NHS Treatment in Bufton at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 19% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7% of 2,174 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Holywell House, Hinckley — 7.8 miles; 5 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | The Market Bosworth School — 1.8 miles Ibstock School — 2.8 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Birmingham Dental Hospital, Birmingham — about 23 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 14.5% 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 Bufton
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of Bufton; 10 practices within 10 and 123 practices within 20. The closest is London Road Dental Practice & Dental Implant Centre in Coalville, 5.4 miles north. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Holywell House, 7.8 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holywell HouseHinckley | 7.8 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (154 reviews) |
| House of Dental Station RoadHinckley | 7.9 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (1,375 reviews) |
| Smilecare Studio- NuneatonNuneaton | 8.9 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (310 reviews) |
| Holywell House NuneatonNuneaton | 9.2 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (137 reviews) |
| Attleborough Dental SurgeryNuneaton | 9.7 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (24 reviews) |
| Alexandra Dental CareSwadlincote | 10.4 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (422 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Bufton with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Hinckley, 7.8 miles south; the next are Nuneaton (8.9 miles south) and Swadlincote (10.4 miles north-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Hinckley | 2 | 7.8 miles south |
| Nuneaton | 3 | 8.9 miles south |
| Swadlincote | 2 | 10.4 miles north-west |
| Leicester | 5 | 10.8 miles east |
| Loughborough | 2 | 11.8 miles north-east |
| Tamworth | 1 | 11.8 miles west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Bufton
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Loughborough Orthodontic and Implant Clinic (5.0 from 214 reviews), 11.9 miles north-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Loughborough Orthodontic and Implant ClinicLoughborough | 5.0 (214 reviews) | 11.9 miles north-east |
| Bright Smiles Dental Practice - LeicesterLeicester | 5.0 (19 reviews) | 10.9 miles east |
| The Dental Wellness Centre - Invisalign LeicesterLeicester | 4.9 (542 reviews) | 11.7 miles east |
| Alexandra Dental CareSwadlincote | 4.9 (422 reviews) | 10.4 miles north-west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Bufton, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Brookview Dental, 12.7 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Holywell House, Hinckley, 7.8 miles 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 23 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Bufton are commissioned by NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland 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 Bufton focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. 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.
NHS Waiting Times in Bufton
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Leicestershire 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 vs Private Fees in Bufton
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Going private for the same metal braces in Bufton costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Bufton
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 Leicestershire differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Orthodontic practices in and around Bufton vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. Bufton's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of England. OHID's regional oral-health data records visible dental decay in 22% of local 5-year-olds. In the census neighbourhood around Bufton, 7% of the 2,174 residents are aged 10 to 15, close to the 6.8% average across Leicestershire, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. The nearest university dental hospital to Bufton is Birmingham Dental Hospital, Birmingham, about 23 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Bufton is classified as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board. 19% of Bufton's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census. The closest secondary schools to Bufton are The Market Bosworth School (1.8 miles) and Ibstock School (2.8 miles). 2 secondary schools are within three miles. Bufton has no orthodontic practice within five miles on our register, and the closest is roughly 5 miles away. There is no orthodontist on our records in Bufton itself. The nearest recorded are London Road Dental Practice & Dental Implant Centre in Coalville, about 5 miles away; Carlton House Dental Practice in Earl Shilton, about 6 miles away; and Holywell House in Hinckley, 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Bufton
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Parents in Bufton 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.
NHS Orthodontics for Children in Bufton
Children in Bufton 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.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Bufton
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Leicestershire to decide who receives funded treatment. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Adult NHS Orthodontic Access in Bufton
Adults (18 and over) are rarely eligible for NHS orthodontic treatment in Bufton. 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 Bufton
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Bufton?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Bufton is London Road Dental Practice & Dental Implant Centre in Coalville, about 5.4 miles to the north. The next closest are Abbots Oak Dental Practice (6.3 miles) and Carlton House Dental Practice (6.3 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Bufton?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Bufton, 10 practices within 10 miles and 123 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Coalville, 5.4 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Bufton?
The nearest practice to Bufton that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Holywell House in Hinckley, about 7.8 miles to the south. Others nearby include House of Dental Station Road (7.9 miles) and Smilecare Studio- Nuneaton (8.9 miles).
How many families live in Bufton?
Census data puts 19% of Bufton's population at under 16.
What county is Bufton in?
Bufton is in Leicestershire.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Bufton?
NHS dental commissioning in Bufton falls under NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board.
How deprived is Bufton compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Bufton is less deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What does NHS orthodontic treatment include?
Everything from the specialist assessment through adjustments, the brace, de-bonding and retainers is covered as a single course of 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 Leicestershire
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