NHS Treatment in Fisherford at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Grampian |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Around the Scotland average |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | HUNTLY DENTAL PRACTICE, Huntly — 9.1 miles; 5 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen — about 24 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 Fisherford
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of Fisherford; 5 practices within 10 and 21 practices within 20. The closest is HUNTLY DENTAL PRACTICE, 9.1 miles west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is HUNTLY DENTAL PRACTICE, 9.1 miles west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HUNTLY DENTAL PRACTICEHuntly | 9.1 miles west | ✓ | – | – |
| DEVERON DENTALHuntly | 9.2 miles west | ✓ | – | – |
| Deveron Dental Centre, HuntlyHuntly | 9.3 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (160 reviews) |
| TURIFF DENTAL PRACTICETurriff | 9.4 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| OLDMELDRUM DENTAL PRACTICEOldmeldrum | 9.9 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| INVERURIE DENTAL CAREInverurie | 10.6 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Fisherford with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Huntly, 9.1 miles west; the next are Turriff (9.4 miles north) and Oldmeldrum (9.9 miles south-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Huntly | 3 | 9.1 miles west |
| Turriff | 1 | 9.4 miles north |
| Oldmeldrum | 1 | 9.9 miles south-east |
| Inverurie | 4 | 10.6 miles south-east |
| Bridge of Alford | 1 | 13.5 miles south-west |
| Kintore | 1 | 14.8 miles south-east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Fisherford
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Young Smile Dental Care in Bridge of Alford (4.9 from 319 reviews), 13.5 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Young Smile Dental CareBridge of Alford | 4.9 (319 reviews) | 13.5 miles south-west |
| The Keith Dental HouseKeith | 4.9 (39 reviews) | 17.3 miles north-west |
| Deveron Dental Centre, HuntlyHuntly | 4.8 (160 reviews) | 9.3 miles west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Fisherford, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Dyce Dental Practice Family Dentist, 19.9 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is HUNTLY DENTAL PRACTICE, 9.1 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 24 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Fisherford 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 Fisherford 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. Understanding its limits helps families in Fisherford plan around realistic waiting times.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Fisherford
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.
Not every practice near Fisherford offers the same treatments, so it's worth checking what each one covers. By national deprivation ranking, Fisherford is roughly mid-table for Scotland. The nearest university dental hospital to Fisherford is Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen, about 24 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. NHS dental commissioning in Fisherford falls under NHS Grampian. By ONS classification, Fisherford falls under accessible Rural. Fisherford has no orthodontic practice within five miles on our register, and the closest is roughly 9 miles away. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Fisherford. The nearest we do hold are HUNTLY DENTAL PRACTICE, about 9 miles away; TURIFF DENTAL PRACTICE in Turriff, about 9 miles away; and OLDMELDRUM DENTAL PRACTICE, about 10 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.
Your NHS Journey Step by Step in Fisherford
From first check-up to retainers, the NHS process in Fisherford 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 Fisherford.
- 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 Costs in Fisherford
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Private treatment in Fisherford 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.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Fisherford
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. 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 Fisherford?
In practice, NHS orthodontic treatment in Fisherford 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Fisherford
Children's orthodontics in Fisherford covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
Children's Orthodontics in Fisherford — Local Context
Orthodontic practices in and around Fisherford vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. Fisherford is classified as accessible Rural. Fisherford sits within NHS Grampian for NHS dental commissioning. Fisherford's deprivation ranking is neither notably high nor low compared with Scotland as a whole. People in Fisherford usually travel further for an orthodontist: the nearest on our register is about 9 miles away. The nearest university dental hospital to Fisherford is Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen, about 24 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. They typically offer children's assessments and NHS-funded treatment for eligible patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Fisherford
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Fisherford?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Fisherford is HUNTLY DENTAL PRACTICE, about 9.1 miles to the west. The next closest are DEVERON DENTAL (9.2 miles) and Deveron Dental Centre, Huntly (9.3 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Fisherford?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Fisherford, 5 practices within 10 miles and 21 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Huntly, 9.1 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Fisherford?
The nearest practice to Fisherford that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is HUNTLY DENTAL PRACTICE, about 9.1 miles to the west. Others nearby include DEVERON DENTAL (9.2 miles) and Deveron Dental Centre, Huntly (9.3 miles).
What NHS area is Fisherford in for dental services?
Fisherford sits within NHS Grampian for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is Fisherford?
ONS classifies Fisherford as accessible Rural.
How deprived is Fisherford compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Fisherford is close to the Scotland average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Fisherford?
Kirkton of Culsalmond, Gariochsford, Colpy are within easy reach of Fisherford.
What type of brace does the NHS provide?
Almost always metal fixed braces — ceramic, lingual and aligner treatment aren't NHS options. A less visible appliance means 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 Aberdeenshire
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