NHS Treatment in Almeley at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | Around the England average |
| Residents under 16 | 12.5% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 4.7% of 1,541 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Willows Dentistry, Hereford — 13.3 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Lady Hawkins' School — 3.8 miles Weobley High School — 4.7 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 17.3% 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 Almeley
On our practice register: None within 10 miles of Almeley; 9 practices within 20. The closest is St.Owen Dental Studio in Hereford, 13.3 miles south-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Willows Dentistry, 13.3 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willows DentistryHereford | 13.3 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (196 reviews) |
| St Martins Dental & Implant ClinicHereford | 13.5 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (167 reviews) |
| Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant CentreHereford | 13.7 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (146 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Almeley
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Willows Dentistry in Hereford (4.9 from 196 reviews), 13.3 miles south-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Willows DentistryHereford | 4.9 (196 reviews) | 13.3 miles south-east |
| Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant CentreHereford | 4.9 (146 reviews) | 13.7 miles south-east |
| St Martins Dental & Implant ClinicHereford | 4.8 (167 reviews) | 13.5 miles south-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Almeley, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is mydentist, 13 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Willows Dentistry, Hereford, 13.3 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Almeley are commissioned by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
The NHS orthodontic pathway in Almeley focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. Eligible under-18s get excellent clinical outcomes at no cost. Understanding its limits helps families in Almeley plan around realistic waiting times.
NHS vs Private Fees in Almeley
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Equivalent private metal braces in Almeley typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
NHS Waiting Times in Almeley
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Herefordshire vary and can range from 12 to 36 months from referral to treatment starting. For families where timing is important — particularly approaching the optimal treatment age — private orthodontics eliminates the wait entirely and typically begins within a few weeks of consultation.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Almeley
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. NHS orthodontic waiting times in Herefordshire vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Almeley has no orthodontic practice of its own, but a dentist — mydentist — is about 13 miles away, and a general dentist is who most people ask for an orthodontic referral in the first place. National deprivation data puts Almeley close to the England median. Regionally, 19.4% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay (OHID data). Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 4.7% of the 1,541 residents in Almeley's census neighbourhood, below the 6.2% average across Herefordshire. Almeley — smaller rural: Further from a major town or city by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board for NHS dentistry. Census data puts only 12.5% of Almeley's population at under 16, below the typical share. The closest secondary schools to Almeley are Lady Hawkins' School (3.8 miles) and Weobley High School (4.7 miles). Almeley's Local Authority has 110 schools educating 24,851 pupils (DfE data). Almeley has no orthodontic practice within five miles on our register, and the closest is roughly 13 miles away. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Almeley. The nearest recorded are St.Owen Dental Studio in Hereford, about 13 miles away; The Mayhill Dental & Specialist Centre in Monmouth, about 27 miles away; and Buckingham House Dental Surgery in Great Malvern, about 28 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 Almeley
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Herefordshire apply the same national criteria consistently. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
How Eligibility Is Scored
The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the two-part scoring system orthodontists across Herefordshire use to decide whether a patient qualifies for NHS treatment.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Almeley
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. 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.
Children's Orthodontics in Almeley — Local Context
There's no orthodontist on record in Almeley itself; the nearest dentist, mydentist, is about 13 miles away and is a reasonable place to start for a referral. Census data puts only 12.5% of Almeley's population at under 16, below the typical share. Census 2021 counts 1,541 residents in the neighbourhood around Almeley, 4.7% of them aged 10 to 15, below the 6.2% average across Herefordshire. Families in Almeley are served by secondary schools including Lady Hawkins' School (3.8 miles) and Weobley High School (4.7 miles). Almeley's Local Authority has 110 schools educating 24,851 pupils (DfE data). OHID data for this ICB shows 19.4% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. Almeley is classified as smaller rural: Further from a major town or city, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board. Almeley sits close to the England average for deprivation. Almeley has no orthodontic practice within five miles on our register, and the closest is roughly 13 miles away. They typically offer children's assessments and NHS-funded treatment for eligible patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Almeley
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Almeley?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Almeley is St.Owen Dental Studio in Hereford, about 13.3 miles to the south-east. The next closest are Willows Dentistry (13.3 miles) and Evans Morton & Evans Orthodontics (13.4 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Almeley?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Almeley, 0 practices within 10 miles and 9 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Hereford, 13.3 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Almeley?
The nearest practice to Almeley that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Willows Dentistry in Hereford, about 13.3 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic (13.5 miles) and Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant Centre (13.7 miles).
Which towns are close to Almeley?
Hurstley, Upcott, Woonton are within easy reach of Almeley.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Almeley?
NHS dental commissioning in Almeley falls under NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board.
How many families live in Almeley?
Around 12.5% of Almeley's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
How many pupils are in Almeley's Local Authority?
Almeley's Local Authority has 110 schools educating 24,851 pupils (DfE data).
Will I lose NHS eligibility if I turn 18 while waiting?
This is a real risk with long waiting lists. NHS orthodontic funding is age-sensitive, so a case that qualifies at 16 may be assessed differently once you turn 18. If you're close to 18 and eligible, ask your dentist about timescales — it can be a reason to consider private treatment.
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 Herefordshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Herefordshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: