NHS Treatment in Friarton at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Tayside |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | More deprived than most of Scotland |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | 4 GRAHAMS PLACE, Perth — 1 miles; 11 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee — about 18 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Other Urban Areas |
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 Friarton
On our practice register: 14 practices within 5 miles of Friarton, 15 practices within 10 and 76 practices within 20. The closest is 4 GRAHAMS PLACE in Perth, 1.0 miles north. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is 4 GRAHAMS PLACE, 1.0 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 GRAHAMS PLACEPerth | 1.0 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| THE PERTH DENTAL CENTREPerth | 1.1 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| CALEDONIAN DENTAL CAREPerth | 1.2 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| DENTAL CARE PERTH AND IMPLANT CLINICPerth | 1.2 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| 11 MAIN STREETPerth | 1.4 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| BALHOUSIE DENTAL PRACTICEPerth | 1.5 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Friarton with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Perth, 1.0 miles north; the next are Bridge of Earn (2.6 miles south-east) and Scone (2.6 miles north).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Perth | 8 | 1.0 miles north |
| Bridge of Earn | 1 | 2.6 miles south-east |
| Scone | 1 | 2.6 miles north |
| Auchtermuchty | 1 | 9.7 miles south-east |
| Auchterarder | 2 | 11.7 miles south-west |
| Kinross | 2 | 12.1 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Friarton
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Infinityblu Dental Care & Implant Clinic in Auchterarder (4.8 from 152 reviews), 11.7 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Infinityblu Dental Care & Implant ClinicAuchterarder | 4.8 (152 reviews) | 11.7 miles south-west |
| Saltire Dental Practice LtdGlenrothes | 4.4 (115 reviews) | 16.2 miles south-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Friarton, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 14.9 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is 4 GRAHAMS PLACE, Perth, 1 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee, about 18 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Friarton are commissioned by NHS Tayside. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
For families in Friarton, the NHS pathway offers a subsidised route to fixed braces for eligible children. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. Understanding its limits helps families in Friarton plan around realistic waiting times.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Friarton
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Equivalent private metal braces in Friarton typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Friarton
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 waiting times in Perth and Kinross are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Not every practice near Friarton offers the same treatments, so it's worth checking what each one covers. Friarton's deprivation ranking places it in a more deprived band than most of Scotland. The nearest university dental hospital to Friarton is Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee, about 18 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. NHS Tayside is the NHS body responsible for dental commissioning in Friarton. ONS classifies Friarton as other Urban Areas. Friarton has 14 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 79% of towns in Scotland. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Friarton itself. The closest on record are 4 GRAHAMS PLACE in Perth, about a mile away; BRIDGE OF EARN DENTAL PRACTICE, about 3 miles away; and SCONE DENTAL PRACTICE, 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.
The NHS Orthodontic Pathway in Friarton
For eligible patients in Friarton, 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 Friarton.
- 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 Eligibility in Friarton
Whether you or your child qualifies for NHS treatment in Friarton comes down to a structured assessment. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Perth and Kinross to decide who receives funded treatment. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
Eligibility in Friarton — Local Context
Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in Perth and Kinross differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children in Friarton
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. Early review can prevent more complex problems later and simplify treatment when it does begin.
NHS Treatment for Children in Friarton
Eligible children under 18 in Friarton are entitled to NHS orthodontic treatment free of charge. The process starts with a dentist IOTN assessment and formal referral to the local NHS orthodontic service.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Friarton
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Friarton?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Friarton is 4 GRAHAMS PLACE in Perth, about 1.0 miles to the north. The next closest are Cherrybank Dental Spa (1.1 miles) and THE PERTH DENTAL CENTRE (1.1 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Friarton?
Our register has 14 practices within 5 miles of Friarton, 15 practices within 10 miles and 76 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Friarton?
The nearest practice to Friarton that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is 4 GRAHAMS PLACE in Perth, about 1.0 miles to the north. Others nearby include THE PERTH DENTAL CENTRE (1.1 miles) and CALEDONIAN DENTAL CARE (1.2 miles).
What NHS area is Friarton in for dental services?
NHS dental commissioning in Friarton falls under NHS Tayside.
What kind of area is Friarton?
ONS classifies Friarton as other Urban Areas.
How deprived is Friarton compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Friarton is more deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Friarton?
Nearby towns include North Inch, Scoonieburn, Burghmuir.
What if the NHS wait is too long?
Going private removes the wait entirely, with the same clinical outcomes plus a wider choice of brace type and a more personalised experience — for a higher price than the NHS charge.
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 Perth and Kinross
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Perth and Kinross — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: