Retainers in Six Acres at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Contemporary Dental, Exeter — 4.5 miles; 5 within 10 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | Life Dental & Wellbeing, Exeter — 4.7 miles; 3 within 10 miles |
| Residents under 16 | 12% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 4.6% of 1,551 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Practices on our register | 5 within 5 miles, 14 within 10, 28 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Deprivation | Around the England average |
| Households without a car | 12.3% in the surrounding census area (Census 2021) |
| Residents per square kilometre | 84 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 Six Acres listing retainers
On our practice register: 5 practices within 5 miles of Six Acres, 14 practices within 10 and 28 practices within 20. The closest is Contemporary Dental in Exeter, 4.5 miles east. The nearest listing retainers is Contemporary Dental, 4.5 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contemporary DentalExeter | 4.5 miles east | ✓ | – | – | 4.9 (353 reviews) |
| Exeter Orthodontic PracticeExeter | 4.6 miles east | ✓ | – | – | 4.9 (202 reviews) |
| Life Dental & WellbeingExeter | 4.7 miles east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.9 (561 reviews) |
| Dental House ExeterExeter | 6.6 miles east | ✓ | – | – | 5.0 (110 reviews) |
| Inspired Dental CareExeter | 6.8 miles east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.7 (219 reviews) |
| Terrace Dental CareDawlish | 12.8 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – | 4.8 (166 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Six Acres with practices listing retainers
The closest town with practices listing retainers is Exeter, 4.5 miles east; the next are Dawlish (12.8 miles south-east) and Cockington (17.8 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Exeter | 5 | 4.5 miles east |
| Dawlish | 1 | 12.8 miles south-east |
| Cockington | 1 | 17.8 miles south |
| Paignton | 1 | 19.8 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Six Acres
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Ocean Orthodontic Clinic in Cockington (5.0 from 534 reviews), 17.8 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Orthodontic ClinicCockington | 5.0 (534 reviews) | 17.8 miles south |
| Expert SmilePaignton | 5.0 (130 reviews) | 19.8 miles south |
| Dental House ExeterExeter | 5.0 (110 reviews) | 6.6 miles east |
| Life Dental & WellbeingExeter | 4.9 (561 reviews) | 4.7 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Six Acres
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Contemporary Dental, Exeter (4.5 miles) | Exeter Orthodontic Practice (4.6 miles); Life Dental & Wellbeing (4.7 miles) | 8 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | Life Dental & Wellbeing, Exeter (4.7 miles) | Dental 397 (6.7 miles); Inspired Dental Care (6.8 miles) | 9 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Contemporary Dental, Exeter (4.5 miles) | Dental House Exeter (6.6 miles); Inspired Dental Care (6.8 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. Without them, teeth start drifting back towards their old positions within weeks of finishing. How diligently they're worn is what determines how long your Six Acres treatment result lasts.
Retainer Services in Six Acres
How quickly you can be seen, and what's on offer, varies between the practices serving Six Acres. Six Acres — smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Devon Integrated Care Board for NHS dentistry. With just 12% of residents under 16, Six Acres skews toward an older population. Census 2021 counts 1,551 residents in the neighbourhood around Six Acres, 4.6% of them aged 10 to 15, below the 6.3% average across Devon. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (5), Six Acres has more choice than 60% of towns in England. OHID data for this ICB shows 22.6% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. The closest secondary schools to Six Acres are Thomas Hall School (4.2 miles) and Queen Elizabeth's (4.4 miles). Six Acres's deprivation ranking is neither notably high nor low compared with England as a whole. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Six Acres is about 30 miles from Peninsula Dental School in Plymouth. See local practice availability in Six Acres → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
As a guide, private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) in Six Acres 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 Six Acres can usually provide replacement retainers.
Looking After Retainers in Six Acres
Essix retainers need replacing every one to three years on average — heat from dishwashers, hot drinks or a hot car warps the plastic. Clean them with a soft brush and cold water, never abrasive toothpaste, and use cleaning tablets occasionally.
If you lose or break a retainer, contact an orthodontist in Six Acres promptly — most can make a replacement Essix within a few days from a scan. In the meantime, wear your old one if it still fits: even a damaged retainer beats none.
Types of Retainer Available in Six Acres
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 Six Acres now provide both a fixed wire for continuous protection and a removable Essix tray for overnight use, combining the strengths of each.
Life After Braces in Six Acres
The end of active orthodontic treatment in Six Acres is a milestone — but not the end of the process. 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 Six Acres
Provision in Six Acres varies by practice — it's worth comparing more than one before committing. Classified by ONS as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city, Six Acres sits within NHS Devon Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Census data puts only 12% of Six Acres's population at under 16, below the typical share. In the census neighbourhood around Six Acres, 4.6% of the 1,551 residents are aged 10 to 15, below the 6.3% average across Devon, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. With 5 orthodontic practices within five miles, Six Acres is better served than 60% of towns in England. Regionally, 22.6% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay (OHID data). Families in Six Acres are served by secondary schools including Thomas Hall School (4.2 miles) and Queen Elizabeth's (4.4 miles). Six Acres sits close to the England average for deprivation. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Six Acres is about 30 miles from Peninsula Dental School in Plymouth. They typically offer post-treatment services including retainer fitting, replacement, and professional whitening.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in Six Acres
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Six Acres?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Six Acres is Contemporary Dental in Exeter, about 4.5 miles to the east. The next closest are Exeter Orthodontic Practice (4.6 miles) and Life Dental & Wellbeing (4.7 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Six Acres?
Our register has 5 practices within 5 miles of Six Acres, 14 practices within 10 miles and 28 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Six Acres?
The nearest practice to Six Acres that lists retainers is Contemporary Dental in Exeter, about 4.5 miles to the east. Others nearby include Exeter Orthodontic Practice (4.6 miles) and Life Dental & Wellbeing (4.7 miles).
Is Six Acres rural or urban?
ONS classifies Six Acres as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
How many families live in Six Acres?
Around 12% of Six Acres's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
How deprived is Six Acres compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Six Acres is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Six Acres?
Nearby towns include Whitestone, Tedburn Saint Mary, Holcombe Burnell Barton.
Can I whiten my teeth while wearing retainers?
Clear Essix retainers can double as whitening trays with dentist-supplied gel, and removable retainers are simply taken out during in-chair whitening. A fixed bonded wire doesn't prevent whitening of the front teeth, though the gel won't reach directly behind it. Your dentist can advise the best approach.
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 Devon
Explore retainers information for other towns and cities in Devon — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: