NHS Treatment in Combebow at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Devon Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | Around the England average |
| Residents under 16 | 13.4% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 5.9% of 1,741 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, Plymouth — 17.9 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth — about 18 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 19.1% 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 Combebow
On our practice register: None within 10 miles of Combebow; 10 practices within 20. The closest is Transit Way Dental & Implant Clinic in Plymouth, 17.8 miles south. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, 17.9 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eilertsen Dental Care, PlymouthPlymouth | 17.9 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (273 reviews) |
| Meavy Way Dental PracticePlymouth | 18.0 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 3.6 (238 reviews) |
| Crownhill Dental Practice - PlymouthPlymouth | 18.1 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (236 reviews) |
| Plymouth Dental Centre of ExcellenceSaltash | 18.2 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (768 reviews) |
| Plymouth OrthodonticsPlymouth | 19.5 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (120 reviews) |
| Torrington Dental PracticeGreat Torrington | 19.5 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (238 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Combebow with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Plymouth, 17.9 miles south; the next are Saltash (18.2 miles south) and Great Torrington (19.5 miles north).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | 6 | 17.9 miles south |
| Saltash | 1 | 18.2 miles south |
| Great Torrington | 1 | 19.5 miles north |
| Ashburton | 1 | 20.4 miles south-east |
| Bideford | 1 | 24.2 miles north |
| Newton Abbot | 1 | 25.8 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Combebow
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Plymouth Dental Centre of Excellence in Saltash (4.9 from 768 reviews), 18.2 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Dental Centre of ExcellenceSaltash | 4.9 (768 reviews) | 18.2 miles south |
| Eilertsen Dental Care, PlymouthPlymouth | 4.9 (273 reviews) | 17.9 miles south |
| Torrington Dental PracticeGreat Torrington | 4.9 (238 reviews) | 19.5 miles north |
| Crownhill Dental Practice - PlymouthPlymouth | 4.9 (236 reviews) | 18.1 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Combebow, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Transit Way Dentist, 17.9 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, 17.9 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Peninsula Dental School in Plymouth, about 18 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Combebow are commissioned by NHS Devon 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 Combebow focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. The process starts with your dentist, includes a formal eligibility assessment, and places you on a waiting list. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Devon.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Combebow?
Many patients in Devon 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 Access in Combebow
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. How long NHS treatment takes to start in Devon depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Practices serving Combebow differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. By national deprivation ranking, Combebow is roughly mid-table for England. Regionally, 22.6% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay (OHID data). Census 2021 counts 1,741 residents in the neighbourhood around Combebow, 5.9% of them aged 10 to 15, close to the 6.3% average across Devon. The nearest university dental hospital to Combebow is Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth, about 18 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Classified by ONS as smaller rural: Further from a major town or city, Combebow sits within NHS Devon Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Combebow's under-16 share, 13.4%, is below the typical level. Combebow has no orthodontic practice within five miles on our register, and the closest is roughly 18 miles away. There is no orthodontist on our records in Combebow itself. The nearest recorded are Transit Way Dental & Implant Clinic in Plymouth, about 18 miles away; Plymouth Dental Centre of Excellence in Saltash, about 18 miles away; and Torrington Dental Practice in Great Torrington, about 20 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 Combebow
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Private treatment in Combebow 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.
Children's Orthodontics in Combebow
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. The aim is to monitor development and intervene at the right time, not to begin treatment immediately. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
NHS Orthodontics for Children in Combebow
Children in Combebow 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.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Combebow?
Whether you or your child qualifies for NHS treatment in Combebow comes down to a structured assessment. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Devon apply the same national criteria consistently. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Adult NHS Orthodontic Access in Combebow
Adults (18 and over) are rarely eligible for NHS orthodontic treatment in Combebow. 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 Combebow
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Combebow?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Combebow is Transit Way Dental & Implant Clinic in Plymouth, about 17.8 miles to the south. The next closest are Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth (17.9 miles) and Meavy Way Dental Practice (18.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Combebow?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Combebow, 0 practices within 10 miles and 10 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Plymouth, 17.8 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Combebow?
The nearest practice to Combebow that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, about 17.9 miles to the south. Others nearby include Meavy Way Dental Practice (18.0 miles) and Crownhill Dental Practice - Plymouth (18.1 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Combebow?
Combebow sits within NHS Devon Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
How deprived is Combebow compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Combebow is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What towns are near Combebow?
Lewdown, Brentor, Shortacombe are within easy reach of Combebow.
What county is Combebow in?
Combebow is in Devon.
What type of brace does the NHS provide?
Almost always metal fixed braces — ceramic, lingual and aligner treatment aren't NHS options. A less visible appliance means 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 Devon
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Devon — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: