NHS Treatment in Craigiebuckler 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 | PRIMARY CARE DENTAL SERVICES, Cults — under a mile; 26 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen — about 2 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Large Urban Areas |
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 Craigiebuckler
On our practice register: 58 practices within 5 miles of Craigiebuckler, 63 practices within 10 and 77 practices within 20. The closest is PRIMARY CARE DENTAL SERVICES in Cults, 0.6 miles north. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is PRIMARY CARE DENTAL SERVICES, 0.6 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY CARE DENTAL SERVICESCults | 0.6 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| MYDENTISTCults | 0.9 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| Andrew Scott Dental CareAberdeen | 1.0 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (240 reviews) |
| Mastrick Smile CareAberdeen | 1.1 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (213 reviews) |
| MASTRICK DENTAL CENTREKingswells | 1.1 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| MASTRICK SMILE CAREKingswells | 1.1 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Craigiebuckler with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Cults, 0.6 miles north; the next are Aberdeen (1.0 miles east) and Kingswells (1.1 miles north).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Cults | 5 | 0.6 miles north |
| Aberdeen | 18 | 1.0 miles east |
| Kingswells | 3 | 1.1 miles north |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Craigiebuckler
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Andrew Scott Dental Care in Aberdeen (4.9 from 240 reviews), 1.0 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Scott Dental CareAberdeen | 4.9 (240 reviews) | 1.0 miles east |
| Mastrick Smile CareAberdeen | 4.9 (213 reviews) | 1.1 miles north |
| Visage Orthodontics Aberdeen | Orthodontist in Aberdeen for Invisalign & BracesAberdeen | 4.6 (82 reviews) | 1.8 miles east |
| Holburn Dental and Implant CentreAberdeen | 4.5 (219 reviews) | 1.8 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 Craigiebuckler, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 1.3 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is PRIMARY CARE DENTAL SERVICES, Cults, under a mile 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 2 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Craigiebuckler are commissioned by NHS Grampian. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Craigiebuckler follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. Eligible under-18s get excellent clinical outcomes at no cost. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Aberdeen City.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in Craigiebuckler
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Equivalent private metal braces in Craigiebuckler 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 Craigiebuckler
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 orthodontic waiting times in Aberdeen City vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Practices serving Craigiebuckler differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. Craigiebuckler's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of Scotland. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Craigiebuckler is Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen, about 2 miles away. NHS dental commissioning in Craigiebuckler falls under NHS Grampian. ONS classifies Craigiebuckler as large Urban Areas. Craigiebuckler has 58 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 93% of towns in Scotland. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Craigiebuckler. The closest on record are PRIMARY CARE DENTAL SERVICES in Cults, under a mile away; Andrew Scott Dental Care in Aberdeen, about a mile away; and MASTRICK DENTAL CENTRE in Kingswells, about a mile 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 Craigiebuckler?
Many patients in Aberdeen City 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Craigiebuckler
Children's orthodontics in Craigiebuckler covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. Parents in Craigiebuckler 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 Craigiebuckler
Space maintainers hold open the gap left by a prematurely lost baby tooth, preventing neighbouring teeth from drifting in before the adult tooth erupts.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Craigiebuckler?
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. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
Not Eligible? Here's What to Do Next in Craigiebuckler
An IOTN score below grade 4 does not mean your teeth don't need attention — it means NHS resources are prioritised for the most clinically significant cases. Private treatment is open to everyone and provides more treatment choices, faster access, and a more personalised experience.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Craigiebuckler
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Craigiebuckler?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Craigiebuckler is PRIMARY CARE DENTAL SERVICES in Cults, about 0.6 miles to the north. The next closest are MYDENTIST (0.9 miles) and Andrew Scott Dental Care (1.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Craigiebuckler?
Our register has 58 practices within 5 miles of Craigiebuckler, 63 practices within 10 miles and 77 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Craigiebuckler?
The nearest practice to Craigiebuckler that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is PRIMARY CARE DENTAL SERVICES in Cults, about 0.6 miles to the north. Others nearby include MYDENTIST (0.9 miles) and Andrew Scott Dental Care (1.0 miles).
Which NHS body covers Craigiebuckler for dental care?
Craigiebuckler sits within NHS Grampian for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is Craigiebuckler?
By ONS classification, Craigiebuckler falls under large Urban Areas.
How deprived is Craigiebuckler compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Craigiebuckler is less deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What towns are near Craigiebuckler?
Banchory Devenick, Cummings Park, Garthdee are within easy reach of Craigiebuckler.
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 Aberdeen City
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Aberdeen City — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: