NHS Treatment in Gentleshaw at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent 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 | 12.2% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 5.1% of 1,846 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | High Street Dental Practice, Burntwood — 1.4 miles; 15 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Chase Terrace Academy — 1.3 miles Erasmus Darwin Academy — 2.3 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Birmingham Dental Hospital, Birmingham — about 15 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 14.2% 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 Gentleshaw
On our practice register: 18 practices within 5 miles of Gentleshaw, 41 practices within 10 and 151 practices within 20. The closest is High Street Dental Practice in Burntwood, 1.4 miles south-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is High Street Dental Practice, 1.4 miles south-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Street Dental PracticeBurntwood | 1.4 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (435 reviews) |
| DentaireCannock | 3.4 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.2 (27 reviews) |
| Beacon Park Dental (formerly Lichfield Family Dental Surgery)Lichfield | 3.7 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (36 reviews) |
| Bore Street Dental Practice LtdLichfield | 4.0 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.2 (64 reviews) |
| Lichfield SmilesLichfield | 4.1 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.5 (8 reviews) |
| JacMe Oral CareLichfield | 4.2 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (85 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Gentleshaw with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Burntwood, 1.4 miles south-west; the next are Cannock (3.4 miles west) and Lichfield (3.7 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Burntwood | 1 | 1.4 miles south-west |
| Cannock | 3 | 3.4 miles west |
| Lichfield | 5 | 3.7 miles east |
| Great Wyrley | 3 | 4.6 miles south-west |
| Walsall | 3 | 6.7 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Gentleshaw
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Cheslyn Hay Dental Practice in Great Wyrley (5.0 from 164 reviews), 5.5 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Cheslyn Hay Dental PracticeGreat Wyrley | 5.0 (164 reviews) | 5.5 miles south-west |
| Cannock Dental CareCannock | 4.9 (1,384 reviews) | 4.6 miles west |
| High Street Dental PracticeBurntwood | 4.9 (435 reviews) | 1.4 miles south-west |
| Birchwood Dental PracticeGreat Wyrley | 4.9 (381 reviews) | 4.6 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 Gentleshaw, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 4.5 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is High Street Dental Practice, Burntwood, 1.4 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 15 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Gentleshaw are commissioned by NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Gentleshaw funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Staffordshire.
NHS Waiting Times in Gentleshaw
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Staffordshire 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 Gentleshaw
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 Staffordshire differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Treatment range and appointment slots differ between the practices covering Gentleshaw — comparing a couple is worthwhile. National deprivation data ranks Gentleshaw among England's less deprived areas. OHID data for this ICB shows 18.8% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 5.1% of the 1,846 residents in Gentleshaw's census neighbourhood, below the 6.2% average across Staffordshire. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Gentleshaw is about 15 miles from Birmingham Dental Hospital in Birmingham. Gentleshaw is classified as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board. Gentleshaw's under-16 share, 12.2%, is below the typical level. Families in Gentleshaw are served by secondary schools including Chase Terrace Academy (1.3 miles) and Erasmus Darwin Academy (2.3 miles). 3 secondary schools are within three miles. Gentleshaw has 17 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 88% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in Gentleshaw itself. The closest on record are High Street Dental Practice in Burntwood, about a mile away; Inspire Dental Centre in Cannock, about 3 miles away; and Beacon Park Dental (formerly Lichfield Family Dental Surgery), about 4 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 Orthodontic Costs in Gentleshaw
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Equivalent private metal braces in Gentleshaw typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Gentleshaw
Children's orthodontics in Gentleshaw covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. Parents in Gentleshaw 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 Gentleshaw
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.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Gentleshaw?
Eligibility for NHS braces is decided by a clinical scoring system, not by appearance alone. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Staffordshire to decide who receives funded treatment. Knowing where you stand before the referral process saves time and manages expectations in Gentleshaw.
Can Adults Get NHS Braces in Gentleshaw?
In practice, NHS orthodontic treatment in Gentleshaw 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.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Gentleshaw
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Gentleshaw?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Gentleshaw is High Street Dental Practice in Burntwood, about 1.4 miles to the south-west. The next closest are Inspire Dental & Implant Centre (1.4 miles) and Inspire Dental Centre (2.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Gentleshaw?
Our register has 18 practices within 5 miles of Gentleshaw, 41 practices within 10 miles and 151 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Gentleshaw?
The nearest practice to Gentleshaw that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is High Street Dental Practice in Burntwood, about 1.4 miles to the south-west. Others nearby include Dentaire (3.4 miles) and Beacon Park Dental (formerly Lichfield Family Dental Surgery) (3.7 miles).
Is tooth decay common among young children near Gentleshaw?
OHID figures for this ICB show 18.8% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay.
Which county covers Gentleshaw?
Gentleshaw is in Staffordshire.
Is Gentleshaw a family area?
Around 12.2% of Gentleshaw's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
What NHS area is Gentleshaw in for dental services?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board.
Can I switch from the NHS waiting list to private?
Yes — you can start private treatment at any time, including while on an NHS waiting list. Many patients do this to avoid a long wait or to access ceramic or aligner options. You don't have to formally leave the NHS list first, though it's courteous to let the practice know.
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 Staffordshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Staffordshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: