NHS Treatment in Comers 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 | DEESIDE DENTAL CARE, Banchory — 6.9 miles; 8 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen — about 15 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 Comers
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of Comers; 9 practices within 10 and 77 practices within 20. The closest is DEESIDE DENTAL CARE in Banchory, 6.9 miles south. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is DEESIDE DENTAL CARE, 6.9 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEESIDE DENTAL CAREBanchory | 6.9 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORYBanchory | 7.0 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| WESTHILL DENTAL PRACTICEWesthill | 8.5 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| KINTORE DENTAL PRACTICEKintore | 8.6 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
| Young Smile Dental CareBridge of Alford | 8.6 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (319 reviews) |
| Abercrombie Smile Design and Abercrombie OrthodonticsWesthill | 9.3 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.1 (41 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Comers with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Banchory, 6.9 miles south; the next are Westhill (8.5 miles east) and Kintore (8.6 miles north-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Banchory | 2 | 6.9 miles south |
| Westhill | 4 | 8.5 miles east |
| Kintore | 1 | 8.6 miles north-east |
| Bridge of Alford | 1 | 8.6 miles north-west |
| Aboyne | 1 | 10.5 miles south-west |
| Peterculter | 1 | 10.5 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Comers
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), 8.6 miles north-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Young Smile Dental CareBridge of Alford | 4.9 (319 reviews) | 8.6 miles north-west |
| Andrew Scott Dental CareAberdeen | 4.9 (240 reviews) | 14.8 miles east |
| Mastrick Smile CareAberdeen | 4.9 (213 reviews) | 13.8 miles east |
| Abercrombie Smile Design and Abercrombie OrthodonticsWesthill | 4.1 (41 reviews) | 9.3 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Comers, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Banchory Dental Practice, 6.9 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is DEESIDE DENTAL CARE, Banchory, 6.9 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 15 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Comers are commissioned by NHS Grampian. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Comers funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. 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 Aberdeenshire.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Comers
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 Aberdeenshire are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Provision in Comers varies by practice — it's worth comparing more than one before committing. Comers falls in a less deprived area than most of Scotland. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Comers is Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen, about 15 miles away. Comers — accessible Rural by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Grampian for NHS dentistry. Comers has no orthodontic practice within five miles on our register, and the closest is roughly 7 miles away. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Comers. The closest on record are DEESIDE DENTAL CARE in Banchory, about 7 miles away; Blairdaff Dental in Bograxie, about 8 miles away; and WESTHILL DENTAL PRACTICE, 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.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in Comers
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Going private for the same metal braces in Comers costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
Your NHS Journey Step by Step in Comers
The NHS pathway in Comers is well-structured — here's what to expect at each stage:
- 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 Comers.
- 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.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Comers
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Parents in Comers increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. Early review can prevent more complex problems later and simplify treatment when it does begin.
Children's Orthodontics in Comers — Local Context
How quickly you can be seen, and what's on offer, varies between the practices serving Comers. Officially, Comers is categorised as accessible Rural. NHS Grampian is the NHS body responsible for dental commissioning in Comers. By national deprivation ranking, Comers sits among the less deprived areas of Scotland. People in Comers usually travel further for an orthodontist: the nearest on our register is about 7 miles away. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Comers is about 15 miles from Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen. They typically offer children's assessments and NHS-funded treatment for eligible patients.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Comers
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Eligibility in Comers — Local Context
NHS waiting times in Aberdeenshire are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Comers
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Comers?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Comers is DEESIDE DENTAL CARE in Banchory, about 6.9 miles to the south. The next closest are FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORY (7.0 miles) and Blairdaff Dental (8.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Comers?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Comers, 9 practices within 10 miles and 77 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Banchory, 6.9 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Comers?
The nearest practice to Comers that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is DEESIDE DENTAL CARE in Banchory, about 6.9 miles to the south. Others nearby include FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORY (7.0 miles) and WESTHILL DENTAL PRACTICE (8.5 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Comers?
Comers sits within NHS Grampian for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is Comers?
By ONS classification, Comers falls under accessible Rural.
How deprived is Comers compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Comers 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 Comers?
Midmar, Sauchen, Corsindae are within easy reach of Comers.
Is NHS orthodontic treatment as good as private?
NHS orthodontic treatment delivered by specialist orthodontists achieves excellent clinical results. The key differences: NHS is almost exclusively metal braces with a waiting list; private offers ceramic, aligner, and lingual options with immediate access.
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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