NHS Treatment in Keyham at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | Around the England average |
| Residents under 16 | 16% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7% of 2,196 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Clearly Orthodontics, Leicester — 2.9 miles; 17 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Orchard Mead Academy — 1.7 miles Avanti Fields School — 2.7 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Birmingham Dental Hospital, Birmingham — about 39 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 13.6% 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 Keyham
On our practice register: 10 practices within 5 miles of Keyham, 34 practices within 10 and 68 practices within 20. The closest is Clearly Orthodontics in Leicester, 2.9 miles west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Clearly Orthodontics, 2.9 miles west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearly OrthodonticsLeicester | 2.9 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (401 reviews) |
| Willowbrook Dental Practice, LeicesterHumberstone | 4.2 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (163 reviews) |
| The Windsor Dental PracticeLeicester | 4.5 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (261 reviews) |
| Doncaster Road Dental PracticeLeicester | 4.6 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (457 reviews) |
| Dentique Dental PracticeLeicester | 4.6 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (120 reviews) |
| K3 DentalEvington | 4.7 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (41 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Keyham with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Leicester, 2.9 miles west; the next are Humberstone (4.2 miles west) and Evington (4.7 miles south-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Leicester | 11 | 2.9 miles west |
| Humberstone | 1 | 4.2 miles west |
| Evington | 1 | 4.7 miles south-west |
| Wigston Magna | 3 | 5.6 miles south-west |
| Blaby | 1 | 7.2 miles south-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Keyham
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is The Dental & Cosmetic Clinic in Blaby (5.0 from 333 reviews), 7.2 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| The Dental & Cosmetic ClinicBlaby | 5.0 (333 reviews) | 7.2 miles south-west |
| Bright Smiles Dental Practice - LeicesterLeicester | 5.0 (19 reviews) | 6.1 miles west |
| The Dental Wellness Centre - Invisalign LeicesterLeicester | 4.9 (542 reviews) | 5.6 miles west |
| Doncaster Road Dental PracticeLeicester | 4.9 (457 reviews) | 4.6 miles west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Keyham, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 2.5 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Clearly Orthodontics, Leicester, 2.9 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 39 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Keyham are commissioned by NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
The NHS orthodontic pathway in Keyham focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. Eligible under-18s get excellent clinical outcomes at no cost. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Leicestershire.
NHS vs Private Fees in Keyham
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Going private for the same metal braces in Keyham costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Keyham
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 Leicestershire vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
There's no orthodontist on record in Keyham itself; the nearest dentist, Bupa Dental Care, is about 2 miles away and is a reasonable place to start for a referral. Keyham sits close to the England average for deprivation. OHID's regional oral-health data records visible dental decay in 22% of local 5-year-olds. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 7% of the 2,196 residents in Keyham's census neighbourhood, close to the 6.8% average across Leicestershire. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Keyham is Birmingham Dental Hospital in Birmingham, about 39 miles away. Classified by ONS as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city, Keyham sits within NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Census figures show 16% of the local population is under 16. Families in Keyham are served by secondary schools including Orchard Mead Academy (1.7 miles) and Avanti Fields School (2.7 miles). 4 secondary schools are within three miles. Keyham has 10 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 75% of towns in England. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Keyham. The nearest recorded are Clearly Orthodontics in Leicester, about 3 miles away; Willowbrook Dental Practice, Leicester in Humberstone, about 4 miles away; and Smile Perfections Dental & Cosmetic Clinic in Evington, about 5 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 Keyham
The NHS pathway in Keyham is well-structured — here's what to expect at each stage:
- 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 Keyham.
- 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 Eligibility in Keyham
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Leicestershire to decide who receives funded treatment. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
What If You Don't Qualify for NHS Treatment?
If your IOTN score falls below the threshold for NHS funding, private orthodontic treatment is fully available with no eligibility criteria and no waiting list. This means you can start treatment within weeks of your consultation, with full choice of brace type — metal, ceramic, aligner, or lingual — rather than being limited to NHS metal braces.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Keyham
Children's orthodontics in Keyham covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. The aim is to monitor development and intervene at the right time, not to begin treatment immediately. A photo assessment is a gentle way to get an early steer before booking anything.
NHS Treatment for Children in Keyham
Eligible children under 18 in Keyham 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 Keyham
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Keyham?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Keyham is Clearly Orthodontics in Leicester, about 2.9 miles to the west. The next closest are Smile Zone Dental Practice Leicester - Teeth Whitening | Invisalign | Smile Makeover | Veneers (3.5 miles) and Willowbrook Dental Practice, Leicester (4.2 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Keyham?
Our register has 10 practices within 5 miles of Keyham, 34 practices within 10 miles and 68 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Keyham?
The nearest practice to Keyham that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Clearly Orthodontics in Leicester, about 2.9 miles to the west. Others nearby include Willowbrook Dental Practice, Leicester (4.2 miles) and The Windsor Dental Practice (4.5 miles).
Is there a dentist near Keyham?
Keyham has no orthodontic practice of its own, but Bupa Dental Care is about 2 miles away and, like any general dentist, can assess and refer for orthodontic treatment.
How's children's dental health in Keyham's area?
OHID figures for this ICB show 22% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay.
What kind of area is Keyham?
ONS classifies Keyham as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is Keyham compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Keyham is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Can adults access NHS orthodontics in Keyham?
Adult access to NHS orthodontics in Leicestershire is very limited — generally restricted to jaw surgery patients or exceptional functional cases. Most adult orthodontic treatment is privately funded.
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 Leicestershire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Leicestershire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: