NHS Treatment in Backford at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Cheshire and Merseyside 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 | 15.5% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 4.9% of 2,772 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Whitby Dental & Implant Clinic, Ellesmere Port Town — 2.5 miles; 11 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | The Whitby High School — 1.7 miles Upton-by-Chester High School — 2.1 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Liverpool University Dental Hospital, Liverpool — about 12 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 19% 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 Backford
On our practice register: 11 practices within 5 miles of Backford, 21 practices within 10 and 90 practices within 20. The closest is Whitby Dental & Implant Clinic in Ellesmere Port Town, 2.5 miles north. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Whitby Dental & Implant Clinic, 2.5 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitby Dental & Implant ClinicEllesmere Port Town | 2.5 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (178 reviews) |
| Deva Dental ClinicChester | 3.0 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (219 reviews) |
| Art of Dental Care ChesterChester | 3.2 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (75 reviews) |
| Masters OrthodonticsChester | 3.2 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (49 reviews) |
| Perfect Smile - Dentist in ActonHoole | 3.6 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (170 reviews) |
| Overleigh OrthodonticsChester | 4.0 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (59 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Backford with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Ellesmere Port Town, 2.5 miles north; the next are Chester (3.0 miles south) and Hoole (3.6 miles south-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Ellesmere Port Town | 1 | 2.5 miles north |
| Chester | 4 | 3.0 miles south |
| Hoole | 1 | 3.6 miles south-east |
| Guilden Sutton | 1 | 4.6 miles south-east |
| Willaston | 1 | 5.9 miles north-west |
| Deeside | 1 | 6.4 miles west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Backford
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is The Abbey by Duthie Dental in Childwall (5.0 from 158 reviews), 10.7 miles north.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| The Abbey by Duthie DentalChildwall | 5.0 (158 reviews) | 10.7 miles north |
| Buckle Advanced Dental CareBebington | 5.0 (144 reviews) | 8.2 miles north-west |
| Art of Dental Care ChesterChester | 5.0 (75 reviews) | 3.2 miles south |
| Masters OrthodonticsChester | 5.0 (49 reviews) | 3.2 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Backford, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Johnson & Whitehouse Dental Surgery, 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 Whitby Dental & Implant Clinic, Ellesmere Port Town, 2.5 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Liverpool University Dental Hospital in Liverpool, about 12 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Backford are commissioned by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Backford follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Cheshire West and Chester.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Backford
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 Cheshire West and Chester vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Treatment range and appointment slots differ between the practices covering Backford — comparing a couple is worthwhile. By national deprivation ranking, Backford is roughly mid-table for England. OHID data for this ICB shows 31.2% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 4.9% of the 2,772 residents in Backford's census neighbourhood, below the 6.7% average across Cheshire West and Chester. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Backford is about 12 miles from Liverpool University Dental Hospital in Liverpool. Backford is classified as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board. 15.5% of Backford's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census. Secondary-age pupils near Backford attend schools such as The Whitby High School (1.7 miles) and Upton-by-Chester High School (2.1 miles). 5 secondary schools are within three miles. Backford's Local Authority area covers 176 schools and 54,746 pupils, according to DfE figures. With 11 orthodontic practices within five miles, Backford is better served than 77% of towns in England. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Backford itself. The nearest we do hold are Whitby Dental & Implant Clinic in Ellesmere Port Town, about 2 miles away; Deva Dental Clinic in Chester, about 3 miles away; and Perfect Smile - Dentist in Acton, 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.
NHS vs Private Fees in Backford
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Private treatment in Backford 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.
Your NHS Journey Step by Step in Backford
From first check-up to retainers, the NHS process in Backford runs like this:
- 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 Backford.
- 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.
Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children in Backford
For many families in Backford, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
The Age-7 Assessment
British Orthodontic Society guidance points to age 7 for an assessment where there's a noticeable concern — by then most children have their first permanent molars and incisors through, which is enough for an orthodontist to judge jaw relationships, arch development, bite and likely future crowding.
Orthodontic Eligibility in Backford
Eligibility for NHS braces is decided by a clinical scoring system, not by appearance alone. It measures the complexity and impact of the problem, and only cases above a threshold score receive NHS funding. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Adult NHS Orthodontic Access in Backford
Adults (18 and over) are rarely eligible for NHS orthodontic treatment in Backford. NHS funding for adults is generally limited to severe clinical cases — such as jaw surgery patients or those with significant cleft palate-related needs. Cosmetic adult orthodontics is not NHS-funded.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Backford
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Backford?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Backford is Whitby Dental & Implant Clinic in Ellesmere Port Town, about 2.5 miles to the north. The next closest are Deva Dental Clinic (3.0 miles) and Art of Dental Care Chester (3.2 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Backford?
Our register has 11 practices within 5 miles of Backford, 21 practices within 10 miles and 90 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Backford?
The nearest practice to Backford that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Whitby Dental & Implant Clinic in Ellesmere Port Town, about 2.5 miles to the north. Others nearby include Deva Dental Clinic (3.0 miles) and Art of Dental Care Chester (3.2 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Backford?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board.
Is Backford rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Backford falls under smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
Which county covers Backford?
Backford falls within Cheshire West and Chester.
How many pupils are in Backford's Local Authority?
There are 176 schools and 54,746 pupils in Backford's Local Authority area, per DfE data.
How do I get an NHS referral?
Ask your dentist for an orthodontic assessment — if the IOTN score clears the threshold, they refer you to the local NHS orthodontic service. Some practices also take self-referrals directly.
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 Cheshire West and Chester
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Cheshire West and Chester — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: