NHS Treatment in Croft at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland 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 | 16.2% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.6% of 1,297 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Holywell House, Hinckley — 4.8 miles; 18 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Thomas Estley Community College — 2.4 miles Brockington College — 2.7 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Birmingham Dental Hospital, Birmingham — about 28 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 15.1% 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 Croft
On our practice register: 4 practices within 5 miles of Croft, 37 practices within 10 and 87 practices within 20. The closest is Carlton House Dental Practice in Earl Shilton, 3.9 miles west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Holywell House, 4.8 miles west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holywell HouseHinckley | 4.8 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (154 reviews) |
| The Dental & Cosmetic ClinicBlaby | 5.0 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (333 reviews) |
| House of Dental Station RoadHinckley | 5.4 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (1,375 reviews) |
| Winchester Avenue Dental SurgeryLeicester | 5.9 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (981 reviews) |
| Hallcross Dental PracticeWigston Magna | 6.2 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (374 reviews) |
| Natural Smiles CorbyWigston Magna | 6.3 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (224 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Croft with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Hinckley, 4.8 miles west; the next are Blaby (5.0 miles east) and Leicester (5.9 miles north-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Hinckley | 2 | 4.8 miles west |
| Blaby | 1 | 5.0 miles east |
| Leicester | 10 | 5.9 miles north-east |
| Wigston Magna | 3 | 6.2 miles east |
| Evington | 1 | 7.5 miles east |
| Humberstone | 1 | 8.2 miles north-east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Croft
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is The Dental & Cosmetic Clinic in Blaby (5.0 from 333 reviews), 5.0 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| The Dental & Cosmetic ClinicBlaby | 5.0 (333 reviews) | 5.0 miles east |
| Bright Smiles Dental Practice - LeicesterLeicester | 5.0 (19 reviews) | 6.4 miles north-east |
| The Dental Wellness Centre - Invisalign LeicesterLeicester | 4.9 (542 reviews) | 6.5 miles north-east |
| Doncaster Road Dental PracticeLeicester | 4.9 (457 reviews) | 8.3 miles north-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Croft, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Brookview Dental, 6.3 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Holywell House, Hinckley, 4.8 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Birmingham Dental Hospital in Birmingham, about 28 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Croft are commissioned by NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Croft 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 Leicestershire.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Croft?
Many patients in Leicestershire 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.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Croft
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 Leicestershire depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Croft. National deprivation data ranks Croft among England's less deprived areas. Regionally, 22% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay (OHID data). Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 6.6% of the 1,297 residents in Croft's census neighbourhood, close to the 6.8% average across Leicestershire. The nearest university dental hospital to Croft is Birmingham Dental Hospital, Birmingham, about 28 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Classified by ONS as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city, Croft sits within NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Census figures show 16.2% of the local population is under 16. Secondary-age pupils near Croft attend schools such as Thomas Estley Community College (2.4 miles) and Brockington College (2.7 miles). 2 secondary schools are within three miles. With 4 orthodontic practices within five miles, Croft is better served than 56% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in Croft itself. The closest on record are Carlton House Dental Practice in Earl Shilton, about 4 miles away; Holywell House in Hinckley, about 5 miles away; and The Dental & Cosmetic Clinic in Blaby, about 5 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.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Croft
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Going private for the same metal braces in Croft costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
NHS Brace Eligibility in Croft
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Leicestershire 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
The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the two-part scoring system orthodontists across Leicestershire use to decide whether a patient qualifies for NHS treatment.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Croft
Children's orthodontics in Croft covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. Parents in Croft 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.
The Age-7 Assessment
British Orthodontic Society guidance points to age 7 for an assessment where there's a noticeable concern — by then most children have their first permanent molars and incisors through, which is enough for an orthodontist to judge jaw relationships, arch development, bite and likely future crowding.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Croft
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Croft?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Croft is Carlton House Dental Practice in Earl Shilton, about 3.9 miles to the west. The next closest are Holywell House (4.8 miles) and Windsor Street Dental Burbage (4.8 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Croft?
Our register has 4 practices within 5 miles of Croft, 37 practices within 10 miles and 87 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Croft?
The nearest practice to Croft that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Holywell House in Hinckley, about 4.8 miles to the west. Others nearby include The Dental & Cosmetic Clinic (5.0 miles) and House of Dental Station Road (5.4 miles).
Which towns are close to Croft?
Nearby towns include Stoney Stanton, Enderby, Sapcote.
Which county covers Croft?
Croft falls within Leicestershire.
Is Croft rural or urban?
ONS classifies Croft as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
Is Croft a family area?
16.2% of the local population is under 16, per the most recent Census.
How much do NHS braces cost?
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. 18-year-olds in qualifying full-time education are also exempt, as are adults on certain benefits or low incomes, and one charge covers the full course from fitting to retainers.
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 Leicestershire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Leicestershire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: