Retainers in Old Town at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Orchard Dental Practice, Eastbourne — under a mile |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | Eastbourne Gentle Dental, Eastbourne — under a mile; 4 within 10 miles |
| Residents under 16 | 17.7% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 9.1% of 1,504 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Practices on our register | 8 within 5 miles, 9 within 10, 36 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of England |
| Households without a car | 11.5% in the surrounding census area (Census 2021) |
| Residents per square kilometre | 1,667 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 Old Town listing retainers
On our practice register: 8 practices within 5 miles of Old Town, 9 practices within 10 and 36 practices within 20. The closest is Eastbourne Gentle Dental, 0.7 miles east. The nearest listing retainers is Orchard Dental Practice, 0.8 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orchard Dental PracticeEastbourne | 0.8 miles east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 5.0 (22 reviews) |
| MK Dental and Implant ClinicBrighton | 16.5 miles west | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.6 (516 reviews) |
| Brighton Dental ClinicBrighton | 17.7 miles west | ✓ | – | – | 4.8 (228 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Old Town with practices listing retainers
The closest town with practices listing retainers is Eastbourne, 0.8 miles east; the next are Brighton (16.5 miles west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Eastbourne | 1 | 0.8 miles east |
| Brighton | 2 | 16.5 miles west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Old Town
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Orchard Dental Practice in Eastbourne (5.0 from 22 reviews), 0.8 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Orchard Dental PracticeEastbourne | 5.0 (22 reviews) | 0.8 miles east |
| Brighton Dental ClinicBrighton | 4.8 (228 reviews) | 17.7 miles west |
| MK Dental and Implant ClinicBrighton | 4.6 (516 reviews) | 16.5 miles west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Old Town
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Orchard Dental Practice, Eastbourne (under a mile) | MK Dental and Implant Clinic (16.5 miles); Brighton Dental Clinic (17.7 miles) | 3 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | Eastbourne Gentle Dental (under a mile) | Orchard Dental Practice (under a mile); Fellows Dental Practice (1 miles) | 7 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Orchard Dental Practice, Eastbourne (under a mile) | West Terrace Dental Practice (under a mile); MK Dental and Implant Clinic (16.5 miles) | 5 |
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. Without them, teeth start drifting back towards their old positions within weeks of finishing. Practices across Old Town usually supply both a fixed wire and a removable tray for belt-and-braces protection.
Types of Retainer Available in Old Town
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 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 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 Old Town 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 Old Town
Provision in Old Town varies by practice — it's worth comparing more than one before committing. By ONS classification, Old Town falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city. For NHS dental services, Old Town falls under NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board. Census data puts 17.7% of Old Town's population at under 16. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 9.1% of the 1,504 residents in Old Town's census neighbourhood, above the 6.8% average across East Sussex. With 8 orthodontic practices within five miles, Old Town is better served than 69% of towns in England. Secondary-age pupils near Old Town attend schools such as Gildredge House (0.4 miles) and The Cavendish School (0.7 miles). 5 secondary schools are within three miles. Old Town falls in a less deprived area than most of England. See local practice availability in Old Town → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
As a guide, private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) in Old Town 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 Old Town can usually provide replacement retainers.
Looking After Retainers in Old Town
Removable Essix retainers typically last one to three years before wear, warping or cracking calls for replacement, at roughly £80–£150 per arch. Hawley retainers are tougher and can last five to ten years; fixed wires last for years but can debond from a single tooth.
A fixed wire can debond without you noticing, so regular check-ups in Old Town matter — an unrepaired wire lets a tooth move independently and misalignment can appear within weeks.
After Your Braces Come Off in Old Town
Post-treatment aftercare is arguably the most important phase of orthodontic treatment in Old Town. Many patients are surprised how much goes into keeping teeth exactly where treatment left them. This guide covers everything that happens after active treatment ends.
Ongoing Check-ups After Treatment
Routine 6-monthly dental check-ups remain important after orthodontic treatment. Your dentist will check fixed retainer integrity, gum health around bonded wires, removable retainer fit, and early signs of tooth movement. Contact your orthodontist promptly if: your removable retainer no longer fits easily, a fixed retainer wire appears to have moved, or you notice teeth changing position.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in Old Town
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Old Town?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Old Town is Eastbourne Gentle Dental, about 0.7 miles to the east. The next closest are Orchard Dental Practice (0.8 miles) and Dsb Orthodontics Limited (0.9 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Old Town?
Our register has 8 practices within 5 miles of Old Town, 9 practices within 10 miles and 36 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Old Town?
The nearest practice to Old Town that lists retainers is Orchard Dental Practice in Eastbourne, about 0.8 miles to the east. Others nearby include MK Dental and Implant Clinic (16.5 miles) and Brighton Dental Clinic (17.7 miles).
Is Old Town a family area?
Census data puts 17.7% of Old Town's population at under 16.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Old Town?
NHS dental commissioning in Old Town falls under NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board.
What kind of area is Old Town?
ONS classifies Old Town as urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is Old Town compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Old Town is less deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Can I whiten my teeth while wearing retainers?
Yes — clear Essix retainers can even double as whitening trays with the right gel, and removable ones simply come out for in-chair whitening. A fixed wire doesn't block whitening the front teeth either, though gel won't reach directly behind it.
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 East Sussex
Explore retainers information for other towns and cities in East Sussex — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: