NHS Treatment in Colliestown Croft at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Grampian |
|---|---|
| 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 | FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, Aboyne — 4.9 miles; 4 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen — about 20 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 Colliestown Croft
On our practice register: 1 practice within 5 miles of Colliestown Croft, 4 practices within 10 and 28 practices within 20. The closest is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, 4.9 miles south-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, 4.9 miles south-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNEAboyne | 4.9 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| DEESIDE DENTAL CAREBanchory | 7.9 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| Young Smile Dental CareBridge of Alford | 7.9 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (319 reviews) |
| FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORYBanchory | 8.2 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| WESTHILL DENTAL PRACTICEWesthill | 13.9 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| KINTORE DENTAL PRACTICEKintore | 14.2 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Colliestown Croft with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Aboyne, 4.9 miles south-west; the next are Banchory (7.9 miles south-east) and Bridge of Alford (7.9 miles north).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Aboyne | 1 | 4.9 miles south-west |
| Banchory | 2 | 7.9 miles south-east |
| Bridge of Alford | 1 | 7.9 miles north |
| Westhill | 4 | 13.9 miles east |
| Kintore | 1 | 14.2 miles north-east |
| Peterculter | 1 | 15.1 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Colliestown Croft
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Young Smile Dental Care in Bridge of Alford (4.9 from 319 reviews), 7.9 miles north.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Young Smile Dental CareBridge of Alford | 4.9 (319 reviews) | 7.9 miles north |
| Mastrick Smile CareAberdeen | 4.9 (213 reviews) | 19.2 miles east |
| Abercrombie Smile Design and Abercrombie OrthodonticsWesthill | 4.1 (41 reviews) | 14.8 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Colliestown Croft, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Banchory Dental Practice, 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 FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, 4.9 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen, about 20 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Colliestown Croft are commissioned by NHS Grampian. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
The NHS orthodontic pathway in Colliestown Croft focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. For eligible under-18s it's outstanding value — full treatment at no charge at all. Understanding its limits helps families in Colliestown Croft plan around realistic waiting times.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Colliestown Croft
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. How long NHS treatment takes to start in Aberdeenshire depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
What's available in Colliestown Croft depends on the practice, so it's worth checking directly what each one offers. National deprivation data ranks Colliestown Croft among Scotland's less deprived areas. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Colliestown Croft is Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen, about 20 miles away. NHS Grampian is the NHS body responsible for dental commissioning in Colliestown Croft. Colliestown Croft is classified as accessible Rural. There is no orthodontist on our records in Colliestown Croft itself. The closest on record are FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, about 5 miles away; DEESIDE DENTAL CARE in Banchory, about 8 miles away; and Young Smile Dental Care in Bridge of Alford, 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.
How the NHS Route Works in Colliestown Croft
For eligible patients in Colliestown Croft, 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 Colliestown Croft.
- 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 Costs in Colliestown Croft
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Private treatment in Colliestown Croft trades cost for speed and choice — around £1,500–£3,500 for metal braces, but starting within weeks and with ceramic, lingual and aligner options on the table.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Colliestown Croft?
Eligibility for NHS braces is decided by a clinical scoring system, not by appearance alone. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Aberdeenshire to decide who receives funded treatment. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
Adult NHS Orthodontic Access in Colliestown Croft
Adults (18 and over) are rarely eligible for NHS orthodontic treatment in Colliestown Croft. 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.
Children's Orthodontics in Colliestown Croft
For many families in Colliestown Croft, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Colliestown Croft
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 Colliestown Croft
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Colliestown Croft?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Colliestown Croft is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, about 4.9 miles to the south-west. The next closest are DEESIDE DENTAL CARE (7.9 miles) and Young Smile Dental Care (7.9 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Colliestown Croft?
Our register has 1 practice within 5 miles of Colliestown Croft, 4 practices within 10 miles and 28 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Colliestown Croft?
The nearest practice to Colliestown Croft that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, about 4.9 miles to the south-west. Others nearby include DEESIDE DENTAL CARE (7.9 miles) and Young Smile Dental Care (7.9 miles).
What NHS area is Colliestown Croft in for dental services?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Grampian.
Is Colliestown Croft rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Colliestown Croft falls under accessible Rural.
How deprived is Colliestown Croft compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Colliestown Croft 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 Colliestown Croft?
Tillyfour, Corrennie Croft, Mid Beltie are within easy reach of Colliestown Croft.
Will I lose NHS eligibility if I turn 18 while waiting?
It's a genuine risk on a long waiting list — NHS funding is age-sensitive, so a case eligible at 16 might be assessed differently at 18. If you're close to that age and eligible now, ask about timescales; it can tip the decision toward going private.
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 Aberdeenshire
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