NHS Treatment in Criggion at a Glance
| NHS dental services | Powys Teaching Health Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults capped at £384 per course |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of Wales |
| Residents under 16 | 15.1% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.1% of 2,148 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | St Johns Hill Dental, Shrewsbury — 12.3 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 15.5% 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 Criggion
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of Criggion; 1 practice within 10 and 12 practices within 20. The closest is Butterfly Dental Practice - Dental Implant Specialist - Polski Dentysta in Oswestry, 8.6 miles north. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is St Johns Hill Dental, 12.3 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Johns Hill DentalShrewsbury | 12.3 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (12 reviews) |
| Winchester House Dental PracticeShrewsbury | 12.5 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (280 reviews) |
| EXCLUSIVE ORTHODONTICS LTDShrewsbury | 12.5 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| Shrewsbury Orthodontic CentreShrewsbury | 12.6 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (52 reviews) |
| New Park House Dental CentreShrewsbury | 13.0 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (131 reviews) |
| The Smile Centre ShrewsburyShrewsbury | 13.3 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.3 (6 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Criggion with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Shrewsbury, 12.3 miles east; the next are Wrexham (21.5 miles north) and Wellington (22.2 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Shrewsbury | 6 | 12.3 miles east |
| Wrexham | 3 | 21.5 miles north |
| Wellington | 1 | 22.2 miles east |
| Telford | 4 | 23.9 miles east |
| Broseley | 1 | 25.2 miles east |
| Ironbridge | 1 | 26.1 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Criggion
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is New Park House Dental Centre in Shrewsbury (5.0 from 131 reviews), 13.0 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| New Park House Dental CentreShrewsbury | 5.0 (131 reviews) | 13.0 miles east |
| Winchester House Dental PracticeShrewsbury | 4.9 (280 reviews) | 12.5 miles east |
| Shrewsbury Orthodontic CentreShrewsbury | 4.9 (52 reviews) | 12.6 miles east |
| St Johns Hill DentalShrewsbury | 4.7 (12 reviews) | 12.3 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Criggion, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Madeley Dental Practice, 26.1 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 Johns Hill Dental, Shrewsbury, 12.3 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Criggion are commissioned by Powys Teaching Health Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Criggion 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. Understanding its limits helps families in Criggion plan around realistic waiting times.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Criggion
NHS orthodontic treatment is free for under-18s who meet the clinical threshold. Adults who do qualify pay NHS Wales dental charges, capped at £384 for a course of treatment. NHS orthodontic waiting times in Sir Powys vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Criggion. National deprivation data ranks Criggion among Wales's less deprived areas. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 6.1% of the 2,148 residents in Criggion's census neighbourhood, close to the 6.1% average across Sir Powys. NHS dental commissioning in Criggion falls under Powys Teaching Health Board. Officially, Criggion is categorised as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city. Criggion's under-16 share sits at 15.1%, per the 2021 Census. People in Criggion usually travel further for an orthodontist: the nearest on our register is about 9 miles away. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Criggion. The closest on record are Butterfly Dental Practice - Dental Implant Specialist - Polski Dentysta in Oswestry, about 9 miles away; The Dental Spa and Skin Clinic in Bicton, about 10 miles away; and Shrewsbury Dental Lab, about 11 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.
The NHS Orthodontic Pathway in Criggion
For eligible patients in Criggion, 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 Criggion.
- 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.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in Criggion
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Going private for the same metal braces in Criggion costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
Children's Orthodontics in Criggion
Children's orthodontics in Criggion covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. Parents in Criggion increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. Early review can prevent more complex problems later and simplify treatment when it does begin.
NHS Orthodontics for Children in Criggion
Children in Criggion 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 Criggion?
Whether you or your child qualifies for NHS treatment in Criggion comes down to a structured assessment. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Sir Powys to decide who receives funded treatment. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
Understanding the IOTN Score
Whether the NHS funds treatment comes down to the IOTN score, a standardised two-part measure used right across Sir Powys.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Criggion
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Criggion?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Criggion is Butterfly Dental Practice - Dental Implant Specialist - Polski Dentysta in Oswestry, about 8.6 miles to the north. The next closest are The Dental Spa and Skin Clinic (10.5 miles) and Shrewsbury Dental Lab (11.1 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Criggion?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Criggion, 1 practice within 10 miles and 12 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Oswestry, 8.6 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Criggion?
The nearest practice to Criggion that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is St Johns Hill Dental in Shrewsbury, about 12.3 miles to the east. Others nearby include Winchester House Dental Practice (12.5 miles) and EXCLUSIVE ORTHODONTICS LTD (12.5 miles).
Is Criggion a family area?
15.1% of the local population is under 16, per the most recent Census.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Criggion?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by Powys Teaching Health Board.
What kind of area is Criggion?
By ONS classification, Criggion falls under smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is Criggion compared with the rest of Wales?
By the national deprivation index, Criggion is less deprived than most of Wales. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What does NHS orthodontic treatment include?
Everything from the specialist assessment through adjustments, the brace, de-bonding and retainers is covered as a single 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 Sir Powys
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Sir Powys — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: