NHS Treatment in Colliston 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 | NO 80 DENTAL PRACTICE, Arbroath — 3.3 miles; 11 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee — about 16 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 Colliston
On our practice register: 4 practices within 5 miles of Colliston, 11 practices within 10 and 60 practices within 20. The closest is NO 80 DENTAL PRACTICE in Arbroath, 3.3 miles south-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is NO 80 DENTAL PRACTICE, 3.3 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO 80 DENTAL PRACTICEArbroath | 3.3 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| 30 KEPTIE STREETArbroath | 3.4 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| IAN ROBERTSON DENTAL CAREArbroath | 3.6 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| 121 HIGH STREETArbroath | 3.6 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| CARNOUSTIE DENTAL CARECarnoustie | 7.4 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| LAWS DENTALCarnoustie | 7.6 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Colliston with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Arbroath, 3.3 miles south-east; the next are Carnoustie (7.4 miles south-west) and Brechin (9.1 miles north).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Arbroath | 4 | 3.3 miles south-east |
| Carnoustie | 2 | 7.4 miles south-west |
| Brechin | 2 | 9.1 miles north |
| Forfar | 3 | 9.8 miles west |
| Montrose | 3 | 10.2 miles north-east |
| Monifieth | 4 | 10.6 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 Colliston
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Perla Orthodontics in Tayport (4.7 from 13 reviews), 13.0 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Perla OrthodonticsTayport | 4.7 (13 reviews) | 13.0 miles south-west |
| Oris Dental & Implant StudioMonifieth | 4.6 (87 reviews) | 10.6 miles south-west |
| Kingsway Dental PracticeDundee | 3.2 (14 reviews) | 14.2 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 Colliston, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Fountain Dental Group, 31.6 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is NO 80 DENTAL PRACTICE, Arbroath, 3.3 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 16 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Colliston are commissioned by NHS Tayside. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
For families in Colliston, the NHS pathway offers a subsidised route to fixed braces for eligible children. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. Knowing what the NHS can and cannot provide makes the NHS-versus-private decision clearer.
How the NHS Route Works in Colliston
For eligible patients in Colliston, 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 Colliston.
- 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 Access in Colliston
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 waiting times in Angus are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
What's available in Colliston depends on the practice, so it's worth checking directly what each one offers. By national deprivation ranking, Colliston sits among the less deprived areas of Scotland. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Colliston is about 16 miles from Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee. Classified by ONS as accessible Rural, Colliston sits within NHS Tayside for NHS dental commissioning. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (4), Colliston has more choice than 68% of towns in Scotland. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Colliston. The nearest recorded are NO 80 DENTAL PRACTICE in Arbroath, about 3 miles away; CARNOUSTIE DENTAL CARE, about 7 miles away; and R AND PM THOMSON in Brechin, about 9 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.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Colliston
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 Colliston costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
Children's Orthodontics in Colliston
Children's orthodontics in Colliston covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. Not every child who sees an orthodontist needs treatment right away, but early identification allows targeted intervention. A photo assessment is a gentle way to get an early steer before booking anything.
The Age-7 Assessment
British Orthodontic Society guidance points to age 7 for an assessment where there's a noticeable concern — by then most children have their first permanent molars and incisors through, which is enough for an orthodontist to judge jaw relationships, arch development, bite and likely future crowding.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Colliston?
Many patients in Colliston are surprised they don't automatically qualify for NHS braces. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. Knowing where you stand before the referral process saves time and manages expectations in Colliston.
Eligibility in Colliston — Local Context
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Angus vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Colliston
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Colliston?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Colliston is NO 80 DENTAL PRACTICE in Arbroath, about 3.3 miles to the south-east. The next closest are 30 KEPTIE STREET (3.4 miles) and IAN ROBERTSON DENTAL CARE (3.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Colliston?
Our register has 4 practices within 5 miles of Colliston, 11 practices within 10 miles and 60 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Colliston?
The nearest practice to Colliston that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is NO 80 DENTAL PRACTICE in Arbroath, about 3.3 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include 30 KEPTIE STREET (3.4 miles) and IAN ROBERTSON DENTAL CARE (3.6 miles).
Which NHS body covers Colliston for dental care?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Tayside.
Is Colliston rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Colliston falls under accessible Rural.
How deprived is Colliston compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Colliston 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 Colliston?
Nearby towns include Leysmill, Demondale, Kinnell.
Are NHS orthodontic charges the same across the UK?
No — NHS dental charges are set separately in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. What stays the same everywhere is that eligible under-18s pay nothing. Adults aged 26 and over who qualify pay 80% of the NHS fee, capped at £384 for a 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 Angus
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Angus — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: