NHS Treatment in Credenhill 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 | 14.1% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.6% of 1,676 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic, Hereford — 4.4 miles; 3 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Whitecross Hereford — 2.9 miles Kingstone High School — 4.4 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 19.2% 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 Credenhill
On our practice register: 8 practices within 5 miles of Credenhill, 9 practices within 10 and 10 practices within 20. The closest is St.Owen Dental Studio in Hereford, 4.3 miles south-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic, 4.4 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Martins Dental & Implant ClinicHereford | 4.4 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (167 reviews) |
| Willows DentistryHereford | 4.4 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (196 reviews) |
| Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant CentreHereford | 4.9 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (146 reviews) |
| Lodge DentalPontypool | 28.3 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (89 reviews) |
| Phoenix OrthodonticsGloucester | 28.4 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.5 (163 reviews) |
| Gloucester Dental CareGloucester | 28.5 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 Credenhill with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Hereford, 4.4 miles south-east; the next are Pontypool (28.3 miles south) and Gloucester (28.4 miles south-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Hereford | 3 | 4.4 miles south-east |
| Pontypool | 1 | 28.3 miles south |
| Gloucester | 2 | 28.4 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 Credenhill
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), 4.4 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Willows DentistryHereford | 4.9 (196 reviews) | 4.4 miles east |
| Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant CentreHereford | 4.9 (146 reviews) | 4.9 miles east |
| St Martins Dental & Implant ClinicHereford | 4.8 (167 reviews) | 4.4 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 Credenhill, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 15 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, 4.4 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Credenhill 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.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Credenhill follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. Knowing what the NHS can and cannot provide makes the NHS-versus-private decision clearer.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Credenhill
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. How long NHS treatment takes to start in Herefordshire depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Practices serving Credenhill differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. By national deprivation ranking, Credenhill is roughly mid-table for England. Regionally, 19.4% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay (OHID data). Census 2021 counts 1,676 residents in the neighbourhood around Credenhill, 6.6% of them aged 10 to 15, close to the 6.2% average across Herefordshire. Credenhill is classified as smaller rural: Further from a major town or city, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board. 14.1% of Credenhill's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census. The closest secondary schools to Credenhill are Whitecross Hereford (2.9 miles) and Kingstone High School (4.4 miles). 1 secondary school is within three miles. Credenhill's Local Authority has 110 schools educating 24,851 pupils (DfE data). Credenhill has 8 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 69% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in Credenhill itself. The closest on record are St.Owen Dental Studio in Hereford, about 4 miles away; The Mayhill Dental & Specialist Centre in Monmouth, about 19 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.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in Credenhill
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Private treatment in Credenhill trades cost for speed and choice — around £1,500–£3,500 for metal braces, but starting within weeks and with ceramic, lingual and aligner options on the table.
How the NHS Route Works in Credenhill
The NHS pathway in Credenhill 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 Credenhill.
- 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.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Credenhill?
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Herefordshire apply the same national criteria consistently. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Not Eligible? Here's What to Do Next in Credenhill
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.
Children's Orthodontics in Credenhill
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. Parents in Credenhill 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.
Children's Orthodontics in Credenhill — Local Context
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Credenhill. 14.1% of Credenhill's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census. In the census neighbourhood around Credenhill, 6.6% of the 1,676 residents are aged 10 to 15, close to the 6.2% average across Herefordshire, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. Secondary-age pupils near Credenhill attend schools such as Whitecross Hereford (2.9 miles) and Kingstone High School (4.4 miles). 1 secondary school is within three miles. DfE figures put 110 schools and 24,851 pupils across Credenhill's Local Authority. OHID data for this ICB shows 19.4% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. Classified by ONS as smaller rural: Further from a major town or city, Credenhill sits within NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. National deprivation data puts Credenhill close to the England median. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (8), Credenhill has more choice than 69% of towns in England. They typically offer children's assessments and NHS-funded treatment for eligible patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Credenhill
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Credenhill?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Credenhill is St.Owen Dental Studio in Hereford, about 4.3 miles to the south-east. The next closest are Evans Morton & Evans Orthodontics (4.4 miles) and St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic (4.4 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Credenhill?
Our register has 8 practices within 5 miles of Credenhill, 9 practices within 10 miles and 10 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Credenhill?
The nearest practice to Credenhill that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic in Hereford, about 4.4 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include Willows Dentistry (4.4 miles) and Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant Centre (4.9 miles).
How many families live in Credenhill?
Census data puts 14.1% of Credenhill's population at under 16.
How big is Credenhill?
Credenhill has a population of around 2,271.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Credenhill?
NHS dental commissioning in Credenhill falls under NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board.
How many pupils are in Credenhill's Local Authority?
There are 110 schools and 24,851 pupils in Credenhill's Local Authority area, per DfE data.
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 who do qualify pay the NHS Band 3 charge, £332.10 in England from April 2026, which covers the whole course.
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: