NHS Treatment in Great Hivings at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Thames Valley 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 | 20.5% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7.7% of 1,877 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | BELUR ORTHODONTICS, Amersham — 3.7 miles; 19 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Chiltern Hills Academy — 0.6 miles Chesham Grammar School — 1.1 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | UCL Eastman Dental Hospital, London — about 25 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 20.3% 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 Great Hivings
On our practice register: 2 practices within 5 miles of Great Hivings, 32 practices within 10 and 166 practices within 20. The closest is The Orthodontic Specialist- Prevention Focused Center of Excellence in Amersham, 3.7 miles south. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is BELUR ORTHODONTICS, 3.7 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BELUR ORTHODONTICSAmersham | 3.7 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| Bow House Dental Invisalign, Veneers, Bonding, Braces & Implants in TringTring | 5.3 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (138 reviews) |
| Chaulden Dental PracticeHemel Hempstead | 5.6 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (154 reviews) |
| Smile Design Dental PracticeWendover | 6.0 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (158 reviews) |
| Fitze Dental ClinicsHemel Hempstead | 6.5 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (197 reviews) |
| Landmark DentalHemel Hempstead | 6.6 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (158 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Great Hivings with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Amersham, 3.7 miles south-east; the next are Tring (5.3 miles north-west) and Hemel Hempstead (5.6 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Amersham | 1 | 3.7 miles south-east |
| Tring | 1 | 5.3 miles north-west |
| Hemel Hempstead | 6 | 5.6 miles east |
| Wendover | 1 | 6.0 miles north-west |
| Apsley | 1 | 6.7 miles east |
| Beaconsfield | 2 | 8.1 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Great Hivings
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Smile Design Dental Practice in Wendover (5.0 from 158 reviews), 6.0 miles north-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Smile Design Dental PracticeWendover | 5.0 (158 reviews) | 6.0 miles north-west |
| Landmark DentalHemel Hempstead | 5.0 (158 reviews) | 6.6 miles east |
| Bow House Dental Invisalign, Veneers, Bonding, Braces & Implants in TringTring | 5.0 (138 reviews) | 5.3 miles north-west |
| Quality Affordable DentistryHemel Hempstead | 5.0 (96 reviews) | 6.9 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 Great Hivings, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Senova Dental, 10.2 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is BELUR ORTHODONTICS, Amersham, 3.7 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is UCL Eastman Dental Hospital in London, about 25 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Great Hivings are commissioned by NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
The NHS orthodontic pathway in Great Hivings focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. 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 Buckinghamshire.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Great Hivings
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 Buckinghamshire differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
What's available in Great Hivings depends on the practice, so it's worth checking directly what each one offers. National deprivation data puts Great Hivings close to the England median. In the census neighbourhood around Great Hivings, 7.7% of the 1,877 residents are aged 10 to 15, close to the 7.7% average across Buckinghamshire, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. The nearest university dental hospital to Great Hivings is UCL Eastman Dental Hospital, London, about 25 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Great Hivings — urban: Nearer to a major town or city by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board for NHS dentistry. Census data puts 20.5% of Great Hivings's population at under 16. Secondary-age pupils near Great Hivings attend schools such as Chiltern Hills Academy (0.6 miles) and Chesham Grammar School (1.1 miles). 2 secondary schools are within three miles. There are 270 schools and 98,299 pupils in Great Hivings's Local Authority area, per DfE data. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Great Hivings itself. The closest on record are The Orthodontic Specialist- Prevention Focused Center of Excellence in Amersham, about 4 miles away; Bow House Dental Invisalign, Veneers, Bonding, Braces & Implants in Tring, about 5 miles away; and Chaulden Dental Practice in Hemel Hempstead, about 6 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 Great Hivings
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Equivalent private metal braces in Great Hivings typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Great Hivings?
Many patients in Buckinghamshire 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.
Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children in Great Hivings
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. Early review can prevent more complex problems later and simplify treatment when it does begin.
NHS Orthodontics for Children in Great Hivings
Children in Great Hivings who meet the IOTN eligibility threshold are entitled to NHS-funded orthodontic treatment. Referrals are made by the child's dentist once most adult teeth have erupted. NHS treatment for children is almost always metal fixed braces.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Great Hivings
Many patients in Great Hivings are surprised they don't automatically qualify for NHS braces. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
Eligibility in Great Hivings — Local Context
Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in Buckinghamshire differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Great Hivings
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Great Hivings?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Great Hivings is The Orthodontic Specialist- Prevention Focused Center of Excellence in Amersham, about 3.7 miles to the south. The next closest are BELUR ORTHODONTICS (3.7 miles) and Bow House Dental Invisalign, Veneers, Bonding, Braces & Implants in Tring (5.3 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Great Hivings?
Our register has 2 practices within 5 miles of Great Hivings, 32 practices within 10 miles and 166 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Great Hivings?
The nearest practice to Great Hivings that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is BELUR ORTHODONTICS in Amersham, about 3.7 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include Bow House Dental Invisalign, Veneers, Bonding, Braces & Implants in Tring (5.3 miles) and Chaulden Dental Practice (5.6 miles).
Is Great Hivings a family area?
Around 20.5% of Great Hivings's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
What county is Great Hivings in?
Great Hivings is in Buckinghamshire.
How many schools are in Great Hivings's area?
There are 270 schools and 98,299 pupils in Great Hivings's Local Authority area, per DfE data.
Is Great Hivings rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Great Hivings falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
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 Buckinghamshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Buckinghamshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: