NHS Treatment in Fiddes 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 | ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICE, Stonehaven — 4.7 miles; 4 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen — about 18 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 Fiddes
On our practice register: 1 practice within 5 miles of Fiddes, 4 practices within 10 and 69 practices within 20. The closest is ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICE in Stonehaven, 4.7 miles north-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICE, 4.7 miles north-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICEStonehaven | 4.7 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
| STONEHAVEN DENTAL PRACTICEStonehaven | 5.1 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
| MARKET SQUARE DENTAL PRACTICEStonehaven | 5.2 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
| C. A. GARDENStonehaven | 5.2 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
| FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORYBanchory | 11.1 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – |
| DEESIDE DENTAL CAREBanchory | 11.4 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Fiddes with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Stonehaven, 4.7 miles north-east; the next are Banchory (11.1 miles north-west) and Portlethen (12.1 miles north-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Stonehaven | 4 | 4.7 miles north-east |
| Banchory | 2 | 11.1 miles north-west |
| Portlethen | 1 | 12.1 miles north-east |
| Peterculter | 1 | 12.3 miles north |
| Cults | 5 | 14.6 miles north |
| Montrose | 3 | 15.3 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Fiddes
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Portlethen Dental Care (4.9 from 517 reviews), 12.1 miles north-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Portlethen Dental CarePortlethen | 4.9 (517 reviews) | 12.1 miles north-east |
| Andrew Scott Dental CareAberdeen | 4.9 (240 reviews) | 16.8 miles north-east |
| Holburn Dental and Implant CentreAberdeen | 4.5 (219 reviews) | 16.1 miles north-east |
| Abercrombie Smile Design and Abercrombie OrthodonticsWesthill | 4.1 (41 reviews) | 16.2 miles north |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Fiddes, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Fountain Dental Group, 11.2 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICE, Stonehaven, 4.7 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 18 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Fiddes are commissioned by NHS Grampian. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
The NHS orthodontic pathway in Fiddes focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in Fiddes
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Going private for the same metal braces in Fiddes costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Fiddes
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. How long NHS treatment takes to start in Aberdeenshire depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Orthodontic practices in and around Fiddes vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. Fiddes 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 Fiddes is Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen, about 18 miles away. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Grampian. Officially, Fiddes is categorised as accessible Rural. There is no orthodontist on our records in Fiddes itself. The nearest recorded are ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICE in Stonehaven, about 5 miles away; FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORY, about 11 miles away; and Portlethen Dental Care, about 12 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 Waiting Times in Fiddes
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Aberdeenshire 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.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Fiddes
Children's orthodontics in Fiddes covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. 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 Fiddes
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 Fiddes
Many patients in Fiddes are surprised they don't automatically qualify for NHS braces. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Aberdeenshire apply the same national criteria consistently. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Eligibility in Fiddes — Local Context
How long NHS treatment takes to start in Aberdeenshire depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Fiddes
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Fiddes?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Fiddes is ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICE in Stonehaven, about 4.7 miles to the north-east. The next closest are STONEHAVEN DENTAL PRACTICE (5.1 miles) and MARKET SQUARE DENTAL PRACTICE (5.2 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Fiddes?
Our register has 1 practice within 5 miles of Fiddes, 4 practices within 10 miles and 69 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Fiddes?
The nearest practice to Fiddes that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICE in Stonehaven, about 4.7 miles to the north-east. Others nearby include STONEHAVEN DENTAL PRACTICE (5.1 miles) and MARKET SQUARE DENTAL PRACTICE (5.2 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Fiddes?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Grampian.
What kind of area is Fiddes?
ONS classifies Fiddes as accessible Rural.
How deprived is Fiddes compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Fiddes 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 Fiddes?
Fetteresso, Allardice, Roadside are within easy reach of Fiddes.
Are NHS orthodontists the same as private ones?
Often the same specialist orthodontists provide both NHS and private care, sometimes from the same practice. The clinical skill is identical; what differs is the appliance choice, waiting time and level of personalisation between the two funding routes.
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.
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