NHS Treatment in Groes-faen at a Glance
| NHS dental services | Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults capped at £384 per course |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of Wales |
| Residents under 16 | 16.3% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7.3% of 1,566 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Bamboo Cosmetic Dentistry, Cardiff — 5.2 miles; 15 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | University Dental Hospital of Cardiff, Cardiff — about 6 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 17.8% 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 Groes-faen
On our practice register: 1 practice within 5 miles of Groes-faen, 35 practices within 10 and 63 practices within 20. The closest is South Wales Specialist Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Centre in Radyr, 3.5 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Bamboo Cosmetic Dentistry, 5.2 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bamboo Cosmetic DentistryCardiff | 5.2 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (940 reviews) |
| Taf DentalPontypridd | 5.9 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (243 reviews) |
| Birchgrove Dental PracticeCardiff | 6.1 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (294 reviews) |
| Y Bont Faen Dental CentreCowbridge | 6.1 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (157 reviews) |
| Parklands Dental PracticeCaerphilly | 6.2 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (147 reviews) |
| Cowbridge Dental SpecialistsCowbridge | 6.2 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (40 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Groes-faen with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Cardiff, 5.2 miles south-east; the next are Pontypridd (5.9 miles north) and Cowbridge (6.1 miles south-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | 5 | 5.2 miles south-east |
| Pontypridd | 1 | 5.9 miles north |
| Cowbridge | 3 | 6.1 miles south-west |
| Caerphilly | 1 | 6.2 miles north-east |
| Rhiwbina | 1 | 6.4 miles east |
| Thornhill | 1 | 6.7 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Groes-faen
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Bamboo Cosmetic Dentistry in Cardiff (5.0 from 940 reviews), 5.2 miles south-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bamboo Cosmetic DentistryCardiff | 5.0 (940 reviews) | 5.2 miles south-east |
| Birchgrove Dental PracticeCardiff | 5.0 (294 reviews) | 6.1 miles east |
| Advance Dental CareBarry | 5.0 (278 reviews) | 7.5 miles south |
| Cedars Dental CardiffThornhill | 5.0 (198 reviews) | 6.7 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Groes-faen, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is The Orthodontic Centre, 9.1 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Bamboo Cosmetic Dentistry, Cardiff, 5.2 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is University Dental Hospital of Cardiff in Cardiff, about 6 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Groes-faen are commissioned by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Groes-faen 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. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Groes-faen
NHS orthodontic treatment is free for under-18s who meet the clinical threshold. Adults who do qualify pay NHS Wales dental charges, capped at £384 for a course of treatment. How long NHS treatment takes to start in Rhondda Cynon Taf depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Groes-faen. National deprivation data ranks Groes-faen among Wales's less deprived areas. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 7.3% of the 1,566 residents in Groes-faen's census neighbourhood, close to the 7.2% average across Rhondda Cynon Taf. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Groes-faen is about 6 miles from University Dental Hospital of Cardiff in Cardiff. Groes-faen sits within Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board for NHS dental commissioning. Groes-faen is classified as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city. Groes-faen's under-16 share sits at 16.3%, per the 2021 Census. With 1 orthodontic practice within five miles, Groes-faen is better served than 61% of towns in Wales. There is no orthodontist on our records in Groes-faen itself. The nearest recorded are South Wales Specialist Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Centre in Radyr, about 4 miles away; Bamboo Cosmetic Dentistry in Cardiff, about 5 miles away; and Smart Smiles in Caerphilly, about 5 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 Waiting Times in Groes-faen
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Rhondda Cynon Taf 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 vs Private Fees in Groes-faen
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 Groes-faen typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Groes-faen
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Groes-faen?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Groes-faen is South Wales Specialist Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Centre in Radyr, about 3.5 miles to the east. The next closest are Bamboo Cosmetic Dentistry (5.2 miles) and Smart Smiles (5.4 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Groes-faen?
Our register has 1 practice within 5 miles of Groes-faen, 35 practices within 10 miles and 63 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Groes-faen?
The nearest practice to Groes-faen that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Bamboo Cosmetic Dentistry in Cardiff, about 5.2 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include Taf Dental (5.9 miles) and Birchgrove Dental Practice (6.1 miles).
How many families live in Groes-faen?
16.3% of the local population is under 16, per the most recent Census.
Which NHS body covers Groes-faen for dental care?
NHS dental commissioning in Groes-faen falls under Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
Is Groes-faen rural or urban?
ONS classifies Groes-faen as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is Groes-faen compared with the rest of Wales?
By the national deprivation index, Groes-faen is less deprived than most of Wales. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Are NHS orthodontists the same as private ones?
Frequently the same specialist, sometimes even the same practice, provides both. The clinical skill doesn't change — what differs between the two routes is appliance choice, waiting time and how personalised the experience is.
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 Rhondda Cynon Taf
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Rhondda Cynon Taf — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: