NHS Treatment in Frankley at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire 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 | 14.2% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.7% of 1,152 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | House of Dental, Hopwood — 2.2 miles; 19 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | King Edward VI Five Ways School — 0.8 miles Bartley Green School — 1.1 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Birmingham Dental Hospital, Birmingham — about 6 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 15.6% 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 Frankley
On our practice register: 19 practices within 5 miles of Frankley, 87 practices within 10 and 177 practices within 20. The closest is House of Dental in Hopwood, 2.2 miles south-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is House of Dental, 2.2 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House of DentalHopwood | 2.2 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (558 reviews) |
| DENTIST Oakleigh Dental Practice & Implant CentreHalesowen | 2.6 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (42 reviews) |
| Morgan Dental PracticeHalesowen | 3.0 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (249 reviews) |
| BPI DentalBartley Green | 3.1 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (536 reviews) |
| HARMONY ORTHODONTICS LTDBirmingham | 3.1 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| Halesowen DentalHalesowen | 3.6 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (338 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Frankley with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Hopwood, 2.2 miles south-east; the next are Halesowen (2.6 miles north) and Bartley Green (3.1 miles north-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Hopwood | 1 | 2.2 miles south-east |
| Halesowen | 3 | 2.6 miles north |
| Bartley Green | 1 | 3.1 miles north-east |
| Birmingham | 7 | 3.1 miles east |
| Smethwick | 2 | 3.6 miles north-east |
| Rowley Regis | 2 | 4.2 miles north-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Frankley
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Morgan Dental Practice in Halesowen (5.0 from 249 reviews), 3.0 miles north-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan Dental PracticeHalesowen | 5.0 (249 reviews) | 3.0 miles north-west |
| Signature OrthodonticsSmethwick | 4.9 (357 reviews) | 3.6 miles north-east |
| Halesowen DentalHalesowen | 4.9 (338 reviews) | 3.6 miles north-west |
| Just OrthodonticsStourbridge | 4.9 (75 reviews) | 5.9 miles west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Frankley, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Midlands Smile Centres, 3.5 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is House of Dental, Hopwood, 2.2 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Birmingham Dental Hospital in Birmingham, about 6 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Frankley are commissioned by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
For families in Frankley, the NHS pathway offers a subsidised route to fixed braces for eligible children. For eligible under-18s it's outstanding value — full treatment at no charge at all. Understanding its limits helps families in Frankley plan around realistic waiting times.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Frankley
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. NHS orthodontic waiting times in Worcestershire vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
What's available in Frankley depends on the practice, so it's worth checking directly what each one offers. National deprivation data puts Frankley close to the England median. 19.4% of 5-year-olds across this ICB have visible dental decay, per OHID's most recent figures. In the census neighbourhood around Frankley, 6.7% of the 1,152 residents are aged 10 to 15, close to the 6.4% average across Worcestershire, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Frankley is Birmingham Dental Hospital in Birmingham, about 6 miles away. For NHS dental services, Frankley falls under NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board. Officially, Frankley is categorised as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city. Frankley's under-16 share sits at 14.2%, per the 2021 Census. Families in Frankley are served by secondary schools including King Edward VI Five Ways School (0.8 miles) and Bartley Green School (1.1 miles). 16 secondary schools are within three miles. Frankley has 17 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 88% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in Frankley itself. The nearest we do hold are House of Dental in Hopwood, about 2 miles away; DENTIST Oakleigh Dental Practice & Implant Centre in Halesowen, about 3 miles away; and BPI Dental in Bartley Green, about 3 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 Frankley
For eligible patients in Frankley, the NHS route follows a defined sequence from dentist to specialist:
- 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 Frankley.
- 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.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Frankley?
Many patients in Worcestershire 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Frankley
Children's orthodontics in Frankley covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. Parents in Frankley 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.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Frankley
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.
Orthodontic Eligibility in Frankley
Whether you or your child qualifies for NHS treatment in Frankley comes down to a structured assessment. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Worcestershire apply the same national criteria consistently. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Eligibility in Frankley — Local Context
NHS waiting times in Worcestershire are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Frankley
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Frankley?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Frankley is House of Dental in Hopwood, about 2.2 miles to the south-east. The next closest are DENTIST Oakleigh Dental Practice & Implant Centre (2.6 miles) and Somers Square Dental practice (2.9 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Frankley?
Our register has 19 practices within 5 miles of Frankley, 87 practices within 10 miles and 177 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Frankley?
The nearest practice to Frankley that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is House of Dental in Hopwood, about 2.2 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include DENTIST Oakleigh Dental Practice & Implant Centre (2.6 miles) and Morgan Dental Practice (3.0 miles).
How deprived is Frankley compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Frankley is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which county covers Frankley?
Frankley falls within Worcestershire.
What NHS area is Frankley in for dental services?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board.
Which towns are close to Frankley?
Shenley Fields, Cofton Hackett, Ridgacre are within easy reach of Frankley.
Are NHS orthodontic charges the same across the UK?
No — NHS dental charges are set separately in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. What stays the same everywhere is that eligible under-18s pay nothing. Adults who do qualify pay the NHS Band 3 charge, £332.10 in England from April 2026, which covers the whole course.
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 Worcestershire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Worcestershire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: