Orthodontic Access in Dorset

26.6% of the 523 places we cover in Dorset have an orthodontic practice within five miles. The median place is 7.5 miles from the nearest.

How Dorset compares

Of the 523 places in Dorset that we measure, from towns to hamlets, 139 (26.6%) have at least one orthodontic practice on our register within five miles. The median place is 7.5 miles from its nearest practice and has a median of 0 practices within five miles. Across England as a whole the figures are 60.9% and 3.8 miles. Dorset ranks 114th of 120 counties in England for the share of places within five miles of a practice, where 1st is the best served, and 111th for the median distance to the nearest. Around 6.3% of residents in the census neighbourhoods of Dorset are aged 10 to 15, the age at which most NHS orthodontic treatment starts.

Area Places Within 5 miles of a practice Median distance to the nearest Median practices within 5 miles
Dorset 523 26.6% 7.5 miles 0
England 26,449 60.9% 3.8 miles 2
Last updated 10 October 2026. Distances are straight-line, not travel times, and the practice register is not exhaustive. How we compile this data.

How far places in Dorset are from a practice

63 of 523 places (12%) are within three miles of a practice, while 145 (27.7%) are ten miles or more away.

Distance to the nearest practice Places Share of places
Under 1 mile 7
1.3%
1 to 3 miles 56
10.7%
3 to 5 miles 72
13.8%
5 to 10 miles 243
46.5%
10 to 20 miles 145
27.7%
20 miles or more 0
0%

The places furthest from a practice in Dorset

The three places furthest from an orthodontic practice in Dorset are Hartgrove (17.6 miles), Compton Abbas (17.5 miles) and Guy's Marsh (17.5 miles).

Place Distance to the nearest practice Estimated drive
Hartgrove 17.6 miles about 40 minutes each way
Compton Abbas 17.5 miles about 40 minutes each way
Guy's Marsh 17.5 miles about 40 minutes each way
West Melbury 17.5 miles about 40 minutes each way
Bedchester 17.4 miles about 40 minutes each way
Kit Hill 17.4 miles about 40 minutes each way
Cann 17.3 miles about 40 minutes each way
East Compton 17.3 miles about 40 minutes each way
East Orchard 17.2 miles about 40 minutes each way
Melbury Abbas 17.1 miles about 40 minutes each way
The drive allows roads 30% longer than the straight line at an average 35 mph. It is an estimate, not a route.

The best-served places in Dorset

West Parley has the most practices within five miles, 22 of them. 139 of the 523 places in Dorset have at least one.

Place Practices within 5 miles Nearest practice
West Parley 22 2 miles
Brownsea Island 17 1.9 miles
Pottery Pier 15 2 miles
Furzey Island 15 2.7 miles
Green Island 15 2.7 miles
Hampreston 13 3 miles
Corfe Mullen 11 2 miles
Hill View 11 2 miles
East Holton 10 2.1 miles
Beacon Hill 10 2.2 miles

The practices behind these figures

Our register lists 5 orthodontic practices in Dorset, of which 1 list NHS orthodontic treatment. NHS dental services here are commissioned by NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board and NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board and NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board.

Town Practices on our register
Weymouth 3
Dorchester 2

Credit this data on your own site

If you use the Dorset figures in an article, report or website, copy this credit line and keep the link. It is the only condition of the CC BY 4.0 licence.

<p>Source: <a href="https://virtualconsultant.online/data/orthodontic-access-uk/dorset">Virtual Consultant Online, orthodontic access in Dorset</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

Where to go next

Orthodontic access in Dorset: questions

How far is the nearest orthodontist in Dorset?
Which places in Dorset are furthest from an orthodontist?
How does Dorset compare with the rest of England?
Is this a complete list of practices?

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