old positions within weeks of finishing. How diligently they're worn is what determines how long your Crawley Down treatment result lasts.
Types of Retainer Available in Crawley Down
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 Crawley Down now provide both a fixed wire for continuous protection and a removable Essix tray for overnight use, combining the strengths of each.
Replacing and Maintaining Retainers in Crawley Down
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.
A fixed wire can debond without you noticing, so regular check-ups in Crawley Down matter — an unrepaired wire lets a tooth move independently and misalignment can appear within weeks.
Retainer Services in Crawley Down
There's no orthodontist on record in Crawley Down itself; the nearest dentist, Bupa Dental Care, is about 2 miles away and is a reasonable place to start for a referral. By ONS classification, Crawley Down falls under larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city. NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board is the NHS body responsible for dental commissioning in Crawley Down. Crawley Down's under-16 share sits at 19.9%, per the 2021 Census. Census 2021 counts 1,486 residents in the neighbourhood around Crawley Down, 7.7% of them aged 10 to 15, above the 7% average across West Sussex. With 12 orthodontic practices within five miles, Crawley Down is better served than 79% of towns in England. Families in Crawley Down are served by secondary schools including Imberhorne School (2.3 miles) and Oriel High School (3.5 miles). 1 secondary school is within three miles. Crawley Down falls in a less deprived area than most of England. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Crawley Down is Guy's Hospital Dental Institute in London, about 26 miles away. See local practice availability in Crawley Down → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
Private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) costs in Crawley Down generally sit 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 Crawley Down can usually provide replacement retainers.
Life After Braces in Crawley Down
When braces come off or aligner treatment completes in Crawley Down, 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.
Aftercare Services in Crawley Down
No orthodontic practice covers Crawley Down directly, though Bupa Dental Care (about 2 miles away) is the nearest dentist and can usually point patients toward orthodontic care locally. Classified by ONS as larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city, Crawley Down sits within NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Census figures show 19.9% of the local population is under 16. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 7.7% of the 1,486 residents in Crawley Down's census neighbourhood, above the 7% average across West Sussex. Crawley Down has 12 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 79% of towns in England. Secondary-age pupils near Crawley Down attend schools such as Imberhorne School (2.3 miles) and Oriel High School (3.5 miles). 1 secondary school is within three miles. National deprivation data ranks Crawley Down among England's less deprived areas. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Crawley Down is Guy's Hospital Dental Institute in London, about 26 miles away. They typically offer post-treatment services including retainer fitting, replacement, and professional whitening.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in Crawley Down
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Crawley Down?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Crawley Down is Saint Faith Dental Clinic in East Grinstead, about 2.6 miles to the east. The next closest are The Smile Gallery Dental Practice (2.8 miles) and East Grinstead Smiles Dental Practice (3.1 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Crawley Down?
Our register has 12 practices within 5 miles of Crawley Down, 26 practices within 10 miles and 109 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Crawley Down?
The nearest practice to Crawley Down that lists retainers is Saint Faith Dental Clinic in East Grinstead, about 2.6 miles to the east. Others nearby include Oakmead Dental Care East Grinstead (3.1 miles) and The High Street Dental Practice (3.1 miles).
Is there a dentist near Crawley Down?
There's no orthodontist based in Crawley Down, though Bupa Dental Care (about 2 miles away) is a general dentist who can carry out an initial assessment and refer on if needed.
Which towns are close to Crawley Down?
Felcourt, Copthorne, Furnace Wood are within easy reach of Crawley Down.
How deprived is Crawley Down compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Crawley Down is less deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
How big is Crawley Down?
Crawley Down has a population of around 4,300.
Do fixed retainers cause tartar build-up?
A bonded retainer can collect plaque and tartar if it isn't cleaned around carefully, since it makes flossing the lower front teeth harder. Using a floss threader or interdental brush daily, plus regular hygienist visits, keeps the area healthy. Most people manage this easily 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 West Sussex
Explore retainers information for other towns and cities in West Sussex — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: