Retainers in Orchard Brae at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Integrated Dentalcare, Edinburgh — 1.1 miles; 3 within 10 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | Edinburgh Dental Studio, Edinburgh — 1 miles; 2 within 10 miles |
| Practices on our register | 114 within 5 miles, 153 within 10, 243 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Large Urban Areas |
| 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 Orchard Brae listing retainers
On our practice register: 114 practices within 5 miles of Orchard Brae, 153 practices within 10 and 243 practices within 20. The closest is 3 COMELY BANK in Edinburgh, 0.4 miles east. The nearest listing retainers is Integrated Dentalcare, 1.1 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated DentalcareEdinburgh | 1.1 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – | 4.9 (323 reviews) |
| Cherrybank Dental SpaEdinburgh | 1.3 miles east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.8 (419 reviews) |
| Ardmillan Orthodontics LtdEdinburgh | 1.5 miles south | ✓ | – | – | 4.5 (68 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Orchard Brae
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Integrated Dentalcare in Edinburgh (4.9 from 323 reviews), 1.1 miles south-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated DentalcareEdinburgh | 4.9 (323 reviews) | 1.1 miles south-east |
| Cherrybank Dental SpaEdinburgh | 4.8 (419 reviews) | 1.3 miles east |
| Ardmillan Orthodontics LtdEdinburgh | 4.5 (68 reviews) | 1.5 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Orchard Brae
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Integrated Dentalcare, Edinburgh (1.1 miles) | Cherrybank Dental Spa (1.3 miles); Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd (1.5 miles) | 3 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | Edinburgh Dental Studio (1 miles) | Cherrybank Dental Spa (1.3 miles) | 2 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Integrated Dentalcare, Edinburgh (1.1 miles) | Cherrybank Dental Spa (1.3 miles); Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd (1.5 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.
Retainers are the final — and permanent — phase of any orthodontic treatment. Without them, teeth start drifting back towards their old positions within weeks of finishing. Practices across Orchard Brae usually supply both a fixed wire and a removable tray for belt-and-braces protection.
Retainer Services in Orchard Brae
Not every practice near Orchard Brae offers the same treatments, so it's worth checking what each one covers. Orchard Brae — large Urban Areas by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Lothian for NHS dentistry. Orchard Brae has 114 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 96% of towns in Scotland. Orchard Brae's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of Scotland. The nearest university dental hospital to Orchard Brae is Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee, about 36 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. See local practice availability in Orchard Brae → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
Expect private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) costs in Orchard Brae 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 Orchard Brae can usually provide replacement retainers.
Retainer Options in Orchard Brae
Fixed (bonded) retainers are the set-and-forget option — a hidden wire fixed behind the incisors that never relies on you remembering to wear it. They do demand a bit more care at brushing time to avoid plaque around the wire.
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 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 Orchard Brae 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?
The current standard is to keep wearing removable retainers indefinitely, tapering from full-time to nights only. Abandoning them after a couple of years — once routine advice — is now recognised as a leading cause of relapse.
Fixed bonded retainers stay in place permanently unless they break, needing no daily decision — which makes them the most reliable long-term method.
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.
After Your Braces Come Off in Orchard Brae
Post-treatment aftercare is arguably the most important phase of orthodontic treatment in Orchard Brae. How diligently you wear retainers is what separates a lasting result from gradual relapse. Understanding the aftercare process helps you make the most of your investment.
Aftercare Services in Orchard Brae
Practices serving Orchard Brae differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. By ONS classification, Orchard Brae falls under large Urban Areas. For NHS dental services, Orchard Brae falls under NHS Lothian. With 114 orthodontic practices within five miles, Orchard Brae is better served than 96% of towns in Scotland. Orchard Brae falls in a less deprived area than most of Scotland. The nearest university dental hospital to Orchard Brae is Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee, about 36 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 Orchard Brae
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Orchard Brae?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Orchard Brae is 3 COMELY BANK in Edinburgh, about 0.4 miles to the east. The next closest are 4 GREAT STUART STREET (0.9 miles) and E H DENTAL CARE (1.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Orchard Brae?
Our register has 114 practices within 5 miles of Orchard Brae, 153 practices within 10 miles and 243 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Orchard Brae?
The nearest practice to Orchard Brae that lists retainers is Integrated Dentalcare in Edinburgh, about 1.1 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include Cherrybank Dental Spa (1.3 miles) and Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd (1.5 miles).
Which NHS body covers Orchard Brae for dental care?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Lothian.
Is Orchard Brae rural or urban?
ONS classifies Orchard Brae as large Urban Areas.
How deprived is Orchard Brae compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Orchard Brae is less deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What towns are near Orchard Brae?
Gorgie, Ravelston, East Pilton are within easy reach of Orchard Brae.
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 City of Edinburgh
Explore retainers information for other towns and cities in City of Edinburgh — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: