NHS Treatment in Kilraghts at a Glance
| NHS dental services | Health and Social Care Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Around the Northern Ireland average |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Causeway Orthodontic Centre, Coleraine — 9.6 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Royal Dental Hospital of Belfast, Belfast — about 38 miles |
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 Kilraghts
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of Kilraghts; 2 practices within 10 and 15 practices within 20. The closest is Causeway Orthodontic Centre in Coleraine, 9.6 miles west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Causeway Orthodontic Centre, 9.6 miles west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Causeway Orthodontic CentreColeraine | 9.6 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 2.3 (3 reviews) |
| 18 DentalColeraine | 10.9 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (15 reviews) |
| Boyd & Logue Dental SurgeryColeraine | 11.0 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (215 reviews) |
| New Row Dental SurgeryColeraine | 11.1 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.3 (17 reviews) |
| Maine Dental PracticeCullybackey | 12.8 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (12 reviews) |
| Portrush Dental CarePortrush | 13.3 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (9 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Kilraghts with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Coleraine, 9.6 miles west; the next are Cullybackey (12.8 miles south) and Portrush (13.3 miles north-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Coleraine | 4 | 9.6 miles west |
| Cullybackey | 1 | 12.8 miles south |
| Portrush | 1 | 13.3 miles north-west |
| Ballymena | 1 | 15.0 miles south |
| Magherafelt | 1 | 23.1 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Kilraghts
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Maine Dental Practice in Cullybackey (5.0 from 12 reviews), 12.8 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Dental PracticeCullybackey | 5.0 (12 reviews) | 12.8 miles south |
| Boyd & Logue Dental SurgeryColeraine | 4.7 (215 reviews) | 11.0 miles north-west |
| 18 DentalColeraine | 4.7 (15 reviews) | 10.9 miles north-west |
| New Row Dental SurgeryColeraine | 4.3 (17 reviews) | 11.1 miles west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Kilraghts, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 32.8 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Causeway Orthodontic Centre, Coleraine, 9.6 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Royal Dental Hospital of Belfast in Belfast, about 38 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Kilraghts are commissioned by Health and Social Care Northern Ireland. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
The NHS orthodontic pathway in Kilraghts focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. The process starts with your dentist, includes a formal eligibility assessment, and places you on a waiting list. Understanding its limits helps families in Kilraghts plan around realistic waiting times.
NHS vs Private Fees in Kilraghts
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Going private for the same metal braces in Kilraghts costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
The NHS Orthodontic Pathway in Kilraghts
From first check-up to retainers, the NHS process in Kilraghts 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 Kilraghts.
- 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.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Kilraghts
NHS orthodontic treatment is free for under-18s who meet the clinical threshold. Adults who do qualify pay 80% of the Health Service fee, capped at £384 for a course of treatment. NHS waiting times in Causeway Coast and Glens are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Practices serving Kilraghts differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. Kilraghts's deprivation ranking is neither notably high nor low compared with Northern Ireland as a whole. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Kilraghts is Royal Dental Hospital of Belfast in Belfast, about 38 miles away. NHS dental commissioning in Kilraghts falls under Health and Social Care Northern Ireland. Kilraghts has no orthodontic practice within five miles on our register, and the closest is roughly 10 miles away. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Kilraghts itself. The nearest recorded are Causeway Orthodontic Centre in Coleraine, about 10 miles away; Maine Dental Practice in Cullybackey, about 13 miles away; and Portrush Dental Care, 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.
Orthodontic Eligibility in Kilraghts
Whether you or your child qualifies for NHS treatment in Kilraghts comes down to a structured assessment. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. Knowing where you stand before the referral process saves time and manages expectations in Kilraghts.
What Is IOTN?
The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the two-part scoring system orthodontists across Causeway Coast and Glens use to decide whether a patient qualifies for NHS treatment.
Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children in Kilraghts
For many families in Kilraghts, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Not every child who sees an orthodontist needs treatment right away, but early identification allows targeted intervention. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
Children's Orthodontics in Kilraghts — Local Context
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Kilraghts. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by Health and Social Care Northern Ireland. By national deprivation ranking, Kilraghts is roughly mid-table for Northern Ireland. Kilraghts has no orthodontic practice within five miles on our register, and the closest is roughly 10 miles away. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Kilraghts is about 38 miles from Royal Dental Hospital of Belfast in Belfast. They typically offer children's assessments and NHS-funded treatment for eligible patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Kilraghts
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Kilraghts?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Kilraghts is Causeway Orthodontic Centre in Coleraine, about 9.6 miles to the west. The next closest are Pure Dental Hygiene (9.6 miles) and 18 Dental (10.9 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Kilraghts?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Kilraghts, 2 practices within 10 miles and 15 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Coleraine, 9.6 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Kilraghts?
The nearest practice to Kilraghts that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Causeway Orthodontic Centre in Coleraine, about 9.6 miles to the west. Others nearby include 18 Dental (10.9 miles) and Boyd & Logue Dental Surgery (11.0 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Kilraghts?
NHS dental commissioning in Kilraghts falls under Health and Social Care Northern Ireland.
How deprived is Kilraghts compared with the rest of Northern Ireland?
By the national deprivation index, Kilraghts is close to the Northern Ireland average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Kilraghts?
Dunloy, Garryduff, Pharis are within easy reach of Kilraghts.
What county is Kilraghts in?
Kilraghts falls within Causeway Coast and Glens.
Is NHS orthodontic treatment as good as private?
Clinically, yes — specialist-delivered NHS treatment gets excellent results. The real differences are appliance choice and speed: NHS means metal braces and a wait, private opens up ceramic, aligner and lingual options straight away.
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 Causeway Coast and Glens
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Causeway Coast and Glens — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: