NHS Treatment in Drum at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Tayside |
|---|---|
| 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 | KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, Kinross — 4.6 miles; 26 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee — about 28 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 Drum
On our practice register: 2 practices within 5 miles of Drum, 30 practices within 10 and 152 practices within 20. The closest is KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, 4.6 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, 4.6 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KINROSS FAMILY DENTALKinross | 4.6 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| 75 HIGH STREETKinross | 4.7 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| DOLLAR DENTAL CARE LTDDollar | 5.5 miles west | ✓ | – | – |
| OAKLEY DENTAL PRACTICECarnock | 7.3 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| TILLICOULTRY DENTAL CARETillicoultry | 8.3 miles west | ✓ | – | – |
| ROSEWELL DENTAL CLINICBallingry | 8.6 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Drum with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Kinross, 4.6 miles east; the next are Dollar (5.5 miles west) and Carnock (7.3 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Kinross | 2 | 4.6 miles east |
| Dollar | 1 | 5.5 miles west |
| Carnock | 1 | 7.3 miles south |
| Tillicoultry | 1 | 8.3 miles west |
| Ballingry | 1 | 8.6 miles east |
| Dunfermline | 14 | 8.7 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Drum
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Dentistry @ No 3 in Dunfermline (4.9 from 579 reviews), 9.0 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dentistry @ No 3Dunfermline | 4.9 (579 reviews) | 9.0 miles south |
| Infinityblu Dental Care & Implant ClinicAuchterarder | 4.8 (152 reviews) | 9.7 miles north-west |
| Canmore Dental PracticeDunfermline | 4.3 (18 reviews) | 8.8 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Drum, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 12.6 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, 4.6 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee, about 28 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Drum are commissioned by NHS Tayside. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
The NHS orthodontic pathway in Drum focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. Eligible under-18s get excellent clinical outcomes at no cost. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Perth and Kinross.
NHS Waiting Times in Drum
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Perth and Kinross 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.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in Drum
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Private treatment in Drum trades cost for speed and choice — around £1,500–£3,500 for metal braces, but starting within weeks and with ceramic, lingual and aligner options on the table.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Drum
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 waiting times in Perth and Kinross are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Treatment range and appointment slots differ between the practices covering Drum — comparing a couple is worthwhile. Drum's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of Scotland. The nearest university dental hospital to Drum is Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee, about 28 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Classified by ONS as accessible Rural, Drum sits within NHS Tayside for NHS dental commissioning. With 2 orthodontic practices within five miles, Drum is better served than 56% of towns in Scotland. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Drum itself. The nearest we do hold are KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, about 5 miles away; DOLLAR DENTAL CARE LTD, about 6 miles away; and Kelty Dental Practice, about 7 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.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Drum?
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
Adult NHS Orthodontic Access in Drum
Adults (18 and over) are rarely eligible for NHS orthodontic treatment in Drum. NHS funding for adults is generally limited to severe clinical cases — such as jaw surgery patients or those with significant cleft palate-related needs. Cosmetic adult orthodontics is not NHS-funded.
Children's Orthodontics in Drum
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. The aim is to monitor development and intervene at the right time, not to begin treatment immediately. A photo assessment is a gentle way to get an early steer before booking anything.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Drum
Space maintainers keep the space from a baby tooth lost too soon from closing up, so neighbouring teeth don't drift into the gap before the adult tooth is ready to come through.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Drum
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Drum?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Drum is KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, about 4.6 miles to the east. The next closest are 75 HIGH STREET (4.7 miles) and DOLLAR DENTAL CARE LTD (5.5 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Drum?
Our register has 2 practices within 5 miles of Drum, 30 practices within 10 miles and 152 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Drum?
The nearest practice to Drum that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is KINROSS FAMILY DENTAL, about 4.6 miles to the east. Others nearby include 75 HIGH STREET (4.7 miles) and DOLLAR DENTAL CARE LTD (5.5 miles).
What NHS area is Drum in for dental services?
Drum sits within NHS Tayside for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is Drum?
By ONS classification, Drum falls under accessible Rural.
How deprived is Drum compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Drum is less deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Drum?
Pool of Muckhart, Balado, Yetts o' Muckhart are within easy reach of Drum.
Will I lose NHS eligibility if I turn 18 while waiting?
It's a genuine risk on a long waiting list — NHS funding is age-sensitive, so a case eligible at 16 might be assessed differently at 18. If you're close to that age and eligible now, ask about timescales; it can tip the decision toward going private.
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 Perth and Kinross
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Perth and Kinross — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: