Retainers in Widewell at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing retainers | Mannamead Cosmetic Dental Centre Plymouth, Plymouth — 3.9 miles; 5 within 10 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice with emergency care | Nuvo Dental Plymouth, Plymouth — 4.4 miles |
| Nearest practice open evenings or weekends | Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, Plymouth — 2 miles; 5 within 10 miles |
| Residents under 16 | 24.7% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 8.8% of 1,902 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Practices on our register | 12 within 5 miles, 14 within 10, 18 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Deprivation | Around the England average |
| Households without a car | 14.1% in the surrounding census area (Census 2021) |
| Residents per square kilometre | 3,480 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 Widewell listing retainers
On our practice register: 12 practices within 5 miles of Widewell, 14 practices within 10 and 18 practices within 20. The closest is Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, 2.0 miles south. The nearest listing retainers is Mannamead Cosmetic Dental Centre Plymouth, 3.9 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | Retainers | Emergency care | Evenings or weekends | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mannamead Cosmetic Dental Centre PlymouthPlymouth | 3.9 miles south | ✓ | – | – | 4.7 (52 reviews) |
| Plymouth Dental Centre of ExcellenceSaltash | 4.0 miles south-west | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.9 (768 reviews) |
| Smile Care Cosmetic CentrePlymouth | 4.3 miles south | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.9 (260 reviews) |
| Nuvo Dental PlymouthPlymouth | 4.4 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | – | 4.9 (697 reviews) |
| Clark House DentalPlymouth | 5.2 miles south | ✓ | – | – | 4.7 (45 reviews) |
| Ocean Orthodontic ClinicCockington | 24.0 miles east | ✓ | – | ✓ | 5.0 (534 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Widewell with practices listing retainers
The closest town with practices listing retainers is Plymouth, 3.9 miles south; the next are Saltash (4.0 miles south-west) and Cockington (24.0 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | 4 | 3.9 miles south |
| Saltash | 1 | 4.0 miles south-west |
| Cockington | 1 | 24.0 miles east |
| Paignton | 1 | 24.3 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Widewell
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Plymouth Dental Centre of Excellence in Saltash (4.9 from 768 reviews), 4.0 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Dental Centre of ExcellenceSaltash | 4.9 (768 reviews) | 4.0 miles south-west |
| Nuvo Dental PlymouthPlymouth | 4.9 (697 reviews) | 4.4 miles south-west |
| Smile Care Cosmetic CentrePlymouth | 4.9 (260 reviews) | 4.3 miles south |
| Mannamead Cosmetic Dental Centre PlymouthPlymouth | 4.7 (52 reviews) | 3.9 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Retainers near Widewell
| What you may need | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retainers | retainers | Mannamead Cosmetic Dental Centre Plymouth (3.9 miles) | Plymouth Dental Centre of Excellence (4 miles); Smile Care Cosmetic Centre (4.3 miles) | 5 |
| Urgent repairs | emergency care | Nuvo Dental Plymouth (4.4 miles) | none other | 1 |
| Visits outside working hours | evening or weekend opening | Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth (2 miles) | Plymouth Orthodontics (3.6 miles); Plymouth Dental Centre of Excellence (4 miles) | 7 |
| A fresh scan for a new retainer | digital scanning | Mannamead Cosmetic Dental Centre Plymouth (3.9 miles) | Smile Care Cosmetic Centre (4.3 miles); Nuvo Dental Plymouth (4.4 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.
Retainers are the final — and permanent — phase of any orthodontic treatment. Relapse begins quickly once active treatment stops, which is why retention never truly ends. How diligently they're worn is what determines how long your Widewell treatment result lasts.
Retainer Services in Widewell
Practices serving Widewell differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. Officially, Widewell is categorised as urban: Nearer to a major town or city. NHS Devon Integrated Care Board is the NHS body responsible for dental commissioning in Widewell. Widewell skews family-heavy: 24.7% of residents are under 16, above the typical share. In the census neighbourhood around Widewell, 8.8% of the 1,902 residents are aged 10 to 15, above the 6.3% average across Devon, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (12), Widewell has more choice than 79% of towns in England. OHID data for this ICB shows 22.6% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. Families in Widewell are served by secondary schools including Notre Dame RC School (1.5 miles) and Tor Bridge High (2.0 miles). 5 secondary schools are within three miles. DfE figures put 103 schools and 39,211 pupils across Widewell's Local Authority. Widewell sits close to the England average for deprivation. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Widewell is about 2 miles from Peninsula Dental School in Plymouth. See local practice availability in Widewell → They typically offer retainer fitting, replacement, and emergency repair appointments.
Expect private replacement Essix retainers (per arch) costs in Widewell 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 Widewell can usually provide replacement retainers.
How Long Do You Need to Wear Retainers?
Guidance has shifted in recent years: removable retainers are now recommended indefinitely — full-time for the first 3–6 months, then nights only, then several nights a week for life. The old 'stop after two years' advice caused many relapses.
Because a fixed retainer removes the compliance question entirely, it's the surest safeguard against long-term drift.
Should your retainer feel tight after time away from it, that's early drift; see your orthodontist rather than forcing it back on. Acting quickly avoids a bigger, costlier correction later.
Types of Retainer Available in Widewell
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 are the classic removable retainer: robust, adjustable, and long-lived, with the only real downside being that the front wire is visible when in.
Many orthodontists in Widewell now provide both a fixed wire for continuous protection and a removable Essix tray for overnight use, combining the strengths of each.
After Your Braces Come Off in Widewell
Post-treatment aftercare is arguably the most important phase of orthodontic treatment in Widewell. 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.
Teeth Whitening After Braces in Widewell
Many patients want to whiten their teeth immediately after braces come off. Wait at least 4 weeks before starting whitening — enamel is temporarily more porous after de-bonding and needs time to remineralise. Professional whitening after this period produces excellent results on freshly straightened teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions — Retainers in Widewell
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Widewell?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Widewell is Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, about 2.0 miles to the south. The next closest are Meavy Way Dental Practice (2.4 miles) and Crownhill Dental Practice - Plymouth (2.4 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Widewell?
Our register has 12 practices within 5 miles of Widewell, 14 practices within 10 miles and 18 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get a retainer near Widewell?
The nearest practice to Widewell that lists retainers is Mannamead Cosmetic Dental Centre Plymouth, about 3.9 miles to the south. Others nearby include Plymouth Dental Centre of Excellence (4.0 miles) and Smile Care Cosmetic Centre (4.3 miles).
Is Widewell rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Widewell falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Widewell?
Widewell sits within NHS Devon Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
What county is Widewell in?
Widewell is in Devon.
How many families live in Widewell?
24.7% of the local population is under 16, per the most recent Census.
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 Devon
Explore retainers information for other towns and cities in Devon — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: