NHS Treatment in Cleish at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Tayside |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of Scotland |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, Kinross — 2.8 miles; 24 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee — about 27 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Accessible Rural |
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 Cleish
On our practice register: 3 practices within 5 miles of Cleish, 37 practices within 10 and 252 practices within 20. The closest is KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, 2.8 miles north-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, 2.8 miles north-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KINROSS FAMILY DENTALKinross | 2.8 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
| 75 HIGH STREETKinross | 2.9 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
| ROSEWELL DENTAL CLINICBallingry | 5.3 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| BREEZE FAMILY DENTAL COWDENBEATHCowdenbeath | 5.9 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| BLACK AND BROWN DENTALCrossgates | 6.5 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| CANMORE DENTAL LOCHGELLYLochgelly | 6.5 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Cleish with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Kinross, 2.8 miles north-east; the next are Ballingry (5.3 miles east) and Cowdenbeath (5.9 miles south-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Kinross | 2 | 2.8 miles north-east |
| Ballingry | 1 | 5.3 miles east |
| Cowdenbeath | 1 | 5.9 miles south-east |
| Crossgates | 1 | 6.5 miles south |
| Lochgelly | 1 | 6.5 miles south-east |
| Dunfermline | 14 | 6.8 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Cleish
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Dentistry @ No 3 in Dunfermline (4.9 from 579 reviews), 7.0 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dentistry @ No 3Dunfermline | 4.9 (579 reviews) | 7.0 miles south |
| Canmore Dental PracticeDunfermline | 4.3 (18 reviews) | 6.9 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Cleish, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 9.8 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, 2.8 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee, about 27 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Cleish are commissioned by NHS Tayside. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
The NHS orthodontic pathway in Cleish 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.
Your NHS Journey Step by Step in Cleish
From first check-up to retainers, the NHS process in Cleish 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 Cleish.
- 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 vs Private Fees in Cleish
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Equivalent private metal braces in Cleish typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Cleish
In Scotland, NHS dental treatment — including clinically necessary orthodontics — is free for everyone under 26. Adults aged 26 and over who qualify pay 80% of the NHS fee, capped at £384 for a course of treatment. NHS orthodontic waiting times in Perth and Kinross vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Practices serving Cleish differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. National deprivation data ranks Cleish among Scotland's less deprived areas. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Cleish is about 27 miles from Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee. For NHS dental services, Cleish falls under NHS Tayside. Cleish's ONS geography type is accessible Rural. Cleish has 3 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 63% of towns in Scotland. There is no orthodontist on our records in Cleish itself. The nearest we do hold are KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, about 3 miles away; Kelty Dental Practice, about 4 miles away; and ROSEWELL DENTAL CLINIC in Ballingry, about 5 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.
Children's Orthodontics in Cleish
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.
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.
Orthodontic Eligibility in Cleish
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Perth and Kinross to decide who receives funded treatment. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Eligibility in Cleish — Local Context
How long NHS treatment takes to start in Perth and Kinross depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Cleish
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Cleish?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Cleish is KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, about 2.8 miles to the north-east. The next closest are 75 HIGH STREET (2.9 miles) and Kelty Dental Practice (3.9 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Cleish?
Our register has 3 practices within 5 miles of Cleish, 37 practices within 10 miles and 252 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Cleish?
The nearest practice to Cleish that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, about 2.8 miles to the north-east. Others nearby include 75 HIGH STREET (2.9 miles) and ROSEWELL DENTAL CLINIC (5.3 miles).
Which NHS body covers Cleish for dental care?
Cleish sits within NHS Tayside for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is Cleish?
By ONS classification, Cleish falls under accessible Rural.
How deprived is Cleish compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Cleish is less deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Cleish?
Bowershall, East Coldrain, Watergate are within easy reach of Cleish.
How much do NHS braces cost?
In Scotland, NHS dental treatment — including clinically necessary orthodontics — is free for everyone under 26. Adults aged 26 and over who qualify pay 80% of the NHS fee, capped at £384 for a course of treatment. Adults on certain benefits or low incomes can be exempt, and one charge covers the full course from fitting to retainers.
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 Perth and Kinross
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