NHS Treatment in Bottoms at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Greater Manchester 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 | 18.6% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 8% of 1,448 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Apollonia House Dental & Healthcare, Mossley — 1.4 miles; 11 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Mossley Hollins High School — 0.8 miles St Damian's RC Science College — 1.5 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Manchester University Dental Hospital, Manchester — about 9 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 16.1% 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 Bottoms
On our practice register: 15 practices within 5 miles of Bottoms, 52 practices within 10 and 166 practices within 20. The closest is Dr Qasim Hussain Orthodontics & Implants in Mossley, 0.5 miles north. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Apollonia House Dental & Healthcare, 1.4 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apollonia House Dental & HealthcareMossley | 1.4 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (491 reviews) |
| STALY Dental - StalybridgeStalybridge | 1.9 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (216 reviews) |
| Northern OrthodonticsAshton-under-Lyne | 2.4 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (154 reviews) |
| Links OrthodonticsAshton-under-Lyne | 2.5 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 2.7 (25 reviews) |
| Oldham OrthodonticsChadderton | 3.4 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (86 reviews) |
| The Tooth Place Dental SurgeryChadderton | 3.6 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (106 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Bottoms with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Mossley, 1.4 miles north; the next are Stalybridge (1.9 miles south-west) and Ashton-under-Lyne (2.4 miles south-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Mossley | 1 | 1.4 miles north |
| Stalybridge | 1 | 1.9 miles south-west |
| Ashton-under-Lyne | 2 | 2.4 miles south-west |
| Chadderton | 2 | 3.4 miles west |
| Denton | 1 | 4.8 miles south-west |
| Droylsden | 1 | 5.2 miles south-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Bottoms
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Apollonia House Dental & Healthcare in Mossley (4.9 from 491 reviews), 1.4 miles north.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Apollonia House Dental & HealthcareMossley | 4.9 (491 reviews) | 1.4 miles north |
| Walmsley DentalDroylsden | 4.9 (347 reviews) | 5.2 miles south-west |
| STALY Dental - StalybridgeStalybridge | 4.9 (216 reviews) | 1.9 miles south-west |
| Northern OrthodonticsAshton-under-Lyne | 4.9 (154 reviews) | 2.4 miles south-west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Bottoms, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 5.3 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Apollonia House Dental & Healthcare, Mossley, 1.4 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Manchester University Dental Hospital in Manchester, about 9 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Bottoms are commissioned by NHS Greater Manchester 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 Bottoms focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. Eligible under-18s get excellent clinical outcomes at no cost. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Bottoms
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 Borough of Tameside vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Not every practice near Bottoms offers the same treatments, so it's worth checking what each one covers. By national deprivation ranking, Bottoms is roughly mid-table for England. OHID data for this ICB shows 30.4% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. Census 2021 counts 1,448 residents in the neighbourhood around Bottoms, 8% of them aged 10 to 15, above the 7.5% average across Borough of Tameside. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Bottoms is about 9 miles from Manchester University Dental Hospital in Manchester. Classified by ONS as urban: Nearer to a major town or city, Bottoms sits within NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. 18.6% of Bottoms's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census. Families in Bottoms are served by secondary schools including Mossley Hollins High School (0.8 miles) and St Damian's RC Science College (1.5 miles). 6 secondary schools are within three miles. DfE figures put 106 schools and 37,051 pupils across Bottoms's Local Authority. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (15), Bottoms has more choice than 85% of towns in England. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Bottoms itself. The closest on record are Dr Qasim Hussain Orthodontics & Implants in Mossley, under a mile away; Mossley Dental Care in Ashton-under-Lyne, under a mile away; and STALY Dental - Stalybridge, 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.
NHS vs Private Fees in Bottoms
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Equivalent private metal braces in Bottoms typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
The NHS Orthodontic Pathway in Bottoms
From first check-up to retainers, the NHS process in Bottoms 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 Bottoms.
- 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.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Bottoms
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Parents in Bottoms increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
The Age-7 Assessment
The British Orthodontic Society recommends an orthodontic assessment by age 7 for children with notable concerns. At age 7, most children have their first permanent molars and incisors, giving an orthodontist enough information to evaluate jaw relationships, arch development, bite patterns, and likely future crowding.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Bottoms?
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. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
Eligibility in Bottoms — Local Context
How long NHS treatment takes to start in Borough of Tameside depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Bottoms
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Bottoms?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Bottoms is Dr Qasim Hussain Orthodontics & Implants in Mossley, about 0.5 miles to the north. The next closest are Mossley Dental Care (0.6 miles) and Apollonia House Dental & Healthcare (1.4 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Bottoms?
Our register has 15 practices within 5 miles of Bottoms, 52 practices within 10 miles and 166 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Bottoms?
The nearest practice to Bottoms that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Apollonia House Dental & Healthcare in Mossley, about 1.4 miles to the north. Others nearby include STALY Dental - Stalybridge (1.9 miles) and Northern Orthodontics (2.4 miles).
How many pupils are in Bottoms's Local Authority?
DfE figures put 106 schools and 37,051 pupils across Bottoms's Local Authority.
What kind of area is Bottoms?
ONS classifies Bottoms as urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
Is tooth decay common among young children near Bottoms?
OHID figures for this ICB show 30.4% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Bottoms?
Bottoms sits within NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
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 Borough of Tameside
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Borough of Tameside — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: