NHS Treatment in Cophill at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire 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 | 16.7% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.6% of 1,631 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic, Hereford — 3.9 miles; 3 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Kingstone High School — 2.6 miles Whitecross Hereford — 3.0 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 18.9% 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 Cophill
On our practice register: 9 practices within 5 miles of Cophill, 9 practices within 10 and 10 practices within 20. The closest is St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic in Hereford, 3.9 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic, 3.9 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Martins Dental & Implant ClinicHereford | 3.9 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (167 reviews) |
| Willows DentistryHereford | 4.1 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (196 reviews) |
| Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant CentreHereford | 4.8 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (146 reviews) |
| Lodge DentalPontypool | 26.3 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (89 reviews) |
| Phoenix OrthodonticsGloucester | 27.4 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.5 (163 reviews) |
| Gloucester Dental CareGloucester | 27.5 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 3.6 (249 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Cophill with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Hereford, 3.9 miles east; the next are Pontypool (26.3 miles south) and Gloucester (27.4 miles south-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Hereford | 3 | 3.9 miles east |
| Pontypool | 1 | 26.3 miles south |
| Gloucester | 2 | 27.4 miles south-east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Cophill
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Willows Dentistry in Hereford (4.9 from 196 reviews), 4.1 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Willows DentistryHereford | 4.9 (196 reviews) | 4.1 miles east |
| Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant CentreHereford | 4.9 (146 reviews) | 4.8 miles east |
| St Martins Dental & Implant ClinicHereford | 4.8 (167 reviews) | 3.9 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Cophill, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 13.5 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic, Hereford, 3.9 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Cophill are commissioned by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
For families in Cophill, the NHS pathway offers a subsidised route to fixed braces for eligible children. Eligible under-18s get excellent clinical outcomes at no cost. Knowing what the NHS can and cannot provide makes the NHS-versus-private decision clearer.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Cophill
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. NHS waiting times in Herefordshire are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Practices serving Cophill differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. By national deprivation ranking, Cophill is roughly mid-table for England. 19.4% of 5-year-olds across this ICB have visible dental decay, per OHID's most recent figures. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 6.6% of the 1,631 residents in Cophill's census neighbourhood, close to the 6.2% average across Herefordshire. Cophill — smaller rural: Further from a major town or city by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board for NHS dentistry. Cophill's under-16 share sits at 16.7%, per the 2021 Census. Secondary-age pupils near Cophill attend schools such as Kingstone High School (2.6 miles) and Whitecross Hereford (3.0 miles). 1 secondary school is within three miles. Cophill's Local Authority has 110 schools educating 24,851 pupils (DfE data). With 9 orthodontic practices within five miles, Cophill is better served than 72% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in Cophill itself. The nearest we do hold are St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic in Hereford, about 4 miles away; The Mayhill Dental & Specialist Centre in Monmouth, about 17 miles away; and Buckingham House Dental Surgery in Great Malvern, about 21 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 Long Is the NHS Wait in Cophill?
Many patients in Herefordshire 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.
How the NHS Route Works in Cophill
For eligible patients in Cophill, 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 Cophill.
- 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Cophill
Children's orthodontics in Cophill covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. Parents in Cophill increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
NHS Orthodontics for Children in Cophill
Children in Cophill 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 Cophill?
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. It measures the complexity and impact of the problem, and only cases above a threshold score receive NHS funding. Knowing where you stand before the referral process saves time and manages expectations in Cophill.
How Eligibility Is Scored
The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the two-part scoring system orthodontists across Herefordshire use to decide whether a patient qualifies for NHS treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Cophill
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Cophill?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Cophill is St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic in Hereford, about 3.9 miles to the east. The next closest are St.Owen Dental Studio (3.9 miles) and Evans Morton & Evans Orthodontics (4.1 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Cophill?
Our register has 9 practices within 5 miles of Cophill, 9 practices within 10 miles and 10 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Cophill?
The nearest practice to Cophill that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic in Hereford, about 3.9 miles to the east. Others nearby include Willows Dentistry (4.1 miles) and Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant Centre (4.8 miles).
What county is Cophill in?
Cophill falls within Herefordshire.
How deprived is Cophill compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Cophill is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Is Cophill a family area?
16.7% of the local population is under 16, per the most recent Census.
What towns are near Cophill?
Nearby towns include Cobhall Common, Clehonger, Swainshill.
How long is the NHS orthodontic wait in Cophill?
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Herefordshire typically range from 12 to 24 months — and in some areas longer. Private treatment has no waiting list and usually begins within weeks of consultation.
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 Herefordshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Herefordshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: