Retainers in Dragons Green at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Dr Mark O'Hara, Horsham — 4.6 miles; 2 within 10 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | Clinic for Implant & Orthodontic Dentistry, Worthing — 13 miles |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | East Mews Dental Care, Horsham — 4.7 miles; 3 within 10 miles |
| Residents under 16 | 19.8% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.9% of 2,862 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Practices on our register | 3 within 5 miles, 6 within 10, 83 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Deprivation | Around the England average |
| Households without a car | 4.4% in the surrounding census area (Census 2021) |
| Residents per square kilometre | 68 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 Dragons Green listing retainers
On our practice register: 3 practices within 5 miles of Dragons Green, 6 practices within 10 and 83 practices within 20. The closest is Dr Mark O'Hara in Horsham, 4.6 miles north-east. The nearest listing retainers is Dr Mark O'Hara, 4.6 miles north-east.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Mark O'HaraHorsham | 4.6 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – | – |
| Holbrook Dental and Implant CentreHorsham | 6.5 miles north-east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.7 (169 reviews) |
| Crawley Dental ClinicCrawley | 10.2 miles north-east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.7 (105 reviews) |
| Gateway Dental | Burgess Hill DentistBurgess Hill | 10.9 miles east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.9 (629 reviews) |
| West Green Dental PracticeCrawley | 11.0 miles north-east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.4 (96 reviews) |
| Dentist Crawley | Enhance Dental Surgery CrawleyCrawley | 11.2 miles north-east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.9 (340 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Dragons Green with practices listing retainers
The closest town with practices listing retainers is Horsham, 4.6 miles north-east; the next are Crawley (10.2 miles north-east) and Burgess Hill (10.9 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Horsham | 2 | 4.6 miles north-east |
| Crawley | 3 | 10.2 miles north-east |
| Burgess Hill | 1 | 10.9 miles east |
| Haywards Heath | 2 | 11.2 miles east |
| Worthing | 2 | 13.0 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Dragons Green
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Gateway Dental | Burgess Hill Dentist (4.9 from 629 reviews), 10.9 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Dental | Burgess Hill DentistBurgess Hill | 4.9 (629 reviews) | 10.9 miles east |
| Dentist Crawley | Enhance Dental Surgery CrawleyCrawley | 4.9 (340 reviews) | 11.2 miles north-east |
| S3 Dental Haywards HeathHaywards Heath | 4.8 (761 reviews) | 11.6 miles east |
| Holbrook Dental and Implant CentreHorsham | 4.7 (169 reviews) | 6.5 miles north-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Dragons Green
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Dr Mark O'Hara, Horsham (4.6 miles) | Holbrook Dental and Implant Centre (6.5 miles); Crawley Dental Clinic (10.2 miles) | 10 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | Clinic for Implant & Orthodontic Dentistry, Worthing (13 miles) | none other | 1 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | East Mews Dental Care, Horsham (4.7 miles) | Holbrook Dental and Implant Centre (6.5 miles); Hurst Dental Practice (9.6 miles) | 15 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Dr Mark O'Hara, Horsham (4.6 miles) | Holbrook Dental and Implant Centre (6.5 miles); Crawley Dental Clinic (10.2 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.
Retainers are the final — and permanent — phase of any orthodontic treatment. Without them, teeth start drifting back towards their old positions within weeks of finishing. Any orthodontic practice in Dragons Green can fit, replace or repair them if you need it.
Types of Retainer Available in Dragons Green
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 look just like a clear aligner and are the most common removable choice after aligner treatment. Discreet and easy, but treat them gently with heat and expect a replacement every couple of years.
Hawley retainers are the classic removable retainer: robust, adjustable, and long-lived, with the only real downside being that the front wire is visible when in.
Many orthodontists in Dragons Green 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.
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 Dragons Green
What's available in Dragons Green depends on the practice, so it's worth checking directly what each one offers. ONS classifies Dragons Green as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city. NHS dental commissioning in Dragons Green falls under NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board. 19.8% of Dragons Green's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census. In the census neighbourhood around Dragons Green, 6.9% of the 2,862 residents are aged 10 to 15, close to the 7% average across West Sussex, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (3), Dragons Green has more choice than 52% of towns in England. The closest secondary schools to Dragons Green are Weald School, The (3.8 miles) and Tanbridge House School (4.6 miles). By national deprivation ranking, Dragons Green is roughly mid-table for England. The nearest university dental hospital to Dragons Green is Guy's Hospital Dental Institute, London, about 37 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. See local practice availability in Dragons Green → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
Private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) costs in Dragons Green 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 Dragons Green can usually provide replacement retainers.
Post-Brace Care in Dragons Green
The end of active orthodontic treatment in Dragons Green is a milestone — but not the end of the process. 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.
Teeth Whitening After Braces in Dragons Green
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 Dragons Green
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Dragons Green?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Dragons Green is Dr Mark O'Hara in Horsham, about 4.6 miles to the north-east. The next closest are Horsham Smiles Dental Practice (4.7 miles) and East Mews Dental Care (4.7 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Dragons Green?
Our register has 3 practices within 5 miles of Dragons Green, 6 practices within 10 miles and 83 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Dragons Green?
The nearest practice to Dragons Green that lists retainers is Dr Mark O'Hara in Horsham, about 4.6 miles to the north-east. Others nearby include Holbrook Dental and Implant Centre (6.5 miles) and Crawley Dental Clinic (10.2 miles).
How many families live in Dragons Green?
Census data puts 19.8% of Dragons Green's population at under 16.
Which NHS body covers Dragons Green for dental care?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board.
Is Dragons Green rural or urban?
ONS classifies Dragons Green as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is Dragons Green compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Dragons Green is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
How long do I need to wear my retainer?
The current standard guidance is to wear removable retainers indefinitely — full-time for the first 3–6 months, then nights only long-term. Stopping retainer wear, even after several years, risks teeth gradually drifting. Fixed bonded retainers are left in place permanently.
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: