NHS Treatment in Alum Rock at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Birmingham and Solihull 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 | 28% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 11.4% of 2,161 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Fox & Goose Dental Centre, Washwood Heath — under a mile; 17 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Washwood Heath Academy — 0.1 miles Saltley Academy — 0.7 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Birmingham Dental Hospital, Birmingham — about 3 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 13% 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 Alum Rock
On our practice register: 36 practices within 5 miles of Alum Rock, 79 practices within 10 and 199 practices within 20. The closest is Fox & Goose Dental Centre in Washwood Heath, 0.2 miles north. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Fox & Goose Dental Centre, 0.2 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox & Goose Dental CentreWashwood Heath | 0.2 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 3.9 (43 reviews) |
| Accessible OrthodonticsAcocks Green | 1.6 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (407 reviews) |
| Castle Dental CareCastle Vale | 2.2 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.5 (158 reviews) |
| Polski Ortodonta BirminghamBirmingham | 3.1 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.0 (4 reviews) |
| Rai Dental SurgeryAcocks Green | 3.1 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (109 reviews) |
| Orthodontics ExclusivelyAcocks Green | 3.2 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 3.8 (226 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Alum Rock with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Washwood Heath, 0.2 miles north; the next are Acocks Green (1.6 miles south) and Castle Vale (2.2 miles north-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Washwood Heath | 1 | 0.2 miles north |
| Acocks Green | 7 | 1.6 miles south |
| Castle Vale | 1 | 2.2 miles north-east |
| Birmingham | 4 | 3.1 miles west |
| Sutton Coldfield | 3 | 3.2 miles north |
| Shirley | 1 | 4.5 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Alum Rock
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Rai Dental Surgery in Acocks Green (5.0 from 109 reviews), 3.1 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Rai Dental SurgeryAcocks Green | 5.0 (109 reviews) | 3.1 miles south |
| Nothing But The ToothSutton Coldfield | 4.9 (238 reviews) | 3.4 miles north |
| Birmingham Smile ClinicAcocks Green | 4.8 (795 reviews) | 3.7 miles south |
| Sherwood Dental Practice - BirminghamAcocks Green | 4.8 (566 reviews) | 4.1 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Alum Rock, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Solihull Manor Road Dental Care, 5.2 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Fox & Goose Dental Centre, Washwood Heath, under a mile away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Birmingham Dental Hospital in Birmingham, about 3 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Alum Rock are commissioned by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
For families in Alum Rock, the NHS pathway offers a subsidised route to fixed braces for eligible children. Eligible under-18s get excellent clinical outcomes at no cost. Knowing what the NHS can and cannot provide makes the NHS-versus-private decision clearer.
The NHS Orthodontic Pathway in Alum Rock
The NHS pathway in Alum Rock is well-structured — here's what to expect at each stage:
- Dental check-up: Your dentist performs an initial IOTN assessment and, if eligible, makes a formal referral.
- Referral to NHS orthodontist: You join the waiting list for the local NHS orthodontic service covering Alum Rock.
- Specialist assessment: An orthodontist confirms your IOTN score, takes records, and confirms whether NHS treatment proceeds.
- Brace fitting: Metal fixed braces are fitted — typically 60–90 minutes.
- Active treatment: Adjustment appointments every 6–8 weeks for 18–24 months on average.
- Retention: Retainers provided at completion as part of the NHS course of care.
NHS Waiting Times in Alum Rock
NHS orthodontic waiting times in City and Borough of Birmingham 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 Alum Rock
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 City and Borough of Birmingham vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Alum Rock. By national deprivation ranking, Alum Rock sits among the more deprived areas of England. OHID's regional oral-health data records visible dental decay in 26.9% of local 5-year-olds. In the census neighbourhood around Alum Rock, 11.4% of the 2,161 residents are aged 10 to 15, above the 8.2% average across City and Borough of Birmingham, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. The nearest university dental hospital to Alum Rock is Birmingham Dental Hospital, Birmingham, about 3 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Alum Rock is classified as urban: Nearer to a major town or city, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board. With 28% of residents under 16, Alum Rock has an above-average share of children. The closest secondary schools to Alum Rock are Washwood Heath Academy (0.1 miles) and Saltley Academy (0.7 miles). 32 secondary schools are within three miles. DfE figures put 501 schools and 210,486 pupils across Alum Rock's Local Authority. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (35), Alum Rock has more choice than 97% of towns in England. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Alum Rock itself. The nearest recorded are Fox & Goose Dental Centre in Washwood Heath, under a mile away; Accessible Orthodontics in Acocks Green, about 2 miles away; and Castle Dental Care in Castle Vale, about 2 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Alum Rock
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Not every child who sees an orthodontist needs treatment right away, but early identification allows targeted intervention. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Alum Rock
Space maintainers hold open the gap left by a prematurely lost baby tooth, preventing neighbouring teeth from drifting in before the adult tooth erupts.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Alum Rock?
Many patients in Alum Rock are surprised they don't automatically qualify for NHS braces. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
Eligibility in Alum Rock — Local Context
NHS waiting times in City and Borough of Birmingham are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Alum Rock
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Alum Rock?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Alum Rock is Fox & Goose Dental Centre in Washwood Heath, about 0.2 miles to the north. The next closest are SameDay Dentist (0.2 miles) and Accessible Orthodontics (1.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Alum Rock?
Our register has 36 practices within 5 miles of Alum Rock, 79 practices within 10 miles and 199 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Alum Rock?
The nearest practice to Alum Rock that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Fox & Goose Dental Centre in Washwood Heath, about 0.2 miles to the north. Others nearby include Accessible Orthodontics (1.6 miles) and Castle Dental Care (2.2 miles).
How's children's dental health in Alum Rock's area?
Regionally, 26.9% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay, per OHID data.
How deprived is Alum Rock compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Alum Rock is more deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What county is Alum Rock in?
Alum Rock falls within City and Borough of Birmingham.
What kind of area is Alum Rock?
ONS classifies Alum Rock as urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
Will I lose NHS eligibility if I turn 18 while waiting?
It's a genuine risk on a long waiting list — NHS funding is age-sensitive, so a case eligible at 16 might be assessed differently at 18. If you're close to that age and eligible now, ask about timescales; it can tip the decision toward going private.
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 City and Borough of Birmingham
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in City and Borough of Birmingham — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access:
See all orthodontic locations in City and Borough of Birmingham