Retainers in Ickenham at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Oaks Dental Ruislip, Ruislip — 1.2 miles; 13 within 10 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | Pearl Dental and Aesthetics Centre, Harrow — 5.8 miles |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | J&R Dental, Ruislip — 1.2 miles; 12 within 10 miles |
| Residents under 16 | 21% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7.2% of 1,617 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Practices on our register | 18 within 5 miles, 100 within 10, 345 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of England |
| Households without a car | 9.6% in the surrounding census area (Census 2021) |
| Residents per square kilometre | 2,069 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 Ickenham listing retainers
On our practice register: 18 practices within 5 miles of Ickenham, 100 practices within 10 and 345 practices within 20. The closest is J&R Dental in Ruislip, 1.2 miles north-east. The nearest listing retainers is Oaks Dental Ruislip, 1.2 miles north-east.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oaks Dental RuislipRuislip | 1.2 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – | 4.9 (199 reviews) |
| Precision SmilesNorthwood Hills | 3.2 miles north | ✓ | – | – | 4.8 (309 reviews) |
| West House DentalPinner | 3.2 miles north-east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 5.0 (259 reviews) |
| 130 dental centreHeston | 3.6 miles south | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.7 (428 reviews) |
| Woodlands OrthodonticsNortholt | 3.7 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – | 4.1 (32 reviews) |
| Inspire Dental SouthallHeston | 4.4 miles south-east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.5 (989 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Ickenham with practices listing retainers
The closest town with practices listing retainers is Ruislip, 1.2 miles north-east; the next are Northwood Hills (3.2 miles north) and Pinner (3.2 miles north-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Ruislip | 1 | 1.2 miles north-east |
| Northwood Hills | 1 | 3.2 miles north |
| Pinner | 1 | 3.2 miles north-east |
| Heston | 3 | 3.6 miles south |
| Northolt | 2 | 3.7 miles north-east |
| Harrow on the Hill | 1 | 5.7 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Ickenham
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), 3.2 miles north-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| West House DentalPinner | 5.0 (259 reviews) | 3.2 miles north-east |
| Oaks Dental RuislipRuislip | 4.9 (199 reviews) | 1.2 miles north-east |
| Pearl Dental and Aesthetics CentreHarrow | 4.8 (320 reviews) | 5.8 miles east |
| Precision SmilesNorthwood Hills | 4.8 (309 reviews) | 3.2 miles north |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Ickenham
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Oaks Dental Ruislip (1.2 miles) | Precision Smiles (3.2 miles); West House Dental (3.2 miles) | 13 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | Pearl Dental and Aesthetics Centre, Harrow (5.8 miles) | none other | 1 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | J&R Dental, Ruislip (1.2 miles) | Frays Dental Centre, Uxbridge (1.7 miles); Feelgood Dental | NHS & Private Dentist Near Me | Invisalign | Dental Implants (1.8 miles) | 12 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Uxbridge Orthodontics | NHS Child & Adult Braces | Invisalign | Orthodontic Specialist Service (1.8 miles) | 130 dental centre (3.6 miles); Inspire Dental Southall (4.4 miles) | 7 |
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. How diligently they're worn is what determines how long your Ickenham treatment result lasts.
Retainer Options in Ickenham
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 Ickenham now provide both a fixed wire for continuous protection and a removable Essix tray for overnight use, combining the strengths of each.
Retainer Services in Ickenham
How quickly you can be seen, and what's on offer, varies between the practices serving Ickenham. ONS classifies Ickenham as urban: Nearer to a major town or city. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS West and North London Integrated Care Board. Census data puts 21% of Ickenham's population at under 16. Census 2021 counts 1,617 residents in the neighbourhood around Ickenham, 7.2% of them aged 10 to 15, close to the 6.8% average across Greater London. Ickenham has 18 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 89% of towns in England. The closest secondary schools to Ickenham are The Douay Martyrs Catholic School (0.2 miles) and Vyners School (1.0 miles). 20 secondary schools are within three miles. There are 109 schools and 55,331 pupils in Ickenham's Local Authority area, per DfE data. Ickenham falls in a less deprived area than most of England. The nearest university dental hospital to Ickenham is UCL Eastman Dental Hospital, London, about 14 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. See local practice availability in Ickenham → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
Expect private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) costs in Ickenham to fall roughly 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 Ickenham can usually provide replacement retainers.
How Long Do You Need to Wear Retainers?
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.
Because a fixed retainer removes the compliance question entirely, it's the surest safeguard against long-term drift.
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.
After Your Braces Come Off in Ickenham
Finishing active treatment is the start of retention, not the finish line. The best clinical outcome can be lost within months if retention is neglected. Understanding the aftercare process helps you make the most of your investment.
Aftercare Services in Ickenham
How quickly you can be seen, and what's on offer, varies between the practices serving Ickenham. Ickenham is classified as urban: Nearer to a major town or city. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS West and North London Integrated Care Board. Census figures show 21% of the local population is under 16. In the census neighbourhood around Ickenham, 7.2% of the 1,617 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 18 orthodontic practices within five miles, Ickenham is better served than 89% of towns in England. Families in Ickenham are served by secondary schools including The Douay Martyrs Catholic School (0.2 miles) and Vyners School (1.0 miles). 20 secondary schools are within three miles. DfE figures put 109 schools and 55,331 pupils across Ickenham's Local Authority. Ickenham's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of England. The nearest university dental hospital to Ickenham is UCL Eastman Dental Hospital, London, about 14 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. They typically offer post-treatment services including retainer fitting, replacement, and professional whitening.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in Ickenham
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Ickenham?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Ickenham is J&R Dental in Ruislip, about 1.2 miles to the north-east. The next closest are Oaks Dental Ruislip (1.2 miles) and Ivory Dental Practice (1.5 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Ickenham?
Our register has 18 practices within 5 miles of Ickenham, 100 practices within 10 miles and 345 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Ickenham?
The nearest practice to Ickenham that lists retainers is Oaks Dental Ruislip, about 1.2 miles to the north-east. Others nearby include Precision Smiles (3.2 miles) and West House Dental (3.2 miles).
What towns are near Ickenham?
Nearby towns include Newyears Green, Charville, Ruislip.
How deprived is Ickenham compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Ickenham is less deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which county covers Ickenham?
Ickenham falls within Greater London.
Is Ickenham well served by schools?
Ickenham's Local Authority has 109 schools educating 55,331 pupils (DfE data).
What happens if I stop wearing my retainer?
Teeth begin to drift back toward their original positions without retainer support. The speed of drift varies — some patients see movement within weeks, others take months. If your removable retainer stops fitting, do not force it in. Contact your orthodontist for assessment — early intervention is far less costly than waiting.
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: