NHS Treatment in Hume at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Borders |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Around the Scotland average |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | KELSO DENTAL CARE, Kelso — 4.4 miles; 4 within 10 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 Hume
On our practice register: 2 practices within 5 miles of Hume, 4 practices within 10 and 10 practices within 20. The closest is KELSO DENTAL CARE, 4.4 miles south. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is KELSO DENTAL CARE, 4.4 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KELSO DENTAL CAREKelso | 4.4 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| THE CORN EXCHANGEKelso | 4.5 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| INFINITYBLU DENTAL CARE & IMPLANT CLINICDuns | 9.5 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
| DUNS DENTAL CAREDuns | 9.5 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
| JEDBURGH FAMILY DENTAL PRACTICEJedburgh | 12.9 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| CLEARWATER DENTALJedburgh | 13.0 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Hume with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Kelso, 4.4 miles south; the next are Duns (9.5 miles north-east) and Jedburgh (12.9 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Kelso | 2 | 4.4 miles south |
| Duns | 2 | 9.5 miles north-east |
| Jedburgh | 2 | 12.9 miles south |
| Galashiels | 3 | 13.5 miles west |
| Selkirk | 1 | 16.5 miles south-west |
| Hawick | 4 | 20.2 miles south-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Hume, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Edinburgh Dental, 33.4 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is KELSO DENTAL CARE, 4.4 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Hume are commissioned by NHS Borders. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
The NHS orthodontic pathway in Hume focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. For eligible under-18s it's outstanding value — full treatment at no charge at all. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Hume?
Many patients in The Scottish Borders 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 Access in Hume
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 The Scottish Borders depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Not every practice near Hume offers the same treatments, so it's worth checking what each one covers. Hume's deprivation ranking is neither notably high nor low compared with Scotland as a whole. NHS Borders is the NHS body responsible for dental commissioning in Hume. ONS classifies Hume as accessible Rural. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (2), Hume has more choice than 56% of towns in Scotland. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Hume. The nearest we do hold are KELSO DENTAL CARE, about 4 miles away; INFINITYBLU DENTAL CARE & IMPLANT CLINIC in Duns, about 10 miles away; and JEDBURGH FAMILY DENTAL PRACTICE, about 13 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.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Hume
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Private treatment in Hume 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.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Hume?
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 The Scottish Borders to decide who receives funded treatment. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
How Eligibility Is Scored
NHS eligibility is decided by the IOTN — a two-part clinical index applied consistently by orthodontists throughout The Scottish Borders.
Children's Orthodontics in Hume
For many families in Hume, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Parents in Hume 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.
NHS Treatment for Children in Hume
Eligible children under 18 in Hume 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.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Hume
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Hume?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Hume is KELSO DENTAL CARE, about 4.4 miles to the south. The next closest are THE CORN EXCHANGE (4.5 miles) and INFINITYBLU DENTAL CARE & IMPLANT CLINIC (9.5 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Hume?
Our register has 2 practices within 5 miles of Hume, 4 practices within 10 miles and 10 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Hume?
The nearest practice to Hume that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is KELSO DENTAL CARE, about 4.4 miles to the south. Others nearby include THE CORN EXCHANGE (4.5 miles) and INFINITYBLU DENTAL CARE & IMPLANT CLINIC (9.5 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Hume?
Hume sits within NHS Borders for NHS dental commissioning.
Is Hume rural or urban?
ONS classifies Hume as accessible Rural.
How deprived is Hume compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Hume is close to the Scotland average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Hume?
Heiton, Roxburgh, Greenlaw are within easy reach of Hume.
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 The Scottish Borders
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in The Scottish Borders — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: