NHS Treatment in Crickham at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Somerset 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 | 16.1% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7.9% of 1,572 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Somerset Orthodontist, Mendip — 7.3 miles; 3 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School — 1.8 miles The Kings of Wessex Academy — 2.7 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Bristol Dental Hospital, Bristol — about 18 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 14.2% 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 Crickham
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of Crickham; 6 practices within 10 and 32 practices within 20. The closest is Somerset Orthodontist in Mendip, 7.3 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Somerset Orthodontist, 7.3 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset OrthodontistMendip | 7.3 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.4 (19 reviews) |
| Priory DentalMendip | 7.3 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (94 reviews) |
| Weston Orthodontic CentreWeston-super-Mare | 10.0 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (40 reviews) |
| East Quay Medical CentreBridgwater | 10.9 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 3.3 (84 reviews) |
| Quantock View Dental CentreBridgwater | 12.6 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.5 (67 reviews) |
| Bristol Dental Specialists - Orthodontist & Dental ImplantsBristol | 17.3 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (142 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Crickham with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Mendip, 7.3 miles east; the next are Weston-super-Mare (10.0 miles north-west) and Bridgwater (10.9 miles south-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Mendip | 2 | 7.3 miles east |
| Weston-super-Mare | 1 | 10.0 miles north-west |
| Bridgwater | 2 | 10.9 miles south-west |
| Bristol | 11 | 17.3 miles north-east |
| Easton-in-Gordano | 1 | 18.1 miles north |
| Taunton | 1 | 19.1 miles south-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Crickham
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Dr Nik Gogna in Bristol (5.0 from 44 reviews), 17.3 miles north-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Nik GognaBristol | 5.0 (44 reviews) | 17.3 miles north-east |
| The Bristol Dental PracticeBristol | 4.9 (689 reviews) | 17.3 miles north-east |
| Confident OrthodonticsTaunton | 4.9 (247 reviews) | 19.1 miles south-west |
| Smile SolutionEaston-in-Gordano | 4.9 (150 reviews) | 18.1 miles north |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Crickham, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is King Square Dental Practice, 11.4 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Somerset Orthodontist, Mendip, 7.3 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Bristol Dental Hospital in Bristol, about 18 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Crickham are commissioned by NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
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.
Eligibility in Crickham — Local Context
Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in Somerset differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Crickham. By national deprivation ranking, Crickham sits among the less deprived areas of England. OHID data for this ICB shows 20.2% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. In the census neighbourhood around Crickham, 7.9% of the 1,572 residents are aged 10 to 15, above the 6.6% average across Somerset, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Crickham is about 18 miles from Bristol Dental Hospital in Bristol. NHS dental commissioning in Crickham falls under NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board. Crickham's ONS geography type is smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city. Crickham's under-16 share sits at 16.1%, per the 2021 Census. Secondary-age pupils near Crickham attend schools such as Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School (1.8 miles) and The Kings of Wessex Academy (2.7 miles). 2 secondary schools are within three miles. There are 303 schools and 79,343 pupils in Crickham's Local Authority area, per DfE data. No orthodontic practice on our register is within five miles of Crickham; the nearest is about 7 miles away. See local practice availability in Crickham → If you or your child do not meet the IOTN threshold for NHS treatment, private orthodontic care with no eligibility barrier and no waiting list is available from local practices, typically ranging from £1,500 to £5,500 depending on treatment type.
Can Adults Get NHS Braces in Crickham?
In practice, NHS orthodontic treatment in Crickham 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.
What Is IOTN?
The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the two-part scoring system orthodontists across Somerset use to decide whether a patient qualifies for NHS treatment.
The Dental Health Component (DHC) grades severity from 1 to 5:
- Grade 1 — No treatment need.
- Grade 2 — Little treatment need: mild malocclusion.
- Grade 3 — Borderline: moderate malocclusion.
- Grade 4 — Treatment need: severe malocclusion impacting dental health.
- Grade 5 — Very great need: most severe cases including impactions and large overjets.
NHS funding is generally available for grades 4 and 5. Grade 3 is borderline and is also judged on the Aesthetic Component (AC), a 1–10 photographic scale — a grade 3 with a high AC score may still qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Eligibility in Crickham
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Crickham?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Crickham is Somerset Orthodontist in Mendip, about 7.3 miles to the east. The next closest are Rock House Dental Practice (7.3 miles) and Priory Dental (7.3 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Crickham?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Crickham, 6 practices within 10 miles and 32 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Mendip, 7.3 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Crickham?
The nearest practice to Crickham that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Somerset Orthodontist in Mendip, about 7.3 miles to the east. Others nearby include Priory Dental (7.3 miles) and Weston Orthodontic Centre (10.0 miles).
What NHS area is Crickham in for dental services?
NHS dental commissioning in Crickham falls under NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board.
How deprived is Crickham compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Crickham is less deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What county is Crickham in?
Crickham falls within Somerset.
Which towns are close to Crickham?
Stoughton Cross, Heath House, Clewer are within easy reach of Crickham.
Can I check eligibility online before seeing an orthodontist in Crickham?
Yes — a free photo assessment gives an early read on whether your case is likely to meet NHS criteria and what private options exist in Crickham, with no paid consultation needed.
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 Somerset
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