The work does not stop when your teeth are straight. Teeth naturally try to drift back to where they started, and a retainer is what holds them in their new position. Wear it as advised and all that straightening lasts.
Tell us when suits and we will call you back to arrange it. No obligation.
Treatment Overview
What Is a Retainer?
A retainer is a custom-made dental appliance that holds your teeth in their new position after they have been straightened. It is the last stage of orthodontic treatment, and it is the part that makes all the earlier work last.
Teeth are not set in concrete. They sit in bone, held by fibres that have a long memory, and left to their own devices they slowly try to move back towards where they started. Dentists call this relapse. It can happen after clear aligners, after braces, or simply as a natural part of getting older. A retainer stops it. By holding your teeth still while the bone and gum settle around their new position, it keeps your smile where you want it.
There are two main types, and our orthodontist will help you choose the one that suits you. A fixed retainer is a thin wire bonded to the back of your front teeth, where nobody can see it. It stays put and works quietly in the background, so there is nothing to remember. A removable retainer is a clear, custom-made tray, or sometimes a thin plate, that you take in and out and usually wear at night. Some people have one type, some have both. Whichever you have, it is made to fit your teeth exactly.
Being fitted for a retainer is straightforward and comfortable. There are no needles and no drilling. We take a quick scan of your teeth, and appointments here are longer, so nothing is rushed. If the dentist makes you anxious, tell us when you book and we will take it at your pace, with the same familiar faces every visit.
When you might need a retainer:
You have just finished treatment with clear aligners
You have finished a course of braces
You wore a retainer years ago and stopped
Your teeth have started to drift back
You want to protect a small correction
Your old retainer is worn, lost or broken
What you get here:
A retainer custom-made to fit your teeth
Advice on whether a fixed or removable retainer suits you
Longer appointments, so nothing gets rushed
The same familiar faces every visit
Same-day help if a retainer breaks
Book your appointment
A new patient examination is £92.
Including any X-rays you need. From there, our orthodontist will advise which retainer suits you and what it costs.
Longer appointments, so we can talk through your concerns and give you a break if you need one.
Almost pain-free injections
The Wand numbs you without the big needle or the sting. Most patients are surprised how easy it is.
Digital X-rays
We diagnose faster, more accurately and with far less radiation than older film.
A hand to hold
Bring a partner in, or hold a nurse's hand. If you ever need us, we respond the same day.
About Waterside Dental
Your private dental practicein Hythe.
Waterside Dental is a private practice in Hythe, owned and led by principal dentist Dr Nikos Louskos since 2017. It has recently been refurbished to feel more like home than a clinic, and is run by a small, hand-picked team — so you'll always see a familiar face.
Care here is unhurried and patient-led. Appointments are longer so concerns can be talked through properly, treatment is explained in plain language, and nothing is rushed — with breaks during longer procedures whenever you need them.
We welcome private patients from Hythe and across Southampton — whether you're registering as a new patient or visiting for a single course of treatment while staying with your current dentist.
"I firmly believe that dentistry doesn't have to be unpleasant or scary, and that often it can be life-changing."
DR NIKOS LOUSKOS
Our Principal Dentist
Meet Dr NikosLouskos.
DDS · MSc Endodontics · GDC No. 102626
Principal dentist and practice owner, with a special interest in endodontics.
Dr Nikos Louskos qualified in Athens in 2005 and moved to the UK in 2006. He worked as an associate at Waterside before taking ownership of the practice in 2017.
In 2016 he completed a Master's in Endodontic Practice at Queen Mary University of London. He accepts referrals for complex root canal cases, which he treats under a microscope, and enjoys all aspects of general dentistry.
Nobody wants surprises after a dental visit. You'll get an itemised treatment plan with exact costs before anything begins, plus monthly payment options to spread the cost.
Finance is provided by Tabeo and is interest-bearing from 9.9% APR. Practice-plan discounts apply to selected treatments — full terms are listed on the Fees and Plans pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions patientsask us.
A few of the things patients ask us most often. If your question isn't here, just get in touch — we're happy to talk it through.
Teeth naturally try to drift back towards where they started once straightening is finished. A retainer holds them in their new position while everything settles, so the result lasts. Not wearing one is the most common reason straight teeth go crooked again.
Often for the long term, and for many people that means wearing a removable retainer at night indefinitely. Teeth can move throughout life, so the honest answer is that a retainer protects your smile for as long as you use it. We will tell you what suits your teeth rather than give a blanket rule.
Both work well, and it comes down to what suits you. A fixed retainer sits out of sight behind your teeth and needs no thinking about, though it takes a little more care to clean around. A removable one is easy to clean and take out, but only works if you actually wear it. Our orthodontist will talk you through both.
Often, yes. If the movement is small, a new retainer may be enough to hold things. If your teeth have drifted more, you may need a short course of clear aligners to straighten them first, then a retainer to keep them there. We will tell you honestly which you need.
Keep it clean and keep it safe. Clean a removable retainer gently as we show you, and store it in its case when it is not in your mouth, not wrapped in a tissue where it gets thrown away. For a fixed retainer, careful brushing and cleaning between your teeth keeps it healthy. We will give you the specifics for yours, so ask us any time.
Get in touch as soon as you can. Going without a retainer for long is when teeth start to move, so the sooner we replace it the better. If a fixed retainer comes loose, avoid pulling at it and call us to have it checked.
No. There are no needles and no drilling. A removable retainer is simply fitted and handed over, and a fixed one is bonded gently behind your teeth. A new retainer can feel tight or strange for a day or two, which just means it is doing its job.
We are a private practice. That means longer appointments and no restrictions on materials or techniques. All our prices are published, and our Practice Plan lets you spread routine care across monthly payments.
Whether you'd like to book or just have a question about treatment, send us a message and a member of the team will get back to you — the same day wherever we can.
