NHS Treatment in Lode at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Central East 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 | 17.2% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7.6% of 2,609 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Devonshire House Dental Practice, Cambridge — 5.9 miles; 5 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Bottisham Village College — 1.2 miles St Bede's Inter-Church School — 4.7 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 18.9% 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 Lode
On our practice register: 4 practices within 5 miles of Lode, 17 practices within 10 and 24 practices within 20. The closest is St Mark's Dental and Aesthetic Clinic in Cambridge, 4.5 miles west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Devonshire House Dental Practice, 5.9 miles south-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devonshire House Dental PracticeCambridge | 5.9 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (608 reviews) |
| CAMBRIDGE ORTHODONTIC PRACTICECambridge | 6.0 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| Anglia OrthodonticsCambridge | 6.2 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.5 (96 reviews) |
| drfrancisbracesCambridge | 6.2 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Baxter's Family DentalNewmarket | 7.0 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.0 (157 reviews) |
| The Walden Dental ClinicSaffron Walden | 15.2 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (285 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Lode with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Cambridge, 5.9 miles south-west; the next are Newmarket (7.0 miles east) and Saffron Walden (15.2 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | 4 | 5.9 miles south-west |
| Newmarket | 1 | 7.0 miles east |
| Saffron Walden | 1 | 15.2 miles south |
| Huntingdon | 1 | 19.8 miles west |
| Bury St Edmunds | 1 | 20.2 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Lode
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is The Walden Dental Clinic in Saffron Walden (4.9 from 285 reviews), 15.2 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| The Walden Dental ClinicSaffron Walden | 4.9 (285 reviews) | 15.2 miles south |
| Devonshire House Dental PracticeCambridge | 4.8 (608 reviews) | 5.9 miles south-west |
| Anglia OrthodonticsCambridge | 4.5 (96 reviews) | 6.2 miles south-west |
| Baxter's Family DentalNewmarket | 4.0 (157 reviews) | 7.0 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Lode, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Chapel Dental, 3.1 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Devonshire House Dental Practice, Cambridge, 5.9 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Lode are commissioned by NHS Central East Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Lode follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. Knowing what the NHS can and cannot provide makes the NHS-versus-private decision clearer.
How the NHS Route Works in Lode
From first check-up to retainers, the NHS process in Lode 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 Lode.
- 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 Lode
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 Cambridgeshire vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
There's no orthodontist on record in Lode itself; the nearest dentist, Chapel Dental, is about 3 miles away and is a reasonable place to start for a referral. National deprivation data ranks Lode among England's less deprived areas. Census 2021 counts 2,609 residents in the neighbourhood around Lode, 7.6% of them aged 10 to 15, above the 7% average across Cambridgeshire. Lode — smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Central East Integrated Care Board for NHS dentistry. Census figures show 17.2% of the local population is under 16. Secondary-age pupils near Lode attend schools such as Bottisham Village College (1.2 miles) and St Bede's Inter-Church School (4.7 miles). 1 secondary school is within three miles. Lode has 4 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 56% of towns in England. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Lode itself. The nearest recorded are St Mark's Dental and Aesthetic Clinic in Cambridge, about 4 miles away; Baxter's Family Dental in Newmarket, about 7 miles away; and Ely Smiles, 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.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in Lode
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Going private for the same metal braces in Lode costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Lode
Whether you or your child qualifies for NHS treatment in Lode comes down to a structured assessment. It measures the complexity and impact of the problem, and only cases above a threshold score receive NHS funding. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
Adult NHS Orthodontic Access in Lode
Adults (18 and over) are rarely eligible for NHS orthodontic treatment in Lode. NHS funding for adults is generally limited to severe clinical cases — such as jaw surgery patients or those with significant cleft palate-related needs. Cosmetic adult orthodontics is not NHS-funded.
Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children in Lode
Children's orthodontics in Lode covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. A photo assessment is a gentle way to get an early steer before booking anything.
NHS Treatment for Children in Lode
Eligible children under 18 in Lode 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 Lode
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Lode?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Lode is St Mark's Dental and Aesthetic Clinic in Cambridge, about 4.5 miles to the west. The next closest are Antwerp House Dentistry Cambridge (4.7 miles) and Cambridge dental group (4.9 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Lode?
Our register has 4 practices within 5 miles of Lode, 17 practices within 10 miles and 24 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Lode?
The nearest practice to Lode that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Devonshire House Dental Practice in Cambridge, about 5.9 miles to the south-west. Others nearby include CAMBRIDGE ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE (6.0 miles) and Anglia Orthodontics (6.2 miles).
How big is Lode?
Lode has a population of around 704.
What county is Lode in?
Lode is in Cambridgeshire.
Is Lode rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Lode falls under smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
How many families live in Lode?
Around 17.2% of Lode's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
How much do NHS braces cost?
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. 18-year-olds in qualifying full-time education are also exempt, as are adults on certain benefits or low incomes, and one charge covers the full course from fitting to retainers.
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 Cambridgeshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Cambridgeshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: