NHS Treatment in Frenchay at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 13.9% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.2% of 1,821 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Staple Hill Dental Practice, Mangotsfield — 1.3 miles; 19 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Downend School — 1.3 miles Abbeywood Community School — 1.6 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Bristol Dental Hospital, Bristol — about 4 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 22.5% 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 Frenchay
On our practice register: 23 practices within 5 miles of Frenchay, 32 practices within 10 and 53 practices within 20. The closest is Smile Orchard - Dental Practice and Implant Centre in Mangotsfield, 0.1 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Staple Hill Dental Practice, 1.3 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staple Hill Dental PracticeMangotsfield | 1.3 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.3 (46 reviews) |
| Lodge Causeway Dental CentreKingswood | 2.0 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.2 (518 reviews) |
| BRISTOL ORTHODONTICSBristol | 2.7 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| Smile Bristol - Invisalign and ClearCorrect Aligner Orthodontics in Bradley StokeStoke Gifford | 2.8 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (3 reviews) |
| Frampton Dental SurgeryIron Acton | 2.9 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 3.3 (44 reviews) |
| Church Road Dental PracticeBristol | 3.1 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.5 (66 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Frenchay with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Mangotsfield, 1.3 miles south; the next are Kingswood (2.0 miles south) and Bristol (2.7 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Mangotsfield | 1 | 1.3 miles south |
| Kingswood | 1 | 2.0 miles south |
| Bristol | 12 | 2.7 miles south |
| Stoke Gifford | 1 | 2.8 miles north-west |
| Iron Acton | 1 | 2.9 miles north-east |
| Easton-in-Gordano | 1 | 6.7 miles west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Frenchay
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Dr Nik Gogna in Bristol (5.0 from 44 reviews), 4.8 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Nik GognaBristol | 5.0 (44 reviews) | 4.8 miles south-west |
| The Bristol Dental PracticeBristol | 4.9 (689 reviews) | 4.6 miles south-west |
| Smile SolutionEaston-in-Gordano | 4.9 (150 reviews) | 6.7 miles west |
| Bristol Dental Specialists - Orthodontist & Dental ImplantsBristol | 4.9 (142 reviews) | 4.8 miles south-west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Frenchay, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is My Dentist, 2.3 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Staple Hill Dental Practice, Mangotsfield, 1.3 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 4 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Frenchay are commissioned by NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Frenchay 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 Frenchay plan around realistic waiting times.
NHS Waiting Times in Frenchay
NHS orthodontic waiting times in South Gloucestershire 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 Access in Frenchay
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 waiting times in South Gloucestershire are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Frenchay. Frenchay's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of England. 19.7% of 5-year-olds across this ICB have visible dental decay, per OHID's most recent figures. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 6.2% of the 1,821 residents in Frenchay's census neighbourhood, close to the 6.6% average across South Gloucestershire. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Frenchay is about 4 miles from Bristol Dental Hospital in Bristol. NHS dental commissioning in Frenchay falls under NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board. ONS classifies Frenchay as urban: Nearer to a major town or city. Frenchay has a smaller share of children than most areas — 13.9% of residents are under 16. Families in Frenchay are served by secondary schools including Downend School (1.3 miles) and Abbeywood Community School (1.6 miles). 12 secondary schools are within three miles. There are 121 schools and 41,884 pupils in Frenchay's Local Authority area, per DfE data. With 23 orthodontic practices within five miles, Frenchay is better served than 93% of towns in England. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Frenchay itself. The nearest we do hold are Smile Orchard - Dental Practice and Implant Centre in Mangotsfield, under a mile away; Lodge Causeway Dental Centre in Kingswood, about 2 miles away; and BRISTOL ORTHODONTICS, 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.
NHS vs Private Fees in Frenchay
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 Frenchay costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Frenchay
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 Frenchay — Local Context
NHS waiting times in South Gloucestershire are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Frenchay
For many families in Frenchay, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Parents in Frenchay increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. A photo assessment is a gentle way to get an early steer before booking anything.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Frenchay
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 Frenchay
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Frenchay?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Frenchay is Smile Orchard - Dental Practice and Implant Centre in Mangotsfield, about 0.1 miles to the east. The next closest are Staple Hill Dental Practice (1.3 miles) and Lodge Causeway Dental Centre (2.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Frenchay?
Our register has 23 practices within 5 miles of Frenchay, 32 practices within 10 miles and 53 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Frenchay?
The nearest practice to Frenchay that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Staple Hill Dental Practice in Mangotsfield, about 1.3 miles to the south. Others nearby include Lodge Causeway Dental Centre (2.0 miles) and BRISTOL ORTHODONTICS (2.7 miles).
Which NHS body covers Frenchay for dental care?
Frenchay sits within NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
How many schools are in Frenchay's area?
DfE figures put 121 schools and 41,884 pupils across Frenchay's Local Authority.
What kind of area is Frenchay?
By ONS classification, Frenchay falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
Which towns are close to Frenchay?
Nearby towns include Stoke Gifford, Burchells Green, Hopewell Hill.
What does NHS orthodontic treatment include?
Everything from the specialist assessment through adjustments, the brace, de-bonding and retainers is covered as a single course of treatment.
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 South Gloucestershire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in South Gloucestershire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: