NHS Treatment in Connor at a Glance
| NHS dental services | Health and Social Care Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of Northern Ireland |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Orthoplus, Ballymena — 5.6 miles; 2 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Royal Dental Hospital of Belfast, Belfast — about 17 miles |
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 Connor
On our practice register: 1 practice within 5 miles of Connor, 7 practices within 10 and 37 practices within 20. The closest is Kennedy Orthodontics in Ballymena, 3.4 miles north-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Orthoplus, 5.6 miles north-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OrthoplusBallymena | 5.6 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (5 reviews) |
| Maine Dental PracticeCullybackey | 8.7 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (12 reviews) |
| Monkstown DentalJordanstown | 13.6 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (30 reviews) |
| Abbey Dental ClinicNewtownabbey | 14.9 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.4 (37 reviews) |
| Dental 32Magherafelt | 16.6 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (40 reviews) |
| Clements Dental CareCarrickfergus | 16.7 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (26 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Connor with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Ballymena, 5.6 miles north-west; the next are Cullybackey (8.7 miles north-west) and Jordanstown (13.6 miles south-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Ballymena | 1 | 5.6 miles north-west |
| Cullybackey | 1 | 8.7 miles north-west |
| Jordanstown | 1 | 13.6 miles south-east |
| Newtownabbey | 1 | 14.9 miles south-east |
| Magherafelt | 1 | 16.6 miles west |
| Carrickfergus | 1 | 16.7 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Connor
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Maine Dental Practice in Cullybackey (5.0 from 12 reviews), 8.7 miles north-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Dental PracticeCullybackey | 5.0 (12 reviews) | 8.7 miles north-west |
| New Life TeethBelfast | 4.9 (566 reviews) | 18.4 miles south-east |
| Beechview Dental CareBelfast | 4.9 (286 reviews) | 17.2 miles south-east |
| Finaghy Orthodontic CentreFinaghy | 4.9 (236 reviews) | 18.7 miles south-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Connor, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 13 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Orthoplus, Ballymena, 5.6 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Royal Dental Hospital of Belfast in Belfast, about 17 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Connor are commissioned by Health and Social Care Northern Ireland. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Connor funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. Eligible under-18s get excellent clinical outcomes at no cost. Understanding its limits helps families in Connor plan around realistic waiting times.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Connor?
Many patients in Mid and East Antrim 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.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Connor
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Equivalent private metal braces in Connor 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 Connor
NHS orthodontic treatment is free for under-18s who meet the clinical threshold. Adults who do qualify pay 80% of the Health Service fee, capped at £384 for a course of treatment. NHS orthodontic waiting times in Mid and East Antrim vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Orthodontic practices in and around Connor vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. Connor falls in a less deprived area than most of Northern Ireland. The nearest university dental hospital to Connor is Royal Dental Hospital of Belfast, Belfast, about 17 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Connor sits within Health and Social Care Northern Ireland for NHS dental commissioning. Measured by orthodontic practice within five miles (1), Connor has more choice than 64% of towns in Northern Ireland. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Connor itself. The closest on record are Kennedy Orthodontics in Ballymena, about 3 miles away; Maine Dental Practice in Cullybackey, about 9 miles away; and M A Irwin Dental in Carnmoney, about 13 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.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Connor
Eligibility for NHS braces is decided by a clinical scoring system, not by appearance alone. It measures the complexity and impact of the problem, and only cases above a threshold score receive NHS funding. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
What Is IOTN?
NHS eligibility is decided by the IOTN — a two-part clinical index applied consistently by orthodontists throughout Mid and East Antrim.
Children's Orthodontics in Connor
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. Parents in Connor increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Connor
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 Connor
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Connor?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Connor is Kennedy Orthodontics in Ballymena, about 3.4 miles to the north-west. The next closest are Laura Jones Dental & Implant Clinic (5.5 miles) and Ballymena Orthodontic Clinic (5.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Connor?
Our register has 1 practice within 5 miles of Connor, 7 practices within 10 miles and 37 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Connor?
The nearest practice to Connor that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Orthoplus in Ballymena, about 5.6 miles to the north-west. Others nearby include Maine Dental Practice (8.7 miles) and Monkstown Dental (13.6 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Connor?
Connor sits within Health and Social Care Northern Ireland for NHS dental commissioning.
How deprived is Connor compared with the rest of Northern Ireland?
By the national deprivation index, Connor is less deprived than most of Northern Ireland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Connor?
Ballycloghan, Magheralane, Parkgate are within easy reach of Connor.
What county is Connor in?
Connor falls within Mid and East Antrim.
What happens if I miss NHS appointments?
NHS contracts expect reasonable attendance, and repeatedly missing adjustments can get treatment discontinued since it extends the course and ties up scarce capacity. If attendance is genuinely difficult, tell the practice rather than just not showing up.
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 Mid and East Antrim
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Mid and East Antrim — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: