NHS Treatment in Croham at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS South West London 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 | 18.2% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.2% of 1,904 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | CROYDON ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE, South Croydon — under a mile; 12 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Coombe Wood School — 0.5 miles Archbishop Tenison's CofE High School — 0.7 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Guy's Hospital Dental Institute, London — about 10 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 13.9% 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 Croham
On our practice register: 27 practices within 5 miles of Croham, 107 practices within 10 and 333 practices within 20. The closest is Croydon Orthodontic Practice Tim McDonogh And Associates, 0.3 miles north-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is CROYDON ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE, 0.3 miles north-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CROYDON ORTHODONTIC PRACTICESouth Croydon | 0.3 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – |
| Gentle Dental CareCroydon | 0.7 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (352 reviews) |
| Orchard OrthodonticsLondon | 1.3 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (524 reviews) |
| ConfiDental Clinic PurleyCoulsdon | 1.8 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (442 reviews) |
| Thornton Dental and Implant CentreThornton Heath | 2.6 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (204 reviews) |
| 72 DentalCoulsdon | 3.2 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (675 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Croham with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is South Croydon, 0.3 miles north-west; the next are Croydon (0.7 miles west) and London (1.3 miles north).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| South Croydon | 1 | 0.3 miles north-west |
| Croydon | 1 | 0.7 miles west |
| London | 2 | 1.3 miles north |
| Coulsdon | 2 | 1.8 miles south-west |
| Thornton Heath | 1 | 2.6 miles north |
| Sutton | 3 | 4.3 miles west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Croham
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is 72 Dental in Coulsdon (4.8 from 675 reviews), 3.2 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 72 DentalCoulsdon | 4.8 (675 reviews) | 3.2 miles south-west |
| Orchard OrthodonticsLondon | 4.8 (524 reviews) | 1.3 miles north |
| Gentle Dental CareCroydon | 4.8 (352 reviews) | 0.7 miles west |
| Benhill Dental PracticeSutton | 4.8 (345 reviews) | 4.3 miles west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Croham, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 2.4 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is CROYDON ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE, South Croydon, under a mile 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 10 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Croham are commissioned by NHS South West London Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Croham funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. Eligible under-18s get excellent clinical outcomes at no cost. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Greater London.
NHS Waiting Times in Croham
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Greater London vary and can range from 12 to 36 months from referral to treatment starting. For families where timing is important — particularly approaching the optimal treatment age — private orthodontics eliminates the wait entirely and typically begins within a few weeks of consultation.
How the NHS Route Works in Croham
From first check-up to retainers, the NHS process in Croham runs like this:
- 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 Croham.
- 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 Access in Croham
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. NHS orthodontic waiting times in Greater London vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Practices serving Croham differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. National deprivation data puts Croham close to the England median. OHID's regional oral-health data records visible dental decay in 22.7% of local 5-year-olds. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 6.2% of the 1,904 residents in Croham's census neighbourhood, below the 6.8% average across Greater London. The nearest university dental hospital to Croham is Guy's Hospital Dental Institute, London, about 10 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Croham — urban: Nearer to a major town or city by ONS classification — is covered by NHS South West London Integrated Care Board for NHS dentistry. Census data puts 18.2% of Croham's population at under 16. Secondary-age pupils near Croham attend schools such as Coombe Wood School (0.5 miles) and Archbishop Tenison's CofE High School (0.7 miles). 21 secondary schools are within three miles. There are 153 schools and 63,189 pupils in Croham's Local Authority area, per DfE data. Croham has 26 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 94% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in Croham itself. The nearest we do hold are Croydon Orthodontic Practice Tim McDonogh And Associates, under a mile away; Dental Beauty Orthodontics South Croydon, under a mile away; and Mayfield Dental in Purley, under a mile 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.
Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children in Croham
For many families in Croham, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Parents in Croham 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.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Croham
Space maintainers hold open the gap left by a prematurely lost baby tooth, preventing neighbouring teeth from drifting in before the adult tooth erupts.
NHS Brace Eligibility in Croham
Many patients in Croham are surprised they don't automatically qualify for NHS braces. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Greater London to decide who receives funded treatment. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Eligibility in Croham — Local Context
NHS waiting times in Greater London are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Croham
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Croham?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Croham is Croydon Orthodontic Practice Tim McDonogh And Associates, about 0.3 miles to the north-west. The next closest are Dental Beauty Orthodontics South Croydon (0.3 miles) and CROYDON ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE (0.3 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Croham?
Our register has 27 practices within 5 miles of Croham, 107 practices within 10 miles and 333 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Croham?
The nearest practice to Croham that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is CROYDON ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE in South Croydon, about 0.3 miles to the north-west. Others nearby include Gentle Dental Care (0.7 miles) and Orchard Orthodontics (1.3 miles).
Is Croham rural or urban?
ONS classifies Croham as urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
Which towns are close to Croham?
Nearby towns include Selsdon and Ballards, Croydon, Purley Way.
Which county covers Croham?
Croham falls within Greater London.
How's children's dental health in Croham's area?
Regionally, 22.7% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay, per OHID data.
What happens if I miss NHS appointments?
NHS contracts expect reasonable attendance, and repeatedly missing adjustments can get treatment discontinued since it extends the course and ties up scarce capacity. If attendance is genuinely difficult, tell the practice rather than just not showing up.
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 Greater London
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Greater London — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: