NHS Treatment in Crawley Down at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 19.9% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7.7% of 1,486 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Saint Faith Dental Clinic, East Grinstead — 2.6 miles; 11 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Imberhorne School — 2.3 miles Oriel High School — 3.5 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Guy's Hospital Dental Institute, London — about 26 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 13.7% 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 Crawley Down
On our practice register: 12 practices within 5 miles of Crawley Down, 26 practices within 10 and 109 practices within 20. The closest is Saint Faith Dental Clinic in East Grinstead, 2.6 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Saint Faith Dental Clinic, 2.6 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Faith Dental ClinicEast Grinstead | 2.6 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (314 reviews) |
| Kings Dental CareEast Grinstead | 3.1 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (57 reviews) |
| EAST GRINSTEAD ORTHODONTICEast Grinstead | 3.2 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| Dentist Crawley | Enhance Dental Surgery CrawleyCrawley | 4.7 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (340 reviews) |
| Crawley Dental ClinicCrawley | 5.6 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (105 reviews) |
| TOTAL ORTHODONTICS LTDHaywards Heath | 8.2 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Crawley Down with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is East Grinstead, 2.6 miles east; the next are Crawley (4.7 miles west) and Haywards Heath (8.2 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| East Grinstead | 3 | 2.6 miles east |
| Crawley | 2 | 4.7 miles west |
| Haywards Heath | 4 | 8.2 miles south |
| Horsham | 1 | 9.9 miles west |
| Reigate | 2 | 9.9 miles north-west |
| Redhill | 1 | 10.1 miles north-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Crawley Down
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Reigate Specialist Orthodontic Practice in Redhill (5.0 from 141 reviews), 10.1 miles north-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Reigate Specialist Orthodontic PracticeRedhill | 5.0 (141 reviews) | 10.1 miles north-west |
| Dentist Crawley | Enhance Dental Surgery CrawleyCrawley | 4.9 (340 reviews) | 4.7 miles west |
| S3 Dental Haywards HeathHaywards Heath | 4.8 (761 reviews) | 8.7 miles south |
| dentalessence Haywards HeathHaywards Heath | 4.8 (563 reviews) | 8.5 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Crawley Down, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 2.5 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Saint Faith Dental Clinic, East Grinstead, 2.6 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Guy's Hospital Dental Institute in London, about 26 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Crawley Down are commissioned by NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Crawley Down funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. For eligible under-18s it's outstanding value — full treatment at no charge at all. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across West Sussex.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Crawley Down
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. Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in West Sussex differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Crawley Down has no orthodontic practice of its own, but a dentist — Bupa Dental Care — is about 2 miles away, and a general dentist is who most people ask for an orthodontic referral in the first place. By national deprivation ranking, Crawley Down sits among the less deprived areas of England. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 7.7% of the 1,486 residents in Crawley Down's census neighbourhood, above the 7% average across West Sussex. The nearest university dental hospital to Crawley Down is Guy's Hospital Dental Institute, London, about 26 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Classified by ONS as larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city, Crawley Down sits within NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Census figures show 19.9% of the local population is under 16. The closest secondary schools to Crawley Down are Imberhorne School (2.3 miles) and Oriel High School (3.5 miles). 1 secondary school is within three miles. Crawley Down has 12 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 79% of towns in England. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Crawley Down. The closest on record are Saint Faith Dental Clinic in East Grinstead, about 3 miles away; Smilecare Dental Centre in Crawley, about 4 miles away; and TOTAL ORTHODONTICS LTD in Haywards Heath, 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 vs Private Fees in Crawley Down
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 Crawley Down costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Crawley Down?
Many patients in West Sussex 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.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Crawley Down?
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across West Sussex to decide who receives funded treatment. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
Can Adults Get NHS Braces in Crawley Down?
In practice, NHS orthodontic treatment in Crawley Down is almost exclusively for patients under 18. Adult NHS orthodontic slots are very limited and reserved for exceptional functional cases. Adults seeking orthodontic treatment should plan for private care — no waiting list and full choice of treatment type.
Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children in Crawley Down
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Parents in Crawley Down increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. A photo assessment is a gentle way to get an early steer before booking anything.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Crawley Down
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 Crawley Down
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Crawley Down?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Crawley Down is Saint Faith Dental Clinic in East Grinstead, about 2.6 miles to the east. The next closest are The Smile Gallery Dental Practice (2.8 miles) and East Grinstead Smiles Dental Practice (3.1 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Crawley Down?
Our register has 12 practices within 5 miles of Crawley Down, 26 practices within 10 miles and 109 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Crawley Down?
The nearest practice to Crawley Down that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Saint Faith Dental Clinic in East Grinstead, about 2.6 miles to the east. Others nearby include Kings Dental Care (3.1 miles) and EAST GRINSTEAD ORTHODONTIC (3.2 miles).
How big is Crawley Down?
Crawley Down has a population of around 4,300.
What NHS area is Crawley Down in for dental services?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board.
What kind of area is Crawley Down?
ONS classifies Crawley Down as larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
How many families live in Crawley Down?
Census data puts 19.9% of Crawley Down's population at under 16.
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 West Sussex
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in West Sussex — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: