NHS Treatment in Bushey Mead at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS South West London 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 | 18.4% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.8% of 1,382 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | infinitidental clinic, Morden — under a mile; 15 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Rutlish School — 0.8 miles Raynes Park High School — 0.9 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Guy's Hospital Dental Institute, London — about 9 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 12.4% 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 Bushey Mead
On our practice register: 42 practices within 5 miles of Bushey Mead, 163 practices within 10 and 365 practices within 20. The closest is infinitidental clinic in Morden, 0.9 miles north-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is infinitidental clinic, 0.9 miles north-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| infinitidental clinicMorden | 0.9 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (77 reviews) |
| The Fabulous Smile Company - KingstonMorden | 1.4 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.4 (121 reviews) |
| Ridgway Dental - WimbledonMorden | 1.5 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (505 reviews) |
| EB DentalWorcester Park | 1.7 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (277 reviews) |
| Incredible SmilesMitcham | 2.5 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.1 (164 reviews) |
| Benhill Dental PracticeSutton | 2.7 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (345 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Bushey Mead with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Morden, 0.9 miles north-east; the next are Worcester Park (1.7 miles south-west) and Mitcham (2.5 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Morden | 3 | 0.9 miles north-east |
| Worcester Park | 1 | 1.7 miles south-west |
| Mitcham | 1 | 2.5 miles east |
| Sutton | 3 | 2.7 miles south-east |
| London | 1 | 2.9 miles north-east |
| Norbiton | 1 | 3.0 miles west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Bushey Mead
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Ewell Orthodontics (5.0 from 379 reviews), 3.1 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Ewell OrthodonticsEwell | 5.0 (379 reviews) | 3.1 miles south-west |
| Ridgway Dental - WimbledonMorden | 4.9 (505 reviews) | 1.5 miles north |
| Smile Rooms KingstonHampton Wick | 4.9 (166 reviews) | 4.0 miles west |
| Benhill Dental PracticeSutton | 4.8 (345 reviews) | 2.7 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 Bushey Mead, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Woodside Dental Practice, 1.8 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is infinitidental clinic, Morden, under a mile away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Guy's Hospital Dental Institute in London, about 9 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Bushey Mead are commissioned by NHS South West London Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Bushey Mead follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. 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 Orthodontic Access in Bushey Mead
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 Greater London differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Orthodontic practices in and around Bushey Mead vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. Bushey Mead'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 22.7% of local 5-year-olds. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 6.8% of the 1,382 residents in Bushey Mead's census neighbourhood, close to the 6.8% average across Greater London. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Bushey Mead is about 9 miles from Guy's Hospital Dental Institute in London. NHS South West London Integrated Care Board is the NHS body responsible for dental commissioning in Bushey Mead. Bushey Mead's ONS geography type is urban: Nearer to a major town or city. Census data puts 18.4% of Bushey Mead's population at under 16. Families in Bushey Mead are served by secondary schools including Rutlish School (0.8 miles) and Raynes Park High School (0.9 miles). 18 secondary schools are within three miles. Bushey Mead's Local Authority has 72 schools educating 31,824 pupils (DfE data). Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (42), Bushey Mead has more choice than 98% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in Bushey Mead itself. The nearest recorded are infinitidental clinic in Morden, under a mile away; Merton Dental Wimbledon, about a mile away; and Beverley Dental in New Malden, 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.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Bushey Mead?
Many patients in Greater London 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 Costs in Bushey Mead
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 Bushey Mead typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
NHS Brace Eligibility in Bushey Mead
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. 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.
Understanding the IOTN Score
The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the two-part scoring system orthodontists across Greater London use to decide whether a patient qualifies for NHS treatment.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Bushey Mead
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. 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.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Bushey Mead
Space maintainers keep the space from a baby tooth lost too soon from closing up, so neighbouring teeth don't drift into the gap before the adult tooth is ready to come through.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Bushey Mead
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Bushey Mead?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Bushey Mead is infinitidental clinic in Morden, about 0.9 miles to the north-east. The next closest are Merton Dental Wimbledon (1.3 miles) and The Fabulous Smile Company - Kingston (1.4 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Bushey Mead?
Our register has 42 practices within 5 miles of Bushey Mead, 163 practices within 10 miles and 365 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Bushey Mead?
The nearest practice to Bushey Mead that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is infinitidental clinic in Morden, about 0.9 miles to the north-east. Others nearby include The Fabulous Smile Company - Kingston (1.4 miles) and Ridgway Dental - Wimbledon (1.5 miles).
What towns are near Bushey Mead?
Nearby towns include Morden, Merton Park, Raynes Park.
How deprived is Bushey Mead compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Bushey Mead is less deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What kind of area is Bushey Mead?
By ONS classification, Bushey Mead falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
What NHS area is Bushey Mead in for dental services?
Bushey Mead sits within NHS South West London Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
Can I switch from the NHS waiting list to private?
Yes — you can start private treatment at any time, including while on an NHS waiting list. Many patients do this to avoid a long wait or to access ceramic or aligner options. You don't have to formally leave the NHS list first, though it's courteous to let the practice know.
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 Greater London
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