NHS Treatment in Guthrie at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Tayside |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of Scotland |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | R AND PM THOMSON, Brechin — 6.5 miles; 11 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee — about 16 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Accessible Rural |
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 Guthrie
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of Guthrie; 11 practices within 10 and 56 practices within 20. The closest is R AND PM THOMSON in Brechin, 6.5 miles north. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is R AND PM THOMSON, 6.5 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R AND PM THOMSONBrechin | 6.5 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| HIGH STREET DENTAL PRACTICEForfar | 6.6 miles west | ✓ | – | – |
| ESK DENTAL CAREBrechin | 6.7 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| FORFAR DENTAL CAREForfar | 6.8 miles west | ✓ | – | – |
| CASTLE STREET DENTALForfar | 6.8 miles west | ✓ | – | – |
| NO 80 DENTAL PRACTICEArbroath | 7.1 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Guthrie with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Brechin, 6.5 miles north; the next are Forfar (6.6 miles west) and Arbroath (7.1 miles south-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Brechin | 2 | 6.5 miles north |
| Forfar | 3 | 6.6 miles west |
| Arbroath | 4 | 7.1 miles south-east |
| Carnoustie | 2 | 9.6 miles south |
| Montrose | 3 | 10.5 miles north-east |
| Kirriemuir | 1 | 11.5 miles west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Guthrie
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Perla Orthodontics in Tayport (4.7 from 13 reviews), 13.6 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Perla OrthodonticsTayport | 4.7 (13 reviews) | 13.6 miles south-west |
| Oris Dental & Implant StudioMonifieth | 4.6 (87 reviews) | 11.7 miles south |
| Kingsway Dental PracticeDundee | 3.2 (14 reviews) | 14.2 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 Guthrie, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Fountain Dental Group, 29.5 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is R AND PM THOMSON, Brechin, 6.5 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 16 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Guthrie are commissioned by NHS Tayside. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Guthrie 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 Costs in Guthrie
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 Guthrie costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Guthrie
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. How long NHS treatment takes to start in Angus depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
What's available in Guthrie depends on the practice, so it's worth checking directly what each one offers. National deprivation data ranks Guthrie among Scotland's less deprived areas. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Guthrie is Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee, about 16 miles away. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Tayside. By ONS classification, Guthrie falls under accessible Rural. People in Guthrie usually travel further for an orthodontist: the nearest on our register is about 7 miles away. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Guthrie. The nearest recorded are R AND PM THOMSON in Brechin, about 6 miles away; HIGH STREET DENTAL PRACTICE in Forfar, about 7 miles away; and NO 80 DENTAL PRACTICE in Arbroath, about 7 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.
How the NHS Route Works in Guthrie
For eligible patients in Guthrie, 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 Guthrie.
- 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.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Guthrie
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
How Eligibility Is Scored
The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the two-part scoring system orthodontists across Angus use to decide whether a patient qualifies for NHS treatment.
Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children in Guthrie
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Guthrie
Space maintainers hold open the gap left by a prematurely lost baby tooth, preventing neighbouring teeth from drifting in before the adult tooth erupts.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Guthrie
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Guthrie?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Guthrie is R AND PM THOMSON in Brechin, about 6.5 miles to the north. The next closest are HIGH STREET DENTAL PRACTICE (6.6 miles) and ESK DENTAL CARE (6.7 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Guthrie?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Guthrie, 11 practices within 10 miles and 56 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Brechin, 6.5 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Guthrie?
The nearest practice to Guthrie that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is R AND PM THOMSON in Brechin, about 6.5 miles to the north. Others nearby include HIGH STREET DENTAL PRACTICE (6.6 miles) and ESK DENTAL CARE (6.7 miles).
Which NHS body covers Guthrie for dental care?
Guthrie sits within NHS Tayside for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is Guthrie?
By ONS classification, Guthrie falls under accessible Rural.
How deprived is Guthrie compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Guthrie is less deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What towns are near Guthrie?
Nearby towns include Mains of Balgavies, Redford, Turin.
Are NHS orthodontists the same as private ones?
Often the same specialist orthodontists provide both NHS and private care, sometimes from the same practice. The clinical skill is identical; what differs is the appliance choice, waiting time and level of personalisation between the two funding routes.
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 Angus
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Angus — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: