Retainers in Ivy Chimneys at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | FIRST Ortho - FIRST Impressions, Buckhurst Hill — 5.4 miles; 11 within 10 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | FIRST Ortho - FIRST Impressions, Buckhurst Hill — 5.4 miles; 14 within 10 miles |
| Residents under 16 | 21.8% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 8.4% of 1,589 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Practices on our register | 3 within 5 miles, 57 within 10, 276 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of England |
| Households without a car | 13.4% in the surrounding census area (Census 2021) |
| Residents per square kilometre | 1,337 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 Ivy Chimneys listing retainers
On our practice register: 3 practices within 5 miles of Ivy Chimneys, 57 practices within 10 and 276 practices within 20. The closest is Dental Beauty Orthodontics Epping, 0.5 miles north. The nearest listing retainers is FIRST Ortho - FIRST Impressions, 5.4 miles south-west.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST Ortho - FIRST ImpressionsBuckhurst Hill | 5.4 miles south-west | ✓ | – | ✓ | 5.0 (108 reviews) |
| Chingford Smile & Orthodontic StudioChingford | 5.9 miles south-west | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.3 (143 reviews) |
| Apolline DentalChingford | 6.0 miles south-west | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.9 (418 reviews) |
| Alluring Smiles Dental Practice & Smile DesignChingford | 6.1 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – | 4.6 (25 reviews) |
| Mulberry Dental Clinic (Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Leading Centre)Old Harlow | 6.5 miles north | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.8 (289 reviews) |
| North House Hoddesdon Dental & Aesthetic ClinicHoddesdon | 6.9 miles north-west | ✓ | – | ✓ | 5.0 (189 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Ivy Chimneys with practices listing retainers
The closest town with practices listing retainers is Buckhurst Hill, 5.4 miles south-west; the next are Chingford (5.9 miles south-west) and Old Harlow (6.5 miles north).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Buckhurst Hill | 1 | 5.4 miles south-west |
| Chingford | 3 | 5.9 miles south-west |
| Old Harlow | 1 | 6.5 miles north |
| Hoddesdon | 1 | 6.9 miles north-west |
| Highams Park | 1 | 7.5 miles south-west |
| Barkingside | 2 | 7.8 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Ivy Chimneys
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is North House Hoddesdon Dental & Aesthetic Clinic (5.0 from 189 reviews), 6.9 miles north-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| North House Hoddesdon Dental & Aesthetic ClinicHoddesdon | 5.0 (189 reviews) | 6.9 miles north-west |
| FIRST Ortho - FIRST ImpressionsBuckhurst Hill | 5.0 (108 reviews) | 5.4 miles south-west |
| Orthodontic GalleryBarkingside | 4.9 (462 reviews) | 7.8 miles south |
| Apolline DentalChingford | 4.9 (418 reviews) | 6.0 miles south-west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Ivy Chimneys
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | FIRST Ortho - FIRST Impressions, Buckhurst Hill (5.4 miles) | Chingford Smile & Orthodontic Studio (5.9 miles); Apolline Dental (6 miles) | 11 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | FIRST Ortho - FIRST Impressions, Buckhurst Hill (5.4 miles) | Chingford Smile & Orthodontic Studio (5.9 miles); Apolline Dental (6 miles) | 14 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | FIRST Ortho - FIRST Impressions, Buckhurst Hill (5.4 miles) | Chingford Smile & Orthodontic Studio (5.9 miles); Apolline Dental (6 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.
After braces or aligners, the bone and fibres around each tooth need time to settle. Teeth are under constant biological pressure to move, and retainers are the only reliable counter. Any orthodontic practice in Ivy Chimneys can fit, replace or repair them if you need it.
Retainer Services in Ivy Chimneys
Orthodontic practices in and around Ivy Chimneys vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. Ivy Chimneys — urban: Nearer to a major town or city by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Essex Integrated Care Board for NHS dentistry. 21.8% of Ivy Chimneys's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census. Census 2021 counts 1,589 residents in the neighbourhood around Ivy Chimneys, 8.4% of them aged 10 to 15, above the 6.9% average across Essex. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (3), Ivy Chimneys has more choice than 52% of towns in England. Families in Ivy Chimneys are served by secondary schools including Epping St John's Church of England School (0.7 miles) and Davenant Foundation School (2.2 miles). 3 secondary schools are within three miles. Ivy Chimneys's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of England. The nearest university dental hospital to Ivy Chimneys is Royal London Dental Hospital, London, about 14 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. See local practice availability in Ivy Chimneys → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
Private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) in Ivy Chimneys 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 Ivy Chimneys can usually provide replacement retainers.
Which Retainer Is Right for You in Ivy Chimneys?
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 clear thermoplastic trays much like aligners, removed for eating and cleaning. They're discreet and comfortable but can warp with heat and typically need replacing every 1–3 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 Ivy Chimneys now provide both a fixed wire for continuous protection and a removable Essix tray for overnight use, combining the strengths of each.
How Long Is Retention?
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.
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.
After Your Braces Come Off in Ivy Chimneys
When braces come off or aligner treatment completes in Ivy Chimneys, 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.
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 Ivy Chimneys
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Ivy Chimneys?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Ivy Chimneys is Dental Beauty Orthodontics Epping, about 0.5 miles to the north. The next closest are SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE (0.5 miles) and The Barbara Castle Dental Practice (4.4 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Ivy Chimneys?
Our register has 3 practices within 5 miles of Ivy Chimneys, 57 practices within 10 miles and 276 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Ivy Chimneys?
The nearest practice to Ivy Chimneys that lists retainers is FIRST Ortho - FIRST Impressions in Buckhurst Hill, about 5.4 miles to the south-west. Others nearby include Chingford Smile & Orthodontic Studio (5.9 miles) and Apolline Dental (6.0 miles).
How many families live in Ivy Chimneys?
Census data puts 21.8% of Ivy Chimneys's population at under 16.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Ivy Chimneys?
Ivy Chimneys sits within NHS Essex Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is Ivy Chimneys?
ONS classifies Ivy Chimneys as urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is Ivy Chimneys compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Ivy Chimneys is less deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What is the difference between a fixed and removable retainer?
A fixed retainer is a thin wire bonded permanently behind the teeth, needing no daily effort. A removable one (Essix or Hawley) comes out for eating and cleaning but has to be worn consistently. Plenty of patients get both — a fixed wire plus a removable night tray.
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 Essex
Explore retainers information for other towns and cities in Essex — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: