NHS Treatment in Anchorsholme at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria 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 | 10.7% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 4.1% of 1,645 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Bank Dental, Thornton-Cleveleys — 2.2 miles; 5 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Montgomery Academy — 1.0 miles Millfield School — 1.2 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Preston Dental School, Preston — about 15 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 29.3% 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 Anchorsholme
On our practice register: 8 practices within 5 miles of Anchorsholme, 18 practices within 10 and 53 practices within 20. The closest is Bank Dental in Thornton-Cleveleys, 2.2 miles south-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Bank Dental, 2.2 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank DentalThornton-Cleveleys | 2.2 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (250 reviews) |
| Thomas & Thomas Dental AssociatesBlackpool | 3.9 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (104 reviews) |
| St Annes Dental ClinicLytham St Annes | 8.2 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (94 reviews) |
| St Annes Private Dental CentreLytham St Annes | 8.3 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.1 (24 reviews) |
| Martin J Kenyon, Dental SurgeonsLytham St Annes | 9.6 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.2 (155 reviews) |
| Sharoe Green Dental PracticePreston | 14.3 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (557 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Anchorsholme with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Thornton-Cleveleys, 2.2 miles south-east; the next are Blackpool (3.9 miles south) and Lytham St Annes (8.2 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Thornton-Cleveleys | 1 | 2.2 miles south-east |
| Blackpool | 1 | 3.9 miles south |
| Lytham St Annes | 3 | 8.2 miles south |
| Preston | 5 | 14.3 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Anchorsholme
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Bank Dental in Thornton-Cleveleys (5.0 from 250 reviews), 2.2 miles south-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bank DentalThornton-Cleveleys | 5.0 (250 reviews) | 2.2 miles south-east |
| Penwortham Dental - Tooth TalkPreston | 4.9 (421 reviews) | 14.7 miles south-east |
| Holly Dental PracticePreston | 4.9 (163 reviews) | 15.0 miles south-east |
| Sharoe Green Dental PracticePreston | 4.8 (557 reviews) | 14.3 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Anchorsholme, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is The Dental Practice, under a mile away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Bank Dental, Thornton-Cleveleys, 2.2 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Preston Dental School in Preston, about 15 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Anchorsholme are commissioned by NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
For families in Anchorsholme, the NHS pathway offers a subsidised route to fixed braces for eligible children. For eligible under-18s it's outstanding value — full treatment at no charge at all. Understanding its limits helps families in Anchorsholme plan around realistic waiting times.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Anchorsholme
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Private treatment in Anchorsholme trades cost for speed and choice — around £1,500–£3,500 for metal braces, but starting within weeks and with ceramic, lingual and aligner options on the table.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Anchorsholme?
Many patients in Blackpool 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 Anchorsholme
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 Blackpool differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
There's no orthodontist on record in Anchorsholme itself; the nearest dentist, The Dental Practice, is under a mile away and is a reasonable place to start for a referral. National deprivation data ranks Anchorsholme among England's more deprived areas. 26.7% of 5-year-olds across this ICB have visible dental decay, per OHID's most recent figures. In the census neighbourhood around Anchorsholme, 4.1% of the 1,645 residents are aged 10 to 15, below the 6% average across Blackpool, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Anchorsholme is Preston Dental School in Preston, about 15 miles away. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board. By ONS classification, Anchorsholme falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city. Anchorsholme has a smaller share of children than most areas — 10.7% of residents are under 16. The closest secondary schools to Anchorsholme are Montgomery Academy (1.0 miles) and Millfield School (1.2 miles). 8 secondary schools are within three miles. Anchorsholme's Local Authority area covers 49 schools and 19,656 pupils, according to DfE figures. Anchorsholme has 8 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 69% of towns in England. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Anchorsholme. The nearest we do hold are Bank Dental in Thornton-Cleveleys, about 2 miles away; The Fleetwood Dental Practice, about 4 miles away; and Ivory Dental Care (Parkroad) in Blackpool, about 4 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 Anchorsholme
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. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
Children's Orthodontics in Anchorsholme — Local Context
No orthodontic practice covers Anchorsholme directly, though The Dental Practice (under a mile away) is the nearest dentist and can usually point patients toward orthodontic care locally. Anchorsholme's under-16 share, 10.7%, is below the typical level. Census 2021 counts 1,645 residents in the neighbourhood around Anchorsholme, 4.1% of them aged 10 to 15, below the 6% average across Blackpool. Secondary-age pupils near Anchorsholme attend schools such as Montgomery Academy (1.0 miles) and Millfield School (1.2 miles). 8 secondary schools are within three miles. Anchorsholme's Local Authority area covers 49 schools and 19,656 pupils, according to DfE figures. OHID's regional oral-health data records visible dental decay in 26.7% of local 5-year-olds. Classified by ONS as urban: Nearer to a major town or city, Anchorsholme sits within NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Anchorsholme falls in a more deprived area than most of England, which can be relevant to NHS orthodontic eligibility. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (8), Anchorsholme has more choice than 69% of towns in England. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Anchorsholme is about 15 miles from Preston Dental School in Preston. They typically offer children's assessments and NHS-funded treatment for eligible patients.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Anchorsholme
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. 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.
What Is IOTN?
NHS eligibility is decided by the IOTN — a two-part clinical index applied consistently by orthodontists throughout Blackpool.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Anchorsholme
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Anchorsholme?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Anchorsholme is Bank Dental in Thornton-Cleveleys, about 2.2 miles to the south-east. The next closest are Poulton Dental Care & Implant Centre (2.5 miles) and Tower Dental (2.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Anchorsholme?
Our register has 8 practices within 5 miles of Anchorsholme, 18 practices within 10 miles and 53 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Anchorsholme?
The nearest practice to Anchorsholme that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Bank Dental in Thornton-Cleveleys, about 2.2 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include Thomas & Thomas Dental Associates (3.9 miles) and St Annes Dental Clinic (8.2 miles).
How deprived is Anchorsholme compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Anchorsholme is more deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Is tooth decay common among young children near Anchorsholme?
Regionally, 26.7% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay, per OHID data.
Does Anchorsholme have a dental practice?
There's no orthodontist based in Anchorsholme, though The Dental Practice (under a mile away) is a general dentist who can carry out an initial assessment and refer on if needed.
What towns are near Anchorsholme?
Norcross, Burn Naze, Rossall Beach are within easy reach of Anchorsholme.
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 Blackpool
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