NHS Treatment in Alderwood Terrace at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS North East London Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | More deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 24.4% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7.9% of 2,528 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Collier Row Dental Practice, Collier Row — 1.2 miles; 13 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Forest Academy — 1.0 miles Bower Park Academy — 1.8 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Royal London Dental Hospital, London — about 11 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 10.8% of residents 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 listing NHS orthodontics near Alderwood Terrace
On our practice register: 28 practices within 5 miles of Alderwood Terrace, 66 practices within 10 and 305 practices within 20. The closest is Collier Row Dental Practice, 1.2 miles south-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Collier Row Dental Practice, 1.2 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collier Row Dental PracticeCollier Row | 1.2 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 3.3 (219 reviews) |
| Chadwell Heath Orthodontic PracticeBecontree | 2.6 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.4 (114 reviews) |
| CHADWELL HEATH ORTHODONTICS LTDRomford | 2.6 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| MALMIN ORTHODONTIC GROUP LTDIlford | 3.6 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| THE ORTHODONTIC GALLERYIlford | 4.0 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| FIRST Ortho - First ImpressionsBarkingside | 4.1 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (200 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Alderwood Terrace with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Collier Row, 1.2 miles south-east; the next are Becontree (2.6 miles south) and Romford (2.6 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Collier Row | 1 | 1.2 miles south-east |
| Becontree | 2 | 2.6 miles south |
| Romford | 1 | 2.6 miles south |
| Ilford | 4 | 3.6 miles south-west |
| Barkingside | 1 | 4.1 miles south-west |
| Buckhurst Hill | 1 | 4.4 miles west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Alderwood Terrace
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is FIRST Ortho - FIRST Impressions in Buckhurst Hill (5.0 from 108 reviews), 4.4 miles west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST Ortho - FIRST ImpressionsBuckhurst Hill | 5.0 (108 reviews) | 4.4 miles west |
| Hacton Dental CareHornchurch | 4.9 (217 reviews) | 5.2 miles south-east |
| Upminster Dental Practice (formerly known as Sunny Smiles Dental & Cosmetic Innovations)Hornchurch | 4.9 (146 reviews) | 4.9 miles south-east |
| Ilford Dental CentreIlford | 4.8 (251 reviews) | 4.3 miles south-west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Alderwood Terrace, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Excel Dental Clinic, 2.8 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Collier Row Dental Practice, 1.2 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Royal London Dental Hospital in London, about 11 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Alderwood Terrace are commissioned by NHS North East London Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Alderwood Terrace follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. For eligible under-18s it's outstanding value — full treatment at no charge at all. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Greater London.
NHS vs Private Fees in Alderwood Terrace
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Going private for the same metal braces in Alderwood Terrace costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Alderwood Terrace?
Many patients in Greater London wait 18 months or longer between NHS referral and treatment starting. During this period teeth continue to develop and cases can become more complex. Private treatment, while more expensive, begins promptly and offers far greater choice of treatment type.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Alderwood Terrace
NHS orthodontic treatment is free for under-18s who meet the clinical threshold. Adults who do qualify pay the NHS Band 3 charge, £332.10 in England from April 2026, which covers the whole course. Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in Greater London differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Orthodontic practices in and around Alderwood Terrace vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. Alderwood Terrace's deprivation ranking places it in a more deprived band than most of England. OHID's regional oral-health data records visible dental decay in 31% of local 5-year-olds. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 7.9% of the 2,528 residents in Alderwood Terrace's census neighbourhood, above the 6.8% average across Greater London. The nearest university dental hospital to Alderwood Terrace is Royal London Dental Hospital, London, about 11 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Alderwood Terrace — urban: Nearer to a major town or city by ONS classification — is covered by NHS North East London Integrated Care Board for NHS dentistry. With 24.4% of residents under 16, Alderwood Terrace has an above-average share of children. Secondary-age pupils near Alderwood Terrace attend schools such as Forest Academy (1.0 miles) and Bower Park Academy (1.8 miles). 9 secondary schools are within three miles. Alderwood Terrace's Local Authority has 94 schools educating 59,357 pupils (DfE data). With 28 orthodontic practices within five miles, Alderwood Terrace is better served than 95% of towns in England. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Alderwood Terrace itself. The closest on record are Collier Row Dental Practice, about a mile away; Dental Beauty Romford, about 2 miles away; and Chadwell Heath Orthodontic Practice in Becontree, about 3 miles away. NHS capacity is limited — practices often have closed lists for new NHS patients, which is why private treatment is the realistic route for many adults and for those who cannot wait.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Alderwood Terrace
Many patients in Alderwood Terrace are surprised they don't automatically qualify for NHS braces. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Greater London apply the same national criteria consistently. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
Private Alternatives If You're Not NHS-Eligible in Alderwood Terrace
Patients who don't meet the IOTN threshold have several straightforward private options. A free photo assessment through Virtual Consultant Online is a quick first step to understand which treatments suit your case and what they typically cost locally — before committing to a paid in-person consultation.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Alderwood Terrace
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. Early review can prevent more complex problems later and simplify treatment when it does begin.
NHS Treatment for Children in Alderwood Terrace
Eligible children under 18 in Alderwood Terrace are entitled to NHS orthodontic treatment free of charge. The process starts with a dentist IOTN assessment and formal referral to the local NHS orthodontic service.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Alderwood Terrace
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Alderwood Terrace?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Alderwood Terrace is Collier Row Dental Practice, about 1.2 miles to the south-east. The next closest are Dental Beauty Romford (2.4 miles) and Chadwell Heath Orthodontic Practice (2.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Alderwood Terrace?
Our register has 28 practices within 5 miles of Alderwood Terrace, 66 practices within 10 miles and 305 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Alderwood Terrace?
The nearest practice to Alderwood Terrace that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Collier Row Dental Practice, about 1.2 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include Chadwell Heath Orthodontic Practice (2.6 miles) and CHADWELL HEATH ORTHODONTICS LTD (2.6 miles).
How many families live in Alderwood Terrace?
24.4% of the local population is under 16, per the most recent Census.
Which NHS body covers Alderwood Terrace for dental care?
NHS dental commissioning in Alderwood Terrace falls under NHS North East London Integrated Care Board.
How's children's dental health in Alderwood Terrace's area?
Regionally, 31% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay, per OHID data.
Which towns are close to Alderwood Terrace?
Nearby towns include Chadwell Heath, Chase Cross, Lambourne.
Is NHS orthodontic treatment as good as private?
NHS orthodontic treatment delivered by specialist orthodontists achieves excellent clinical results. The key differences: NHS is almost exclusively metal braces with a waiting list; private offers ceramic, aligner, and lingual options with immediate access.
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.
NHS Treatment Across Greater London
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Greater London — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: