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- Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:30pm. Saturdays by request only. Sunday: Closed.
Croydon Dental Practice · Addiscombe Orthodontics
Retainers keep straightened teeth where they belong. We make new, replacement and repaired retainers, including for people who had their braces or aligners somewhere else, at our dentist in Croydon on Lower Addiscombe Road.
When braces or aligners come off, the gum fibres and bone around your teeth are still settling into their new positions. In the first months, teeth are most likely to shift back. But the tendency to move does not stop there. Teeth keep changing position gradually throughout life, whether or not you have had orthodontic treatment, and lower front teeth often become more crowded with age.
That is why UK orthodontists generally recommend lifelong retention: wearing a retainer for as long as you want your teeth to stay straight. Over time, many people can reduce wear to a few nights a week, but only on advice from your orthodontic team. Stopping altogether is the most common reason teeth move after treatment.
Many people have both: a fixed wire behind the front teeth plus a removable retainer worn at night. Your orthodontic team recommends what suits your case.
A thin wire glued to the back of the front teeth. It is invisible from the front and works all the time without you having to remember it. It needs careful cleaning, and the wire or glue can occasionally come loose.
£150 per arch
A thin, clear plastic tray, similar to an aligner, usually worn at night. Easy to clean and discreet, but it must be worn as instructed and can wear, crack or get lost over time.
£150 per arch
A removable retainer with a plastic plate and a wire across the front teeth. It is sturdy and can be adjusted, and is sometimes chosen for particular cases.
£150 per arch
If your retainer is lost, cracked, no longer fits or your fixed wire has come loose, contact us as soon as possible. Teeth can start to move within days or weeks without retention, and the longer you wait, the more likely it is that a new retainer will not fit your teeth as they were.
If your old removable retainer still fits, keep wearing it until your appointment. If a fixed wire has come partly unstuck and is poking, do not try to pull it off; cover any sharp end with orthodontic wax and call us. An emergency orthodontic adjustment costs £55.
You do not need to have had your braces or aligners with us. Many people come to our Croydon practice because they have moved to the area, their original provider is no longer available, or they had treatment years ago and never had a replacement retainer. We assess your teeth, check the health of your gums, and make new retainers to hold your teeth in their current position.
If your teeth have already moved and you are unhappy with how they look, a new retainer will hold them where they are now; it will not move them back. In that case we can talk you through options for a short course of re-treatment, such as clear aligners including AddaSmile, a clear aligner brand, before new retainers are made. Your options are explained by our orthodontic team, led by Dr Sarah Sadek, specialist orthodontist.
A well cared-for retainer lasts longer and keeps working properly.
Brush removable retainers gently with a soft brush and cool water. Hot water can warp the plastic.
Most lost retainers are wrapped in a napkin at a meal or left within reach of a dog. Use the case every time.
Use floss threaders or small interdental brushes under the wire to stop plaque and tartar building up.
Remove removable retainers to eat and to drink anything other than water, then brush before putting them back.
Prices from our price list. We confirm what you need, and the cost, before anything is made.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Retainer (fixed or removable) | £150 per arch |
| Replacement retainer | £150 per arch |
| Emergency orthodontic adjustment (loose wire, broken retainer) | £55 |
| Braces consultation | £65 |
| Clear aligner consultation | Free (£10 refundable booking deposit) |
See our full price list. Retainers made after NHS braces are usually provided as part of that treatment; replacements for lost or broken retainers are normally charged privately. Ask us if unsure.
Croydon Dental Practice is at 202 Lower Addiscombe Road, Addiscombe, Croydon CR0 7AB. Addiscombe tram stop is a short walk away and East Croydon station is nearby, so it is easy to reach from across the borough. We are open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:30; Saturday appointments are by request and we are closed on Sunday.
AddaSmile, a clear aligner brand, and Invisalign for teeth that have moved.
Fixed braces for more complex re-treatment.
All orthodontic options at Addiscombe Orthodontics.
Urgent help for broken braces, wires and other problems.
Retainers cost £150 per arch, whether fixed or removable. An emergency orthodontic adjustment for a loose wire or broken retainer is £55.
Yes. We regularly make retainers for people treated at other practices. We assess your teeth first and make a retainer to hold them in their current position.
We generally recommend wearing a retainer for as long as you want your teeth to stay straight. Your orthodontic team will advise how often.
Call us as soon as possible. Do not pull the wire. Cover any sharp end with orthodontic wax until your appointment.
No. A retainer holds teeth where they are. If they have moved, we can discuss re-treatment with aligners or braces first.
It varies with wear and care. Removable retainers wear over time and may need replacing every few years. Bring yours to check-ups so we can check it.
Lost or broken your retainer? Call us early so we can see you before your teeth move. Open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:30.
