Retainers in Harefield at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Rickmansworth Orthodontics, Rickmansworth — 2.6 miles; 8 within 10 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | Cassio Road Dental Practice, Watford — 5.4 miles |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | Gerrards Cross Specialist Orthodontic Centre, Gerrards Cross — 2.8 miles; 11 within 10 miles |
| Residents under 16 | 17.1% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.6% of 1,597 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Practices on our register | 14 within 5 miles, 70 within 10, 307 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Deprivation | Around the England average |
| Households without a car | 19.1% in the surrounding census area (Census 2021) |
| Residents per square kilometre | 226 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 Harefield listing retainers
On our practice register: 14 practices within 5 miles of Harefield, 70 practices within 10 and 307 practices within 20. The closest is RICKMANSWORTH ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE LTD, 2.6 miles north. The nearest listing retainers is Rickmansworth Orthodontics, 2.6 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rickmansworth OrthodonticsRickmansworth | 2.6 miles north | ✓ | – | – | 4.8 (24 reviews) |
| Oaks Dental RuislipRuislip | 3.1 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – | 4.9 (199 reviews) |
| Precision SmilesNorthwood Hills | 3.2 miles east | ✓ | – | – | 4.8 (309 reviews) |
| West House DentalPinner | 4.5 miles east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 5.0 (259 reviews) |
| Woodlands OrthodonticsNortholt | 5.2 miles east | ✓ | – | – | 4.1 (32 reviews) |
| Skin & Smiles – Dentist in WatfordWatford | 5.3 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – | 4.7 (84 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Harefield with practices listing retainers
The closest town with practices listing retainers is Rickmansworth, 2.6 miles north; the next are Ruislip (3.1 miles south-east) and Northwood Hills (3.2 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Rickmansworth | 1 | 2.6 miles north |
| Ruislip | 1 | 3.1 miles south-east |
| Northwood Hills | 1 | 3.2 miles east |
| Pinner | 1 | 4.5 miles east |
| Northolt | 1 | 5.2 miles east |
| Watford | 3 | 5.3 miles north-east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Harefield
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is West House Dental in Pinner (5.0 from 259 reviews), 4.5 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| West House DentalPinner | 5.0 (259 reviews) | 4.5 miles east |
| Oaks Dental RuislipRuislip | 4.9 (199 reviews) | 3.1 miles south-east |
| Precision SmilesNorthwood Hills | 4.8 (309 reviews) | 3.2 miles east |
| Rickmansworth OrthodonticsRickmansworth | 4.8 (24 reviews) | 2.6 miles north |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Harefield
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Rickmansworth Orthodontics (2.6 miles) | Oaks Dental Ruislip (3.1 miles); Precision Smiles (3.2 miles) | 8 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | Cassio Road Dental Practice, Watford (5.4 miles) | none other | 1 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | Gerrards Cross Specialist Orthodontic Centre (2.8 miles) | J&R Dental (3.2 miles); Frays Dental Centre, Uxbridge (3.6 miles) | 11 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Uxbridge Orthodontics | NHS Child & Adult Braces | Invisalign | Orthodontic Specialist Service (3.6 miles) | Cassio Road Dental Practice (5.4 miles); Dr Korosh Majidi (5.6 miles) | 4 |
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. During the months of remodelling, retainers hold the teeth precisely where treatment left them. Practices across Harefield usually supply both a fixed wire and a removable tray for belt-and-braces protection.
Types of Retainer Available in Harefield
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 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 Harefield now provide both a fixed wire for continuous protection and a removable Essix tray for overnight use, combining the strengths of each.
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.
A bonded wire simply stays put, quietly doing its job without any effort from you, which is why it's the most dependable form of retention.
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.
Retainer Services in Harefield
No orthodontic practice covers Harefield directly, though Denham Green Dental Practice (about a mile away) is the nearest dentist and can usually point patients toward orthodontic care locally. By ONS classification, Harefield falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS West and North London Integrated Care Board. Harefield's under-16 share sits at 17.1%, per the 2021 Census. In the census neighbourhood around Harefield, 6.6% of the 1,597 residents are aged 10 to 15, close to the 6.8% average across Greater London, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. With 14 orthodontic practices within five miles, Harefield is better served than 83% of towns in England. Families in Harefield are served by secondary schools including Harefield School (0.8 miles) and The Reach Free School (2.2 miles). 3 secondary schools are within three miles. Harefield's Local Authority area covers 109 schools and 55,331 pupils, according to DfE figures. National deprivation data puts Harefield close to the England median. The nearest university dental hospital to Harefield is UCL Eastman Dental Hospital, London, about 17 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. See local practice availability in Harefield → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
As a guide, private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) in Harefield 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 Harefield can usually provide replacement retainers.
Post-Brace Care in Harefield
Finishing active treatment is the start of retention, not the finish line. How diligently you wear retainers is what separates a lasting result from gradual relapse. This guide covers everything that happens after active treatment ends.
The De-bond Appointment
De-bonding uses an instrument that carefully cracks the adhesive bond so brackets lift free without damaging the enamel underneath, then a rotating buff polishes off any leftover adhesive — the whole thing takes 10-20 minutes. Some mild sensitivity afterwards, as enamel that's been under a bracket meets air again, is normal and settles.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in Harefield
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Harefield?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Harefield is RICKMANSWORTH ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE LTD, about 2.6 miles to the north. The next closest are Rickmansworth Orthodontics (2.6 miles) and Gerrards Cross Specialist Orthodontic Centre (2.8 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Harefield?
Our register has 14 practices within 5 miles of Harefield, 70 practices within 10 miles and 307 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Harefield?
The nearest practice to Harefield that lists retainers is Rickmansworth Orthodontics, about 2.6 miles to the north. Others nearby include Oaks Dental Ruislip (3.1 miles) and Precision Smiles (3.2 miles).
How many families live in Harefield?
17.1% of the local population is under 16, per the most recent Census.
How deprived is Harefield compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Harefield is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Where's the nearest dentist to Harefield?
Harefield has no orthodontic practice of its own, but Denham Green Dental Practice is about a mile away and, like any general dentist, can assess and refer for orthodontic treatment.
What county is Harefield in?
Harefield falls within Greater London.
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 Greater London
Explore retainers information for other towns and cities in Greater London — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: