NHS Treatment in Fox Hills at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire 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 | 18.8% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7.5% of 1,573 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Chelsea Road Dental, Bath — 7.1 miles; 9 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Writhlington School — 0.8 miles Somerset Studio School — 0.8 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Bristol Dental Hospital, Bristol — about 13 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 14.7% 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 Fox Hills
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of Fox Hills; 19 practices within 10 and 57 practices within 20. The closest is Grants House Dentistry in Frome, 6.9 miles south-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Chelsea Road Dental, 7.1 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea Road DentalBath | 7.1 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (33 reviews) |
| Portway Dental PracticeFrome | 7.3 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (124 reviews) |
| ORTHODONTIC DEPARTMENTBath | 7.5 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| Circus DentalBath | 7.6 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (63 reviews) |
| Circus OrthodonticsBath | 7.6 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (277 reviews) |
| Bath Dental ClinicBath | 7.6 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (12 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Fox Hills with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Bath, 7.1 miles north; the next are Frome (7.3 miles south-east) and Mendip (10.4 miles south-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Bath | 8 | 7.1 miles north |
| Frome | 1 | 7.3 miles south-east |
| Mendip | 2 | 10.4 miles south-west |
| Trowbridge | 1 | 10.8 miles east |
| Bristol | 4 | 12.1 miles north |
| Kingswood | 1 | 12.9 miles north |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Fox Hills
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Bath Dental Clinic (5.0 from 12 reviews), 7.6 miles north-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bath Dental ClinicBath | 5.0 (12 reviews) | 7.6 miles north-east |
| The Bristol Dental PracticeBristol | 4.9 (689 reviews) | 12.8 miles north-west |
| Circus OrthodonticsBath | 4.9 (277 reviews) | 7.6 miles north-east |
| Bath Dental Excellence Dental & Implant ClinicBath | 4.9 (135 reviews) | 7.6 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 Fox Hills, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is mydentist, 12.8 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Chelsea Road Dental, Bath, 7.1 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Bristol Dental Hospital in Bristol, about 13 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Fox Hills are commissioned by NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Fox Hills follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. Knowing what the NHS can and cannot provide makes the NHS-versus-private decision clearer.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Fox Hills
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. Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in Bath and North East Somerset differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Treatment range and appointment slots differ between the practices covering Fox Hills — comparing a couple is worthwhile. Fox Hills sits close to the England average for deprivation. OHID data for this ICB shows 15% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. Census 2021 counts 1,573 residents in the neighbourhood around Fox Hills, 7.5% of them aged 10 to 15, close to the 7.1% average across Bath and North East Somerset. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Fox Hills is about 13 miles from Bristol Dental Hospital in Bristol. Classified by ONS as urban: Nearer to a major town or city, Fox Hills sits within NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Census figures show 18.8% of the local population is under 16. The closest secondary schools to Fox Hills are Writhlington School (0.8 miles) and Somerset Studio School (0.8 miles). 4 secondary schools are within three miles. Fox Hills's Local Authority has 89 schools educating 31,546 pupils (DfE data). Fox Hills has no orthodontic practice within five miles on our register, and the closest is roughly 7 miles away. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Fox Hills itself. The nearest we do hold are Grants House Dentistry in Frome, about 7 miles away; Aquae Sulis Dental in Bath, about 7 miles away; and Rock House Dental Practice in Mendip, 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.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Fox Hills
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Going private for the same metal braces in Fox Hills costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
Your NHS Journey Step by Step in Fox Hills
From first check-up to retainers, the NHS process in Fox Hills 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 Fox Hills.
- 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Fox Hills
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. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Fox Hills
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.
NHS Brace Eligibility in Fox Hills
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Eligibility in Fox Hills — Local Context
How long NHS treatment takes to start in Bath and North East Somerset depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Fox Hills
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Fox Hills?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Fox Hills is Grants House Dentistry in Frome, about 6.9 miles to the south-east. The next closest are Welshmill Dental Practice (6.9 miles) and Aquae Sulis Dental (7.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Fox Hills?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Fox Hills, 19 practices within 10 miles and 57 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Frome, 6.9 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Fox Hills?
The nearest practice to Fox Hills that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Chelsea Road Dental in Bath, about 7.1 miles to the north. Others nearby include Portway Dental Practice (7.3 miles) and ORTHODONTIC DEPARTMENT (7.5 miles).
Is tooth decay common among young children near Fox Hills?
Regionally, 15% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay, per OHID data.
How many families live in Fox Hills?
Census data puts 18.8% of Fox Hills's population at under 16.
What towns are near Fox Hills?
Welton Hollow, Kilmersdon, Wicklane are within easy reach of Fox Hills.
How many pupils are in Fox Hills's Local Authority?
Fox Hills's Local Authority has 89 schools educating 31,546 pupils (DfE data).
How long does NHS treatment take?
Most NHS fixed brace treatment takes 18–24 months for moderate cases. More complex cases may take longer. Your orthodontist will give an estimate after the initial assessment.
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 Bath and North East Somerset
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Bath and North East Somerset — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access:
See all orthodontic locations in Bath and North East Somerset