Retainers in Longhills at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist Aberdeen, Dyce — 3.2 miles; 4 within 10 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 — 4.7 miles; 3 within 10 miles |
| Practices on our register | 11 within 5 miles, 68 within 10, 78 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Accessible Rural |
| 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 Longhills listing retainers
On our practice register: 11 practices within 5 miles of Longhills, 68 practices within 10 and 78 practices within 20. The closest is DYCE DENTAL PRACTICE, 1.8 miles south. The nearest listing retainers is Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist Aberdeen, 3.2 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist AberdeenDyce | 3.2 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – | 4.8 (191 reviews) |
| Mastrick Smile CareAberdeen | 5.1 miles south | ✓ | – | – | 4.9 (213 reviews) |
| Old Town Dental Care - Invisalign, Dentist in AberdeenAberdeen | 5.4 miles south-east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.7 (288 reviews) |
| Aberdeen OrthodonticsAberdeen | 6.0 miles south-east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 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 Longhills with practices listing retainers
The closest town with practices listing retainers is Dyce, 3.2 miles south-east; the next are Aberdeen (5.1 miles south).
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Longhills
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), 5.1 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Mastrick Smile CareAberdeen | 4.9 (213 reviews) | 5.1 miles south |
| Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist AberdeenDyce | 4.8 (191 reviews) | 3.2 miles south-east |
| Aberdeen OrthodonticsAberdeen | 4.8 (106 reviews) | 6.0 miles south-east |
| Old Town Dental Care - Invisalign, Dentist in AberdeenAberdeen | 4.7 (288 reviews) | 5.4 miles south-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Longhills
| 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 (3.2 miles) | Mastrick Smile Care (5.1 miles); Old Town Dental Care - Invisalign, Dentist in Aberdeen (5.4 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 (4.7 miles) | Old Town Dental Care - Invisalign, Dentist in Aberdeen (5.4 miles); Aberdeen Orthodontics (6 miles) | 3 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Bridge of Don Dental & Aesthetic Clinic (4.7 miles) | Old Town Dental Care - Invisalign, Dentist in Aberdeen (5.4 miles); Aberdeen Orthodontics (6 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.
The result you paid for is only as durable as your commitment to retainers. During the months of remodelling, retainers hold the teeth precisely where treatment left them. Any orthodontic practice in Longhills can fit, replace or repair them if you need it.
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.
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.
Retainer Services in Longhills
Longhills has no orthodontic practice of its own, but a dentist — Dyce Dental Practice Family Dentist — is about 2 miles away, and a general dentist is who most people ask for an orthodontic referral in the first place. ONS classifies Longhills as accessible Rural. NHS dental commissioning in Longhills falls under NHS Grampian. Longhills has 11 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 77% of towns in Scotland. Longhills's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of Scotland. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Longhills is about 5 miles from Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen. See local practice availability in Longhills → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
Private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) in Longhills 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 Longhills can usually provide replacement retainers.
Retainer Options in Longhills
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 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 Longhills now provide both a fixed wire for continuous protection and a removable Essix tray for overnight use, combining the strengths of each.
Orthodontic Aftercare in Longhills
Post-treatment aftercare is arguably the most important phase of orthodontic treatment in Longhills. 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.
Aftercare Services in Longhills
No orthodontic practice covers Longhills directly, though Dyce Dental Practice Family Dentist (about 2 miles away) is the nearest dentist and can usually point patients toward orthodontic care locally. Longhills is classified as accessible Rural, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Grampian. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (11), Longhills has more choice than 77% of towns in Scotland. By national deprivation ranking, Longhills sits among the less deprived areas of Scotland. The nearest university dental hospital to Longhills is Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen, about 5 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 Longhills
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Longhills?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Longhills is DYCE DENTAL PRACTICE, about 1.8 miles to the south. The next closest are T/A MINT DENTAL CARE KINGSEAT (2.3 miles) and Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist Aberdeen (3.2 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Longhills?
Our register has 11 practices within 5 miles of Longhills, 68 practices within 10 miles and 78 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Longhills?
The nearest practice to Longhills that lists retainers is Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist Aberdeen in Dyce, about 3.2 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include Mastrick Smile Care (5.1 miles) and Old Town Dental Care - Invisalign, Dentist in Aberdeen (5.4 miles).
Is there a dentist near Longhills?
Longhills has no orthodontic practice of its own, but Dyce Dental Practice Family Dentist is about 2 miles away and, like any general dentist, can assess and refer for orthodontic treatment.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Longhills?
NHS dental commissioning in Longhills falls under NHS Grampian.
Is Longhills rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Longhills falls under accessible Rural.
How deprived is Longhills compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Longhills is less deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Do fixed retainers cause tartar build-up?
A bonded retainer can collect plaque and tartar if it isn't cleaned around carefully, since it makes flossing the lower front teeth harder. Using a floss threader or interdental brush daily, plus regular hygienist visits, keeps the area healthy. Most people manage this easily once shown the technique.
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: