NHS Treatment in Hawes Side at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | More deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 13.6% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 5.7% of 1,589 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Thomas & Thomas Dental Associates, Blackpool — 1.6 miles; 7 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Highfield Leadership Academy — 0.1 miles South Shore Academy — 0.7 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Preston Dental School, Preston — about 13 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 24.2% 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 Hawes Side
On our practice register: 16 practices within 5 miles of Hawes Side, 20 practices within 10 and 50 practices within 20. The closest is EverythingTeeth in Blackpool, 0.6 miles south-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Thomas & Thomas Dental Associates, 1.6 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas & Thomas Dental AssociatesBlackpool | 1.6 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (104 reviews) |
| St Annes Dental ClinicLytham St Annes | 2.7 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (94 reviews) |
| St Annes Private Dental CentreLytham St Annes | 2.7 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.1 (24 reviews) |
| Bank DentalThornton-Cleveleys | 4.2 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (250 reviews) |
| Martin J Kenyon, Dental SurgeonsLytham St Annes | 4.7 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.2 (155 reviews) |
| Hoghton Street Dental PracticeSouthport | 9.9 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (378 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Hawes Side with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Blackpool, 1.6 miles north; the next are Lytham St Annes (2.7 miles south) and Thornton-Cleveleys (4.2 miles north).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Blackpool | 1 | 1.6 miles north |
| Lytham St Annes | 3 | 2.7 miles south |
| Thornton-Cleveleys | 1 | 4.2 miles north |
| Southport | 2 | 9.9 miles south |
| Preston | 3 | 12.4 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Hawes Side
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Bank Dental in Thornton-Cleveleys (5.0 from 250 reviews), 4.2 miles north.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bank DentalThornton-Cleveleys | 5.0 (250 reviews) | 4.2 miles north |
| Penwortham Dental - Tooth TalkPreston | 4.9 (421 reviews) | 12.4 miles east |
| Holly Dental PracticePreston | 4.9 (163 reviews) | 13.4 miles east |
| Sharoe Green Dental PracticePreston | 4.8 (557 reviews) | 13.2 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Hawes Side, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, under a mile away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Thomas & Thomas Dental Associates, Blackpool, 1.6 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Preston Dental School in Preston, about 13 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Hawes Side are commissioned by NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
Eligibility for NHS braces is decided by a clinical scoring system, not by appearance alone. 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.
Not Eligible? Here's What to Do Next in Hawes Side
An IOTN score below grade 4 does not mean your teeth don't need attention — it means NHS resources are prioritised for the most clinically significant cases. Private treatment is open to everyone and provides more treatment choices, faster access, and a more personalised experience.
Contacting a private orthodontic practice in Hawes Side for a consultation is a straightforward next step. Many offer a free initial assessment so you can understand your options and costs before making any commitment.
Eligibility in Hawes Side — Local Context
How long NHS treatment takes to start in Blackpool depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Orthodontic practices in and around Hawes Side vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. National deprivation data ranks Hawes Side among England's more deprived areas. Regionally, 26.7% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay (OHID data). In the census neighbourhood around Hawes Side, 5.7% of the 1,589 residents are aged 10 to 15, close to the 6% average across Blackpool, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. The nearest university dental hospital to Hawes Side is Preston Dental School, Preston, about 13 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Classified by ONS as urban: Nearer to a major town or city, Hawes Side sits within NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Census data puts only 13.6% of Hawes Side's population at under 16, below the typical share. Secondary-age pupils near Hawes Side attend schools such as Highfield Leadership Academy (0.1 miles) and South Shore Academy (0.7 miles). 5 secondary schools are within three miles. There are 49 schools and 19,656 pupils in Hawes Side's Local Authority area, per DfE data. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (16), Hawes Side has more choice than 87% of towns in England. See local practice availability in Hawes Side → If you or your child do not meet the IOTN threshold for NHS treatment, private orthodontic care with no eligibility barrier and no waiting list is available from local practices, typically ranging from £1,500 to £5,500 depending on treatment type.
Understanding the IOTN Score
NHS eligibility is decided by the IOTN — a two-part clinical index applied consistently by orthodontists throughout Blackpool.
The Dental Health Component (DHC) grades severity from 1 to 5:
- Grade 1 — No treatment need.
- Grade 2 — Little treatment need: mild malocclusion.
- Grade 3 — Borderline: moderate malocclusion.
- Grade 4 — Treatment need: severe malocclusion impacting dental health.
- Grade 5 — Very great need: most severe cases including impactions and large overjets.
NHS funding is generally available for grades 4 and 5. Grade 3 is borderline and is also judged on the Aesthetic Component (AC), a 1–10 photographic scale — a grade 3 with a high AC score may still qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Eligibility in Hawes Side
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Hawes Side?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Hawes Side is EverythingTeeth in Blackpool, about 0.6 miles to the south-west. The next closest are ARC Dental Surgery (1.0 miles) and Dental Access Service (1.5 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Hawes Side?
Our register has 16 practices within 5 miles of Hawes Side, 20 practices within 10 miles and 50 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Hawes Side?
The nearest practice to Hawes Side that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Thomas & Thomas Dental Associates in Blackpool, about 1.6 miles to the north. Others nearby include St Annes Dental Clinic (2.7 miles) and St Annes Private Dental Centre (2.7 miles).
Is Hawes Side well served by schools?
DfE figures put 49 schools and 19,656 pupils across Hawes Side's Local Authority.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Hawes Side?
NHS dental commissioning in Hawes Side falls under NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board.
What towns are near Hawes Side?
Nearby towns include Blackpool, Revoe, Walker's Hill.
Is Hawes Side a family area?
Around 13.6% of Hawes Side's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
Can mild cases get NHS orthodontics?
No — IOTN grades 1 and 2 (mild cases) do not qualify for NHS funding. NHS treatment is reserved for grades 4 and 5 (and some grade 3 cases). Mild cases can be treated privately, often very cost-effectively with clear aligners.
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 Blackpool
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Blackpool — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: