Retainers in Slateford at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd, Edinburgh — under a mile; 2 within 10 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Practices on our register | 114 within 5 miles, 150 within 10, 244 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Large Urban Areas |
| Deprivation | Around the Scotland average |
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 Slateford listing retainers
On our practice register: 114 practices within 5 miles of Slateford, 150 practices within 10 and 244 practices within 20. The closest is CRAIGLOCKHART CLINIC in Colinton, 0.4 miles south. The nearest listing retainers is Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd, 0.8 miles north-east.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardmillan Orthodontics LtdEdinburgh | 0.8 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – | 4.5 (68 reviews) |
| Integrated DentalcareEdinburgh | 1.6 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – | 4.9 (323 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 Slateford
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), 1.6 miles north-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated DentalcareEdinburgh | 4.9 (323 reviews) | 1.6 miles north-east |
| Ardmillan Orthodontics LtdEdinburgh | 4.5 (68 reviews) | 0.8 miles north-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Slateford
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd, Edinburgh (under a mile) | Integrated Dentalcare (1.6 miles) | 2 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd, Edinburgh (under a mile) | Integrated Dentalcare (1.6 miles) | 2 |
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. How diligently they're worn is what determines how long your Slateford treatment result lasts.
Retainer Services in Slateford
How quickly you can be seen, and what's on offer, varies between the practices serving Slateford. ONS classifies Slateford as large Urban Areas. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Lothian. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (114), Slateford has more choice than 96% of towns in Scotland. By national deprivation ranking, Slateford is roughly mid-table for Scotland. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Slateford is about 38 miles from Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee. See local practice availability in Slateford → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
As a guide, private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) in Slateford 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 Slateford can usually provide replacement retainers.
Replacing and Maintaining Retainers in Slateford
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.
Treat a lost or broken retainer as time-sensitive. Any orthodontic practice in Slateford can help, and catching a problem early is always far cheaper than dealing with relapse later.
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.
Orthodontic Aftercare in Slateford
The end of active orthodontic treatment in Slateford is a milestone — but not the end of the process. 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.
Ongoing Check-ups After Treatment
Regular 6-monthly dental check-ups don't stop mattering once treatment ends — your dentist will still check a fixed retainer wire is intact, the gum around it is healthy, a removable retainer still fits, and there's no early sign of teeth moving. Get in touch with your orthodontist promptly if a removable retainer stops fitting easily, a fixed wire looks like it's shifted, or you notice any change in tooth position.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in Slateford
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Slateford?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Slateford is CRAIGLOCKHART CLINIC in Colinton, about 0.4 miles to the south. The next closest are GORGIE DENTAL (0.5 miles) and 51 SLATEFORD ROAD (0.5 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Slateford?
Our register has 114 practices within 5 miles of Slateford, 150 practices within 10 miles and 244 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Slateford?
The nearest practice to Slateford that lists retainers is Ardmillan Orthodontics Ltd in Edinburgh, about 0.8 miles to the north-east. Others nearby include Integrated Dentalcare (1.6 miles).
Which NHS body covers Slateford for dental care?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Lothian.
Is Slateford rural or urban?
ONS classifies Slateford as large Urban Areas.
How deprived is Slateford compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Slateford is close to the Scotland average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Slateford?
Longstone, Craiglockhart, Murrayfield are within easy reach of Slateford.
I lost my retainer — what should I do?
Get in touch with an orthodontist promptly to arrange a replacement. Wear an old retainer that still fits reasonably in the meantime to limit drift — most practices can turn around a new Essix retainer within a few days from a fresh scan.
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: