Retainers in Ellon at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist Aberdeen, Dyce — 11.8 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | Bridge of Don Dental & Aesthetic Clinic, Bridge of Don — 12.6 miles |
| Practices on our register | 2 within 5 miles, 4 within 10, 75 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Other 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 Ellon listing retainers
On our practice register: 2 practices within 5 miles of Ellon, 4 practices within 10 and 75 practices within 20. The closest is YTHAN BRIDGE DENTAL CENTRE in Ellon, 0.3 miles north-west. The nearest listing retainers is Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist Aberdeen, 11.8 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist AberdeenDyce | 11.8 miles south | ✓ | – | – | 4.8 (191 reviews) |
| Old Town Dental Care - Invisalign, Dentist in AberdeenAberdeen | 13.7 miles south | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.7 (288 reviews) |
| Mastrick Smile CareAberdeen | 14.5 miles south | ✓ | – | – | 4.9 (213 reviews) |
| Aberdeen OrthodonticsAberdeen | 14.5 miles south | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.8 (106 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Ellon with practices listing retainers
The closest town with practices listing retainers is Dyce, 11.8 miles south; the next are Aberdeen (13.7 miles south).
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Ellon
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), 14.5 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Mastrick Smile CareAberdeen | 4.9 (213 reviews) | 14.5 miles south |
| Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist AberdeenDyce | 4.8 (191 reviews) | 11.8 miles south |
| Aberdeen OrthodonticsAberdeen | 4.8 (106 reviews) | 14.5 miles south |
| Old Town Dental Care - Invisalign, Dentist in AberdeenAberdeen | 4.7 (288 reviews) | 13.7 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Ellon
| 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 (11.8 miles) | Old Town Dental Care - Invisalign, Dentist in Aberdeen (13.7 miles); Mastrick Smile Care (14.5 miles) | 4 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | Bridge of Don Dental & Aesthetic Clinic (12.6 miles) | Old Town Dental Care - Invisalign, Dentist in Aberdeen (13.7 miles); Aberdeen Orthodontics (14.5 miles) | 3 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Bridge of Don Dental & Aesthetic Clinic (12.6 miles) | Old Town Dental Care - Invisalign, Dentist in Aberdeen (13.7 miles); Aberdeen Orthodontics (14.5 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. Relapse begins quickly once active treatment stops, which is why retention never truly ends. How diligently they're worn is what determines how long your Ellon treatment result lasts. People from Meiklemill, Tipperty and Cookston regularly visit orthodontists in Ellon.
Retainer Services in Ellon
There are 2 orthodontic practices in our database covering Ellon. Ellon's ONS geography type is other Urban Areas. For NHS dental services, Ellon falls under NHS Grampian. With 2 orthodontic practices within five miles, Ellon is better served than 56% of towns in Scotland. Ellon's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of Scotland. The nearest university dental hospital to Ellon is Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen, about 14 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. See local practice availability in Ellon → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments. People from Meiklemill, Tipperty, and Cookston regularly make use of Ellon's orthodontic practices for retainer fitting and replacement.
Private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) in Ellon 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 Ellon can usually provide replacement retainers.
How Long Do You Need to Wear Retainers?
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.
Because a fixed retainer removes the compliance question entirely, it's the surest safeguard against long-term drift.
A retainer that no longer seats is a warning sign — get it checked promptly. Catching movement early usually means a fresh retainer, not a full course of retreatment.
Retainer Options in Ellon
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 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 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 Ellon now provide both a fixed wire for continuous protection and a removable Essix tray for overnight use, combining the strengths of each.
After Your Braces Come Off in Ellon
The end of active orthodontic treatment in Ellon 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. Getting aftercare right is what protects everything you've paid for. People from Meiklemill, Tipperty and Cookston regularly visit orthodontists in Ellon.
The De-bond Appointment
At de-bonding, brackets are removed using an instrument that gently fractures the adhesive bond, leaving enamel undamaged when performed correctly. Adhesive residue is polished off using a rotating buff — taking 10-20 minutes. You may notice mild sensitivity in the days after as enamel previously under brackets is exposed; this is temporary.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in Ellon
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Ellon?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Ellon is YTHAN BRIDGE DENTAL CENTRE in Ellon, about 0.3 miles to the north-west. The next closest are SCHOOLHILL DENTAL PRACTICE (0.4 miles) and T/A MINT DENTAL CARE KINGSEAT (7.5 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Ellon?
Our register has 2 practices within 5 miles of Ellon, 4 practices within 10 miles and 75 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Ellon?
The nearest practice to Ellon that lists retainers is Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist Aberdeen in Dyce, about 11.8 miles to the south. Others nearby include Old Town Dental Care - Invisalign, Dentist in Aberdeen (13.7 miles) and Mastrick Smile Care (14.5 miles).
Which NHS body covers Ellon for dental care?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Grampian.
Is Ellon rural or urban?
ONS classifies Ellon as other Urban Areas.
How deprived is Ellon compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Ellon is less deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What towns are near Ellon?
Nearby towns include Meiklemill, Auchmacoy, Foveran.
Can I get retainers without having had braces?
Retainers hold teeth in position but don't move them, so they're only useful once teeth are already well-aligned. If your teeth are naturally straight and you simply want to prevent age-related drift, a dentist can discuss whether retainers are appropriate — but they won't correct existing crookedness.
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: