NHS Treatment in Holton St Mary at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Norfolk and Suffolk 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 | 16.5% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.7% of 1,172 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Hello Dental, Colchester — 5.6 miles; 17 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | East Bergholt High School — 1.3 miles Hadleigh High School — 3.9 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 13.8% 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 Holton St Mary
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of Holton St Mary; 26 practices within 10 and 36 practices within 20. The closest is Hello Dental in Colchester, 5.6 miles south-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Hello Dental, 5.6 miles south-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello DentalColchester | 5.6 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (331 reviews) |
| Colchester Orthodontic CentreColchester | 5.7 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (185 reviews) |
| Colchester SmilesColchester | 7.1 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (105 reviews) |
| Mile End Dental ClinicColchester | 7.1 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (344 reviews) |
| Ipswich Dental SurgeryIpswich | 8.0 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (1,210 reviews) |
| Ipswich OrthodonticsIpswich | 8.1 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (60 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Holton St Mary with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Colchester, 5.6 miles south-west; the next are Ipswich (8.0 miles north-east) and Eight Ash Green (9.9 miles south-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Colchester | 9 | 5.6 miles south-west |
| Ipswich | 7 | 8.0 miles north-east |
| Eight Ash Green | 1 | 9.9 miles south-west |
| Kesgrave | 1 | 11.3 miles east |
| Sudbury | 1 | 12.0 miles west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Holton St Mary
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Hello Dental in Colchester (5.0 from 331 reviews), 5.6 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Hello DentalColchester | 5.0 (331 reviews) | 5.6 miles south-west |
| Colchester Orthodontic CentreColchester | 5.0 (185 reviews) | 5.7 miles south-west |
| Ipswich Dental SurgeryIpswich | 4.9 (1,210 reviews) | 8.0 miles north-east |
| Quest Dental Care IpswichIpswich | 4.9 (693 reviews) | 8.2 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 Holton St Mary, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 6.7 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Hello Dental, Colchester, 5.6 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Holton St Mary are commissioned by NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Holton St Mary funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. The process starts with your dentist, includes a formal eligibility assessment, and places you on a waiting list. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Suffolk.
NHS vs Private Fees in Holton St Mary
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Private treatment in Holton St Mary 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 Holton St Mary
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 waiting times in Suffolk are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Practices serving Holton St Mary differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. Holton St Mary's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of England. In the census neighbourhood around Holton St Mary, 6.7% of the 1,172 residents are aged 10 to 15, close to the 6.4% average across Suffolk, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. Classified by ONS as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city, Holton St Mary sits within NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Census figures show 16.5% of the local population is under 16. Secondary-age pupils near Holton St Mary attend schools such as East Bergholt High School (1.3 miles) and Hadleigh High School (3.9 miles). 1 secondary school is within three miles. No orthodontic practice on our register is within five miles of Holton St Mary; the nearest is about 6 miles away. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Holton St Mary itself. The nearest recorded are Hello Dental in Colchester, about 6 miles away; Page Dr in Ipswich, about 8 miles away; and Brickstables Dental & Implant Clinic in Eight Ash Green, about 10 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.
Your NHS Journey Step by Step in Holton St Mary
From first check-up to retainers, the NHS process in Holton St Mary runs like this:
- 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 Holton St Mary.
- 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Holton St Mary
Children's orthodontics in Holton St Mary covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. Parents in Holton St Mary increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. A photo assessment is a gentle way to get an early steer before booking anything.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Holton St Mary
Space maintainers hold open the gap left by a prematurely lost baby tooth, preventing neighbouring teeth from drifting in before the adult tooth erupts.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Holton St Mary?
Many patients in Holton St Mary are surprised they don't automatically qualify for NHS braces. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Suffolk apply the same national criteria consistently. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
Eligibility in Holton St Mary — Local Context
NHS waiting times in Suffolk are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Holton St Mary
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Holton St Mary?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Holton St Mary is Hello Dental in Colchester, about 5.6 miles to the south-west. The next closest are Colchester Orthodontic Centre (5.7 miles) and Colchester Smiles (7.1 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Holton St Mary?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Holton St Mary, 26 practices within 10 miles and 36 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Colchester, 5.6 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Holton St Mary?
The nearest practice to Holton St Mary that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Hello Dental in Colchester, about 5.6 miles to the south-west. Others nearby include Colchester Orthodontic Centre (5.7 miles) and Colchester Smiles (7.1 miles).
How many families live in Holton St Mary?
Around 16.5% of Holton St Mary's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
Which NHS body covers Holton St Mary for dental care?
Holton St Mary sits within NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is Holton St Mary?
By ONS classification, Holton St Mary falls under smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is Holton St Mary compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Holton St Mary is less deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
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 Suffolk
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