NHS Treatment in Crossroads at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Grampian |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of Scotland |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORY, Banchory — 3.2 miles; 12 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen — about 13 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Accessible Rural |
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 Crossroads
On our practice register: 2 practices within 5 miles of Crossroads, 12 practices within 10 and 76 practices within 20. The closest is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORY, 3.2 miles west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORY, 3.2 miles west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORYBanchory | 3.2 miles west | ✓ | – | – |
| DEESIDE DENTAL CAREBanchory | 3.6 miles west | ✓ | – | – |
| PETERCULTER DENTAL PRACTICEPeterculter | 6.5 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
| ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICEStonehaven | 8.5 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| ABERCROMBIE DENTAL PRACTICEWesthill | 8.8 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
| WESTHILL DENTAL PRACTICEWesthill | 8.9 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Crossroads with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Banchory, 3.2 miles west; the next are Peterculter (6.5 miles north-east) and Stonehaven (8.5 miles south-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Banchory | 2 | 3.2 miles west |
| Peterculter | 1 | 6.5 miles north-east |
| Stonehaven | 4 | 8.5 miles south-east |
| Westhill | 4 | 8.8 miles north-east |
| Cults | 5 | 9.9 miles north-east |
| Kingswells | 4 | 10.2 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 Crossroads
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Portlethen Dental Care (4.9 from 517 reviews), 10.7 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Portlethen Dental CarePortlethen | 4.9 (517 reviews) | 10.7 miles east |
| Andrew Scott Dental CareAberdeen | 4.9 (240 reviews) | 12.5 miles north-east |
| Mastrick Smile CareAberdeen | 4.9 (213 reviews) | 12.3 miles north-east |
| Holburn Dental and Implant CentreAberdeen | 4.5 (219 reviews) | 12.4 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 Crossroads, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Fountain Dental Group, 3.2 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORY, 3.2 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen, about 13 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Crossroads are commissioned by NHS Grampian. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Crossroads follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. The process starts with your dentist, includes a formal eligibility assessment, and places you on a waiting list. Knowing what the NHS can and cannot provide makes the NHS-versus-private decision clearer.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Crossroads
In Scotland, NHS dental treatment — including clinically necessary orthodontics — is free for everyone under 26. Adults aged 26 and over who qualify pay 80% of the NHS fee, capped at £384 for a course of treatment. NHS orthodontic waiting times in Aberdeenshire vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Orthodontic practices in and around Crossroads vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. Crossroads falls in a less deprived area than most of Scotland. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Crossroads is Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen, about 13 miles away. Crossroads — accessible Rural by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Grampian for NHS dentistry. Crossroads has 2 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 56% of towns in Scotland. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Crossroads. The nearest we do hold are FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORY, about 3 miles away; PETERCULTER DENTAL PRACTICE, about 6 miles away; and ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICE in Stonehaven, about 8 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 vs Private Fees in Crossroads
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Going private for the same metal braces in Crossroads costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Crossroads?
Many patients in Aberdeenshire 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 Brace Eligibility in Crossroads
Many patients in Crossroads are surprised they don't automatically qualify for NHS braces. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Aberdeenshire to decide who receives funded treatment. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
Can Adults Get NHS Braces in Crossroads?
In practice, NHS orthodontic treatment in Crossroads 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.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Crossroads
For many families in Crossroads, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Parents in Crossroads increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
Children's Orthodontics in Crossroads — Local Context
Orthodontic practices in and around Crossroads vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. Crossroads — accessible Rural by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Grampian for NHS dentistry. By national deprivation ranking, Crossroads sits among the less deprived areas of Scotland. Crossroads has 2 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 56% of towns in Scotland. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Crossroads is Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen, about 13 miles away. They typically offer children's assessments and NHS-funded treatment for eligible patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Crossroads
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Crossroads?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Crossroads is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORY, about 3.2 miles to the west. The next closest are DEESIDE DENTAL CARE (3.6 miles) and PETERCULTER DENTAL PRACTICE (6.5 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Crossroads?
Our register has 2 practices within 5 miles of Crossroads, 12 practices within 10 miles and 76 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Crossroads?
The nearest practice to Crossroads that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORY, about 3.2 miles to the west. Others nearby include DEESIDE DENTAL CARE (3.6 miles) and PETERCULTER DENTAL PRACTICE (6.5 miles).
Which NHS body covers Crossroads for dental care?
Crossroads sits within NHS Grampian for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is Crossroads?
By ONS classification, Crossroads falls under accessible Rural.
How deprived is Crossroads compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Crossroads is less deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What towns are near Crossroads?
Landerberry, Crathes, Banchory are within easy reach of Crossroads.
Will I lose NHS eligibility if I turn 18 while waiting?
This is a real risk with long waiting lists. NHS orthodontic funding is age-sensitive, so a case that qualifies at 16 may be assessed differently once you turn 18. If you're close to 18 and eligible, ask your dentist about timescales — it can be a reason to consider private 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 Aberdeenshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Aberdeenshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: