NHS Treatment in Bersted at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Surrey and Sussex 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 | 17.2% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.7% of 1,486 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Sussex Orthodontics, Bognor Regis — 1.2 miles; 4 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | The Regis School — 0.5 miles Felpham Community College — 1.5 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 19.1% 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 Bersted
On our practice register: 14 practices within 5 miles of Bersted, 17 practices within 10 and 43 practices within 20. The closest is Sussex Orthodontics in Bognor Regis, 1.2 miles south-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Sussex Orthodontics, 1.2 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sussex OrthodonticsBognor Regis | 1.2 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (137 reviews) |
| PALENT ORTHODONTICS (1 ODEON BUILDINGS)Bognor Regis | 1.2 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| Chichester Dental PracticeChichester | 4.5 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (73 reviews) |
| Basin Road Dental SurgeryChichester | 4.5 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (46 reviews) |
| Magnolia House Dental PracticeHavant | 13.1 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (283 reviews) |
| Tarring Dental - WorthingWorthing | 13.1 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (243 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Bersted with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Bognor Regis, 1.2 miles south-east; the next are Chichester (4.5 miles north-west) and Havant (13.1 miles west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Bognor Regis | 2 | 1.2 miles south-east |
| Chichester | 2 | 4.5 miles north-west |
| Havant | 1 | 13.1 miles west |
| Worthing | 4 | 13.1 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Bersted
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Strand Dental Worthing (4.9 from 144 reviews), 13.9 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Strand Dental WorthingWorthing | 4.9 (144 reviews) | 13.9 miles east |
| Magnolia House Dental PracticeHavant | 4.8 (283 reviews) | 13.1 miles west |
| Tarring Dental - WorthingWorthing | 4.8 (243 reviews) | 13.1 miles east |
| Sussex OrthodonticsBognor Regis | 4.8 (137 reviews) | 1.2 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 Bersted, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Little London Dental Clinic, 4.5 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Sussex Orthodontics, Bognor Regis, 1.2 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Bersted are commissioned by NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Bersted funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
The NHS Orthodontic Pathway in Bersted
For eligible patients in Bersted, the NHS route follows a defined sequence from dentist to specialist:
- 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 Bersted.
- 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 Orthodontic Access in Bersted
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 waiting times in West Sussex are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Bersted. Bersted's deprivation ranking is neither notably high nor low compared with England as a whole. In the census neighbourhood around Bersted, 6.7% of the 1,486 residents are aged 10 to 15, close to the 7% average across West Sussex, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board is the NHS body responsible for dental commissioning in Bersted. By ONS classification, Bersted falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city. Census data puts 17.2% of Bersted's population at under 16. Families in Bersted are served by secondary schools including The Regis School (0.5 miles) and Felpham Community College (1.5 miles). 2 secondary schools are within three miles. Bersted has 14 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 83% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in Bersted itself. The closest on record are Sussex Orthodontics in Bognor Regis, about a mile away; City Dental Lab Ltd in Chichester, about 4 miles away; and Abbots Lodge Dental Practice in Littlehampton, about 8 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 Waiting Times in Bersted
NHS orthodontic waiting times in West Sussex 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.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Bersted?
Eligibility for NHS braces is decided by a clinical scoring system, not by appearance alone. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Eligibility in Bersted — Local Context
NHS orthodontic waiting times in West Sussex vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Bersted
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. A photo assessment is a gentle way to get an early steer before booking anything.
NHS Orthodontics for Children in Bersted
Children in Bersted who meet the IOTN eligibility threshold are entitled to NHS-funded orthodontic treatment. Referrals are made by the child's dentist once most adult teeth have erupted. NHS treatment for children is almost always metal fixed braces.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Bersted
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Bersted?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Bersted is Sussex Orthodontics in Bognor Regis, about 1.2 miles to the south-east. The next closest are PALENT ORTHODONTICS (1 ODEON BUILDINGS) (1.2 miles) and Dove Holistic Dental Centre (1.4 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Bersted?
Our register has 14 practices within 5 miles of Bersted, 17 practices within 10 miles and 43 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Bersted?
The nearest practice to Bersted that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Sussex Orthodontics in Bognor Regis, about 1.2 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include PALENT ORTHODONTICS (1 ODEON BUILDINGS) (1.2 miles) and Chichester Dental Practice (4.5 miles).
How many families live in Bersted?
Census data puts 17.2% of Bersted's population at under 16.
What NHS area is Bersted in for dental services?
NHS dental commissioning in Bersted falls under NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board.
What kind of area is Bersted?
ONS classifies Bersted as urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is Bersted compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Bersted is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Is NHS orthodontic treatment as good as private?
Clinically, yes — specialist-delivered NHS treatment gets excellent results. The real differences are appliance choice and speed: NHS means metal braces and a wait, private opens up ceramic, aligner and lingual options straight away.
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 West Sussex
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in West Sussex — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: