NHS Treatment in Highwood at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 15.1% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.6% of 1,735 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Dental Perfection - Burton, Burton upon Trent — 11.2 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Thomas Alleyne's High School — 0.8 miles Windsor Park CE Middle School — 0.9 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Birmingham Dental Hospital, Birmingham — about 28 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 17.5% 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 Highwood
On our practice register: 1 practice within 5 miles of Highwood, 1 practice within 10 and 76 practices within 20. The closest is Orthodontics Derby in Marchington, 4.5 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Dental Perfection - Burton, 11.2 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Perfection - BurtonBurton upon Trent | 11.2 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (666 reviews) |
| Burton Smiles Dental ClinicBurton upon Trent | 11.3 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (246 reviews) |
| Modwena OrthodonticsBurton upon Trent | 11.4 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.5 (91 reviews) |
| Stapenhill Dental CareBurton upon Trent | 11.9 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 3.9 (19 reviews) |
| Church Lane Dental Site 2Stafford | 12.1 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (39 reviews) |
| Beaufort Dental Health CentreSwadlincote | 12.1 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (352 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Highwood with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Burton upon Trent, 11.2 miles south-east; the next are Stafford (12.1 miles south-west) and Swadlincote (12.1 miles south-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Burton upon Trent | 4 | 11.2 miles south-east |
| Stafford | 2 | 12.1 miles south-west |
| Swadlincote | 2 | 12.1 miles south-east |
| Stone | 1 | 12.1 miles west |
| Repton | 1 | 12.6 miles east |
| Derby | 1 | 13.2 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Highwood
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Church Lane Dental Stafford & Implant Centre (4.9 from 3,597 reviews), 12.3 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Church Lane Dental Stafford & Implant CentreStafford | 4.9 (3,597 reviews) | 12.3 miles south-west |
| High Street Dental PracticeBurntwood | 4.9 (435 reviews) | 14.8 miles south |
| Beaufort Dental Health CentreSwadlincote | 4.9 (352 reviews) | 12.1 miles south-east |
| Burton Smiles Dental ClinicBurton upon Trent | 4.9 (246 reviews) | 11.3 miles south-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Highwood, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is The Staffordshire Clinic, 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 Dental Perfection - Burton, Burton upon Trent, 11.2 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Birmingham Dental Hospital in Birmingham, about 28 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Highwood are commissioned by NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Highwood funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. Eligible under-18s get excellent clinical outcomes at no cost. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Staffordshire.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Highwood
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Private treatment in Highwood 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 Highwood
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. How long NHS treatment takes to start in Staffordshire depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
No orthodontic practice covers Highwood directly, though The Staffordshire Clinic (under a mile away) is the nearest dentist and can usually point patients toward orthodontic care locally. By national deprivation ranking, Highwood sits among the less deprived areas of England. OHID's regional oral-health data records visible dental decay in 18.8% of local 5-year-olds. In the census neighbourhood around Highwood, 6.6% of the 1,735 residents are aged 10 to 15, close to the 6.2% average across Staffordshire, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. The nearest university dental hospital to Highwood is Birmingham Dental Hospital, Birmingham, about 28 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board. Highwood's ONS geography type is urban: Nearer to a major town or city. Census figures show 15.1% of the local population is under 16. The closest secondary schools to Highwood are Thomas Alleyne's High School (0.8 miles) and Windsor Park CE Middle School (0.9 miles). 3 secondary schools are within three miles. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Highwood itself. The closest on record are Orthodontics Derby in Marchington, about 4 miles away; Oracle Dental in Stafford, about 11 miles away; and Dental Perfection - Burton in Burton upon Trent, about 11 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 Long Is the NHS Wait in Highwood?
Many patients in Staffordshire 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.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Highwood
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. Not every child who sees an orthodontist needs treatment right away, but early identification allows targeted intervention. Early review can prevent more complex problems later and simplify treatment when it does begin.
The Age-7 Assessment
The British Orthodontic Society recommends an orthodontic assessment by age 7 for children with notable concerns. At age 7, most children have their first permanent molars and incisors, giving an orthodontist enough information to evaluate jaw relationships, arch development, bite patterns, and likely future crowding.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Highwood
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 Staffordshire to decide who receives funded treatment. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
Eligibility in Highwood — Local Context
NHS waiting times in Staffordshire are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Highwood
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Highwood?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Highwood is Orthodontics Derby in Marchington, about 4.5 miles to the east. The next closest are Oracle Dental (10.8 miles) and Dental Perfection - Burton (11.2 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Highwood?
Our register has 1 practice within 5 miles of Highwood, 1 practice within 10 miles and 76 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Highwood?
The nearest practice to Highwood that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Dental Perfection - Burton in Burton upon Trent, about 11.2 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include Burton Smiles Dental Clinic (11.3 miles) and Modwena Orthodontics (11.4 miles).
How deprived is Highwood compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Highwood is less deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Does Highwood have a dental practice?
Highwood has no orthodontic practice of its own, but The Staffordshire Clinic is under a mile away and, like any general dentist, can assess and refer for orthodontic treatment.
How's children's dental health in Highwood's area?
Regionally, 18.8% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay, per OHID data.
How many families live in Highwood?
Around 15.1% of Highwood's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
Can I switch from the NHS waiting list to private?
Yes, at any point — even while still on the NHS list. Plenty of patients do this to skip the wait or get access to ceramic or aligner options; you don't have to formally withdraw first, though it's polite 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 Staffordshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Staffordshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: