NHS Treatment in Lopwell at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Devon 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 | 16.9% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7.2% of 2,035 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Meavy Way Dental Practice, Plymouth — 3.6 miles; 7 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Notre Dame RC School — 2.8 miles Sir John Hunt Community Sports College — 3.0 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth — about 4 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 17.3% 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 Lopwell
On our practice register: 8 practices within 5 miles of Lopwell, 14 practices within 10 and 16 practices within 20. The closest is Transit Way Dental & Implant Clinic in Plymouth, 3.3 miles south. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Meavy Way Dental Practice, 3.6 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meavy Way Dental PracticePlymouth | 3.6 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 3.6 (238 reviews) |
| Eilertsen Dental Care, PlymouthPlymouth | 3.6 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (273 reviews) |
| Crownhill Dental Practice - PlymouthPlymouth | 3.7 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (236 reviews) |
| Plymouth Dental Centre of ExcellenceSaltash | 3.9 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (768 reviews) |
| Plymouth OrthodonticsPlymouth | 5.0 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (120 reviews) |
| Mannamead Cosmetic Dental Centre PlymouthPlymouth | 5.2 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (52 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Lopwell with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Plymouth, 3.6 miles south; the next are Saltash (3.9 miles south-west) and Ashburton (18.0 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | 6 | 3.6 miles south |
| Saltash | 1 | 3.9 miles south-west |
| Ashburton | 1 | 18.0 miles east |
| Totnes | 2 | 20.5 miles east |
| Newton Abbot | 1 | 24.4 miles east |
| Dartmouth | 1 | 25.5 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Lopwell
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Plymouth Dental Centre of Excellence in Saltash (4.9 from 768 reviews), 3.9 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Dental Centre of ExcellenceSaltash | 4.9 (768 reviews) | 3.9 miles south-west |
| Eilertsen Dental Care, PlymouthPlymouth | 4.9 (273 reviews) | 3.6 miles south |
| Crownhill Dental Practice - PlymouthPlymouth | 4.9 (236 reviews) | 3.7 miles south |
| Devon Dental Centre of ExcellenceAshburton | 4.8 (243 reviews) | 18.0 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Lopwell, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Transit Way Dentist, 3.3 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Meavy Way Dental Practice, Plymouth, 3.6 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Peninsula Dental School in Plymouth, about 4 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Lopwell are commissioned by NHS Devon Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Lopwell funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. 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.
Your NHS Journey Step by Step in Lopwell
The NHS pathway in Lopwell 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 Lopwell.
- 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 Lopwell
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. Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in Devon differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Orthodontic practices in and around Lopwell vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. National deprivation data puts Lopwell close to the England median. OHID's regional oral-health data records visible dental decay in 22.6% of local 5-year-olds. Census 2021 counts 2,035 residents in the neighbourhood around Lopwell, 7.2% of them aged 10 to 15, above the 6.3% average across Devon. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Lopwell is about 4 miles from Peninsula Dental School in Plymouth. Lopwell is classified as urban: Nearer to a major town or city, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Devon Integrated Care Board. 16.9% of Lopwell's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census. The closest secondary schools to Lopwell are Notre Dame RC School (2.8 miles) and Sir John Hunt Community Sports College (3.0 miles). 2 secondary schools are within three miles. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (6), Lopwell has more choice than 64% of towns in England. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Lopwell itself. The nearest recorded are Transit Way Dental & Implant Clinic in Plymouth, about 3 miles away; Plymouth Dental Centre of Excellence in Saltash, about 4 miles away; and Moor Dental & Implant Clinic in Ashburton, about 18 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 vs Private Fees in Lopwell
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Private treatment in Lopwell 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Lopwell
For many families in Lopwell, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Parents in Lopwell 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.
Children's Orthodontics in Lopwell — Local Context
Not every practice near Lopwell offers the same treatments, so it's worth checking what each one covers. Lopwell's under-16 share sits at 16.9%, per the 2021 Census. In the census neighbourhood around Lopwell, 7.2% of the 2,035 residents are aged 10 to 15, above the 6.3% average across Devon, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. Families in Lopwell are served by secondary schools including Notre Dame RC School (2.8 miles) and Sir John Hunt Community Sports College (3.0 miles). 2 secondary schools are within three miles. Regionally, 22.6% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay (OHID data). Officially, Lopwell is categorised as urban: Nearer to a major town or city. NHS dental commissioning in Lopwell falls under NHS Devon Integrated Care Board. By national deprivation ranking, Lopwell is roughly mid-table for England. With 6 orthodontic practices within five miles, Lopwell is better served than 64% of towns in England. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Lopwell is about 4 miles from Peninsula Dental School in Plymouth. They typically offer children's assessments and NHS-funded treatment for eligible patients.
Orthodontic Eligibility in Lopwell
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
What Is IOTN?
The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the two-part scoring system orthodontists across Devon use to decide whether a patient qualifies for NHS treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Lopwell
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Lopwell?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Lopwell is Transit Way Dental & Implant Clinic in Plymouth, about 3.3 miles to the south. The next closest are Meavy Way Dental Practice (3.6 miles) and Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth (3.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Lopwell?
Our register has 8 practices within 5 miles of Lopwell, 14 practices within 10 miles and 16 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Lopwell?
The nearest practice to Lopwell that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Meavy Way Dental Practice in Plymouth, about 3.6 miles to the south. Others nearby include Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth (3.6 miles) and Crownhill Dental Practice - Plymouth (3.7 miles).
Which towns are close to Lopwell?
Nearby towns include Buckland Monachorum, Belliver, Widewell.
Is Lopwell rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Lopwell falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is Lopwell compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Lopwell is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Lopwell?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Devon Integrated Care Board.
What if the NHS wait is too long?
Private orthodontic treatment removes the waiting list entirely. It offers the same clinical outcomes with greater choice of brace type and typically a more personalised experience — at higher cost than the NHS charge.
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 Devon
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Devon — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: