NHS Treatment in Hertburn at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS North East and North 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 | 30.1% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 10.7% of 1,397 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Windmill Orthodontics Gateshead, Lamesley — 3.8 miles; 13 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Washington Academy — 0.6 miles Biddick Academy — 1.3 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Newcastle Dental Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne — about 7 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 22.7% 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 Hertburn
On our practice register: 12 practices within 5 miles of Hertburn, 46 practices within 10 and 59 practices within 20. The closest is Salma’s Smiles in Houghton-Le-Spring, 3.7 miles south-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Windmill Orthodontics Gateshead, 3.8 miles north-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windmill Orthodontics GatesheadLamesley | 3.8 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (4 reviews) |
| Alpha Dental Care - NHS Dentist StocktonWallsend | 4.2 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (111 reviews) |
| Breeze DentalSunderland | 4.4 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (641 reviews) |
| Grange Road West Dental PracticeWallsend | 5.0 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (96 reviews) |
| Windmill North Tyneside OrthodonticsNewcastle upon Tyne | 5.5 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (98 reviews) |
| WINDMILL ORTHODONTICSNewcastle upon Tyne | 5.5 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Hertburn with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Lamesley, 3.8 miles north-west; the next are Wallsend (4.2 miles north) and Sunderland (4.4 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Lamesley | 1 | 3.8 miles north-west |
| Wallsend | 2 | 4.2 miles north |
| Sunderland | 2 | 4.4 miles east |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 4 | 5.5 miles north-west |
| South Shields | 3 | 6.4 miles north-east |
| Houghton-Le-Spring | 1 | 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 Hertburn
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Breeze Dental in Sunderland (4.9 from 641 reviews), 4.4 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Breeze DentalSunderland | 4.9 (641 reviews) | 4.4 miles east |
| Queensway Orthodontics - BillinghamNewcastle upon Tyne | 4.9 (122 reviews) | 6.4 miles north-west |
| Alpha Dental Care - NHS Dentist StocktonWallsend | 4.9 (111 reviews) | 4.2 miles north |
| St Michael's Dental PracticeSouth Shields | 4.9 (106 reviews) | 6.4 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 Hertburn, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is {my}dentist, 2.8 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Windmill Orthodontics Gateshead, Lamesley, 3.8 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Newcastle Dental Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, about 7 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Hertburn are commissioned by NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
For families in Hertburn, the NHS pathway offers a subsidised route to fixed braces for eligible children. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. Understanding its limits helps families in Hertburn plan around realistic waiting times.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Hertburn?
Many patients in Sunderland 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.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in Hertburn
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Private treatment in Hertburn trades cost for speed and choice — around £1,500–£3,500 for metal braces, but starting within weeks and with ceramic, lingual and aligner options on the table.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Hertburn
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. NHS orthodontic waiting times in Sunderland vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
There's no orthodontist on record in Hertburn itself; the nearest dentist, {my}dentist, is about 3 miles away and is a reasonable place to start for a referral. By national deprivation ranking, Hertburn sits among the more deprived areas of England. OHID data for this ICB shows 22.3% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. In the census neighbourhood around Hertburn, 10.7% of the 1,397 residents are aged 10 to 15, above the 6.7% average across Sunderland, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. The nearest university dental hospital to Hertburn is Newcastle Dental Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, about 7 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. NHS dental commissioning in Hertburn falls under NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board. Hertburn is classified as urban: Nearer to a major town or city. Hertburn skews family-heavy: 30.1% of residents are under 16, above the typical share. The closest secondary schools to Hertburn are Washington Academy (0.6 miles) and Biddick Academy (1.3 miles). 7 secondary schools are within three miles. Hertburn's Local Authority has 122 schools educating 41,439 pupils (DfE data). With 12 orthodontic practices within five miles, Hertburn is better served than 79% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in Hertburn itself. The closest on record are Salma’s Smiles in Houghton-Le-Spring, about 4 miles away; Westmount Dental Sunderland, about 4 miles away; and Ashford Orthodontics Ltd in East Boldon, 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.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Hertburn
For many families in Hertburn, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. A photo assessment is a gentle way to get an early steer before booking anything.
NHS Treatment for Children in Hertburn
Eligible children under 18 in Hertburn are entitled to NHS orthodontic treatment free of charge. The process starts with a dentist IOTN assessment and formal referral to the local NHS orthodontic service.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Hertburn
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 Sunderland to decide who receives funded treatment. Knowing where you stand before the referral process saves time and manages expectations in Hertburn.
What Is IOTN?
The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the two-part scoring system orthodontists across Sunderland use to decide whether a patient qualifies for NHS treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Hertburn
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Hertburn?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Hertburn is Salma’s Smiles in Houghton-Le-Spring, about 3.7 miles to the south-east. The next closest are Westmount Dental Sunderland (3.7 miles) and Ashford Orthodontics Ltd (3.8 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Hertburn?
Our register has 12 practices within 5 miles of Hertburn, 46 practices within 10 miles and 59 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Hertburn?
The nearest practice to Hertburn that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Windmill Orthodontics Gateshead in Lamesley, about 3.8 miles to the north-west. Others nearby include Alpha Dental Care - NHS Dentist Stockton (4.2 miles) and Breeze Dental (4.4 miles).
Where's the nearest dentist to Hertburn?
There's no orthodontist based in Hertburn, though {my}dentist (about 3 miles away) is a general dentist who can carry out an initial assessment and refer on if needed.
What county is Hertburn in?
Hertburn is in Sunderland.
Is Hertburn a family area?
Around 30.1% of Hertburn's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
How's children's dental health in Hertburn's area?
Regionally, 22.3% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay, per OHID data.
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 Sunderland
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Sunderland — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: