Retainers in The Drums at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Kingsway Dental Practice, Dundee — 23.2 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 | 0 within 5 miles, 1 within 10, 9 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Accessible Rural |
| 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 The Drums listing retainers
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of The Drums; 1 practice within 10 and 9 practices within 20. The closest is KIRRIEMUIR DENTAL PRACTICE, 9.3 miles south. Few practices near here list retainers in their published information, so this lists the nearest of any kind.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIRRIEMUIR DENTAL PRACTICEKirriemuir | 9.3 miles south | – | – | – | – |
| FORFAR DENTAL CAREForfar | 12.9 miles south-east | – | – | – | – |
| CASTLE STREET DENTALForfar | 12.9 miles south-east | – | – | – | – |
| HIGH STREET DENTAL PRACTICEForfar | 13.0 miles south-east | – | – | – | – |
| INFINITYBLU DENTAL CARE & IMPLANT CLINICAlyth | 14.6 miles south-west | – | – | – | – |
| R AND PM THOMSONBrechin | 15.6 miles east | – | – | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to The Drums with orthodontic practices
The closest town with orthodontic practices is Kirriemuir, 9.3 miles south; the next are Forfar (12.9 miles south-east) and Alyth (14.6 miles south-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Kirriemuir | 1 | 9.3 miles south |
| Forfar | 3 | 12.9 miles south-east |
| Alyth | 1 | 14.6 miles south-west |
| Brechin | 2 | 15.6 miles east |
| Blairgowrie and Rattray | 1 | 18.7 miles south-west |
| Coupar Angus | 1 | 20.0 miles south-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near The Drums
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Kingsway Dental Practice, Dundee (23.2 miles) | none other | 0 |
| 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 | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
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.
Retention is a lifelong commitment, not a short-term measure many patients expect. During the months of remodelling, retainers hold the teeth precisely where treatment left them. Any orthodontic practice in The Drums can fit, replace or repair them if you need it.
Types of Retainer Available in The Drums
Fixed (bonded) retainers are thin wires bonded behind the front teeth — usually the lower six, sometimes the upper too. They're permanent, invisible from the front, and need no daily effort, though they require careful cleaning with floss threaders to keep the gum 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 The Drums now provide both a fixed wire for continuous protection and a removable Essix tray for overnight use, combining the strengths of each.
Looking After Retainers in The Drums
Expect to replace an Essix retainer every couple of years; Hawley plates last far longer, and bonded wires longest of all. The one thing to watch with a fixed retainer is a wire quietly debonding from a tooth.
Treat a lost or broken retainer as time-sensitive. Any orthodontic practice in The Drums can help, and catching a problem early is always far cheaper than dealing with relapse later.
Retainer Services in The Drums
Not every practice near The Drums offers the same treatments, so it's worth checking what each one covers. Classified by ONS as accessible Rural, The Drums sits within NHS Tayside for NHS dental commissioning. People in The Drums usually travel further for an orthodontist: the nearest on our register is about 9 miles away. By national deprivation ranking, The Drums is roughly mid-table for Scotland. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to The Drums is Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee, about 24 miles away. See local practice availability in The Drums → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
Expect private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) costs in The Drums 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 The Drums can usually provide replacement retainers.
Post-Brace Care in The Drums
Post-treatment aftercare is arguably the most important phase of orthodontic treatment in The Drums. The de-bond appointment, retainer fitting, whitening timing and retention habits all decide whether your result lasts. This guide covers everything that happens after active treatment ends.
The De-bond Appointment
At de-bonding, brackets are removed using an instrument that gently fractures the adhesive bond, leaving enamel undamaged when performed correctly. Adhesive residue is polished off using a rotating buff — taking 10-20 minutes. You may notice mild sensitivity in the days after as enamel previously under brackets is exposed; this is temporary.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in The Drums
Where is the nearest orthodontist to The Drums?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to The Drums is KIRRIEMUIR DENTAL PRACTICE, about 9.3 miles to the south. The next closest are FORFAR DENTAL CARE (12.9 miles) and CASTLE STREET DENTAL (12.9 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near The Drums?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of The Drums, 1 practice within 10 miles and 9 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Kirriemuir, 9.3 miles away.
Where can I get a retainer near The Drums?
The nearest practice to The Drums that lists retainers is Kingsway Dental Practice in Dundee, about 23.2 miles to the south.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in The Drums?
NHS dental commissioning in The Drums falls under NHS Tayside.
Is The Drums rural or urban?
By ONS classification, The Drums falls under accessible Rural.
How deprived is The Drums compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, The Drums 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 The Drums?
Nearby towns include Wheen, Northmuir, Balnaboth.
Can I get retainers if my teeth have already shifted?
If teeth have shifted slightly, a new set of retainers made to your current tooth position will hold further movement. If the shift is significant, a short course of retreatment (aligners or braces) may be recommended first. An orthodontist assessment will determine 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 Angus
Explore retainers information for other towns and cities in Angus — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: