NHS Treatment in Longhills at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Grampian |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of Scotland |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | DYCE DENTAL PRACTICE, Dyce — 1.8 miles; 28 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen — about 5 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 Longhills
On our practice register: 11 practices within 5 miles of Longhills, 68 practices within 10 and 78 practices within 20. The closest is DYCE DENTAL PRACTICE, 1.8 miles south. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is DYCE DENTAL PRACTICE, 1.8 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DYCE DENTAL PRACTICEDyce | 1.8 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| T/A MINT DENTAL CARE KINGSEATNewmacher | 2.3 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist AberdeenDyce | 3.2 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (191 reviews) |
| OLDMACHAR DENTAL CAREDyce | 3.2 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| GRANDHOLM DENTAL CLINICAberdeen | 4.0 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| NORTHFIELD DENTAL CENTREKingswells | 4.4 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Longhills with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Dyce, 1.8 miles south; the next are Newmacher (2.3 miles north) and Aberdeen (4.0 miles south-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Dyce | 3 | 1.8 miles south |
| Newmacher | 1 | 2.3 miles north |
| Aberdeen | 18 | 4.0 miles south-east |
| Kingswells | 4 | 4.4 miles south |
| Bridge of Don | 1 | 4.7 miles south-east |
| Cults | 1 | 5.6 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Longhills
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Mastrick Smile Care in Aberdeen (4.9 from 213 reviews), 5.1 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Mastrick Smile CareAberdeen | 4.9 (213 reviews) | 5.1 miles south |
| Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist AberdeenDyce | 4.8 (191 reviews) | 3.2 miles south-east |
| Bridge of Don Dental & Aesthetic ClinicBridge of Don | 4.8 (176 reviews) | 4.7 miles south-east |
| Aberdeen OrthodonticsAberdeen | 4.8 (106 reviews) | 6.0 miles south-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Longhills, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Dyce Dental Practice Family Dentist, 1.7 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is DYCE DENTAL PRACTICE, 1.8 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen, about 5 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Longhills are commissioned by NHS Grampian. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
For families in Longhills, the NHS pathway offers a subsidised route to fixed braces for eligible children. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Longhills
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. NHS orthodontic waiting times in Aberdeenshire vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
No orthodontic practice covers Longhills directly, though Dyce Dental Practice Family Dentist (about 2 miles away) is the nearest dentist and can usually point patients toward orthodontic care locally. Longhills falls in a less deprived area than most of Scotland. The nearest university dental hospital to Longhills is Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen, about 5 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Longhills is classified as accessible Rural, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Grampian. With 11 orthodontic practices within five miles, Longhills is better served than 77% of towns in Scotland. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Longhills itself. The closest on record are DYCE DENTAL PRACTICE, about 2 miles away; T/A MINT DENTAL CARE KINGSEAT in Newmacher, about 2 miles away; and GRANDHOLM DENTAL CLINIC in Aberdeen, about 4 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 Waiting Times in Longhills
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Aberdeenshire vary and can range from 12 to 36 months from referral to treatment starting. For families where timing is important — particularly approaching the optimal treatment age — private orthodontics eliminates the wait entirely and typically begins within a few weeks of consultation.
Your NHS Journey Step by Step in Longhills
For eligible patients in Longhills, the NHS route follows a defined sequence from dentist to specialist:
- 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 Longhills.
- 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 Brace Eligibility in Longhills
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Aberdeenshire to decide who receives funded treatment. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Can Adults Get NHS Braces in Longhills?
In practice, NHS orthodontic treatment in Longhills is almost exclusively for patients under 18. Adult NHS orthodontic slots are very limited and reserved for exceptional functional cases. Adults seeking orthodontic treatment should plan for private care — no waiting list and full choice of treatment type.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Longhills
For many families in Longhills, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. 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.
The Age-7 Assessment
British Orthodontic Society guidance points to age 7 for an assessment where there's a noticeable concern — by then most children have their first permanent molars and incisors through, which is enough for an orthodontist to judge jaw relationships, arch development, bite and likely future crowding.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Longhills
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Longhills?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Longhills is DYCE DENTAL PRACTICE, about 1.8 miles to the south. The next closest are T/A MINT DENTAL CARE KINGSEAT (2.3 miles) and Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist Aberdeen (3.2 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Longhills?
Our register has 11 practices within 5 miles of Longhills, 68 practices within 10 miles and 78 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Longhills?
The nearest practice to Longhills that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is DYCE DENTAL PRACTICE, about 1.8 miles to the south. Others nearby include T/A MINT DENTAL CARE KINGSEAT (2.3 miles) and Old Machar Dental and Implant Centre | Invisalign and Emergency Dentist Aberdeen (3.2 miles).
Is there a dentist near Longhills?
There's no orthodontist based in Longhills, though Dyce Dental Practice Family Dentist (about 2 miles away) is a general dentist who can carry out an initial assessment and refer on if needed.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Longhills?
NHS dental commissioning in Longhills falls under NHS Grampian.
What kind of area is Longhills?
By ONS classification, Longhills falls under accessible Rural.
How deprived is Longhills compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Longhills is less deprived than most of Scotland. 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 Aberdeenshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Aberdeenshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: