Costs in Lothianburn at a Glance
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
|---|---|
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of Scotland |
| Nearest practice listing private treatment | Southside Dental Care, Edinburgh — 2.8 miles; 2 within 10 miles |
| Nearest practice listing payment plans | None within 30 miles on our register |
| Practices on our register | 101 within 5 miles, 140 within 10, 230 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Large Urban Areas |
| Access within City of Edinburgh | 101st closest to a practice of 118 places in the county; the county median is 0.4 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 near Lothianburn that list payment plans
On our practice register: 101 practices within 5 miles of Lothianburn, 140 practices within 10 and 230 practices within 20. The closest is FAIRMILEHEAD DENTAL PRACTICE in Colinton, 0.9 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Finance | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAIRMILEHEAD DENTAL PRACTICEColinton | 0.9 miles north | ✓ | – | – | – |
| 302 OXGANGS ROAD NORTHColinton | 1.6 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – | – |
| 50 FOUNTAIN PLACELoanhead | 2.0 miles east | ✓ | – | – | – |
| SHANKS DENTAL CARE LTDLoanhead | 2.0 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – | – |
| 1 LIBERTON BRAEDanderhall | 2.4 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – | – |
| 31 MORNINGSIDE DRIVEEdinburgh | 2.4 miles north | ✓ | – | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Lothianburn with practices listing payment plans
The closest town with practices listing payment plans is Colinton, 0.9 miles north; the next are Loanhead (2.0 miles east) and Danderhall (2.4 miles north-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Colinton | 5 | 0.9 miles north |
| Loanhead | 2 | 2.0 miles east |
| Danderhall | 2 | 2.4 miles north-east |
| Edinburgh | 20 | 2.4 miles north |
| Roslin | 1 | 2.7 miles south-east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Lothianburn
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Edinburgh Dental (4.9 from 806 reviews), 3.1 miles north.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh DentalEdinburgh | 4.9 (806 reviews) | 3.1 miles north |
| Southside Dental CareEdinburgh | 4.8 (437 reviews) | 2.8 miles north |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
What a course costs from Lothianburn, travel included
The fees are typical UK private prices. Travel is added for the journey to FAIRMILEHEAD DENTAL PRACTICE, the nearest practice on our register (under a mile away, about 1.2 miles by road), at the 45p a mile HMRC rate for every visit there and back.
| Treatment | Typical fee | Visits | Travel | Total from here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal braces | £1,500 to £3,500 | 10 to 20 | £10 to £20 | £1,510 to £3,520 |
| Ceramic braces | £2,000 to £4,500 | 10 to 20 | £10 to £20 | £2,010 to £4,520 |
| Lingual braces | £4,000 to £8,000 | 10 to 20 | £10 to £20 | £4,010 to £8,020 |
| Clear aligners | £1,500 to £5,500 | 6 to 10 | £5 to £10 | £1,505 to £5,510 |
| Invisalign | £2,500 to £5,500 | 6 to 10 | £5 to £10 | £2,505 to £5,510 |
Estimates. Fees vary by practice and case, so ask what each quote includes (retainers, refinements, emergency visits). NHS treatment for eligible under-18s is free.
What affects cost near Lothianburn
| Cost factor | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free first appointment | a free consultation | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| Monthly payments | payment plans | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| NHS treatment | NHS orthodontics | FAIRMILEHEAD DENTAL PRACTICE, Colinton (under a mile) | 302 OXGANGS ROAD NORTH (1.6 miles); 50 FOUNTAIN PLACE (2 miles) | 29 |
| Private treatment | private fees | Southside Dental Care, Edinburgh (2.8 miles) | Edinburgh Dental (3.1 miles) | 2 |
| Aligner prices to compare | aligners | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
| Brace prices to compare | fixed braces | not mentioned nearby | none other | 0 |
Built from what each practice's own published information mentions, so a missing entry means not mentioned, which does not mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Orthodontic treatment costs in Lothianburn vary widely by treatment type, case complexity and practice. Case complexity, appliance type and inclusions all move the total up or down. This guide sets out typical fees, what affects them, and how payment plans spread the cost.
What You're Actually Paying For
Treatment type is the biggest driver. Metal is cheapest, ceramic more, aligners and lingual more again — each appliance has different manufacture, fitting and adjustment costs.
Case complexity is the second big lever: the harder the case, the longer the course and the higher the fee, whatever you're treated with.
Number of arches should be clarified in every quote, since one-arch and two-arch treatment are priced very differently.
Retainers close out treatment but aren't always in the headline fee — ask whether they're included or charged on top.
Refinements are the additional aligners often needed after the first series; confirm they're covered rather than charged per set.
Practice location and overheads explain part of the spread: overheads differ practice to practice in Lothianburn, and shopping around is standard for private treatment.
Cost Context for Lothianburn
Private full fixed brace treatment in Lothianburn typically costs between £1,500 and £5,500, depending on case complexity. Whether aligners or fixed braces are recommended usually comes down to case complexity rather than personal preference alone.
Treatment range and appointment slots differ between the practices covering Lothianburn — comparing a couple is worthwhile. ONS classifies Lothianburn as large Urban Areas. For NHS dental services, Lothianburn falls under NHS Lothian. With 98 orthodontic practices within five miles, Lothianburn is better served than 95% of towns in Scotland. Lothianburn's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of Scotland. See local practice availability in Lothianburn → Costs can vary significantly between providers — getting two or three quotes and comparing what's included (retainers, refinements, both arches) before committing is strongly recommended.
Paying for Orthodontic Treatment in Lothianburn
Most private orthodontic practices in Lothianburn offer payment plans — typically 0% or low-interest monthly instalments spread over the course of treatment (usually 12–24 months). This makes private treatment much more financially accessible. A deposit of 10–25% of the total fee is usually required to start treatment, with the balance spread over equal monthly payments.
Always check whether the payment plan is in-house (directly with the practice) or through a finance provider such as Chrysalis Finance or Medenta. In-house plans typically have no credit check; third-party finance plans involve a formal credit application.
Affordable clear aligners in Lothianburn
'Affordable' and 'cheap' are meaningfully different when it comes to aligner treatment in Lothianburn. The key is whether the saving comes from a genuinely simple case or from reduced clinical oversight. Knowing the warning signs helps you tell a good-value option from a false economy.
How to Find Genuine Value in Lothianburn
Good value in Lothianburn comes from comparing like with like. Get an early sense of your case complexity first; that context is what lets you judge whether a low quote is a bargain or a false economy.
Aligner pricing in Lothianburn explained
Aligner pricing in Lothianburn is driven by more than the headline figure. Case complexity, number of trays, refinements and aftercare all move the total. What's included matters more than the sticker price when you compare providers.
What Affects Clear Aligner Cost in Lothianburn?
Case complexity is the single biggest driver. A mild case of 14–20 trays costs far less than a full-arch case needing 40+ trays and an extended refinement phase. Complexity is judged at examination, but a remote assessment gives an early indication.
Frequently Asked Questions — Costs in Lothianburn
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Lothianburn?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Lothianburn is FAIRMILEHEAD DENTAL PRACTICE in Colinton, about 0.9 miles to the north. The next closest are 302 OXGANGS ROAD NORTH (1.6 miles) and 50 FOUNTAIN PLACE (2.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Lothianburn?
Our register has 101 practices within 5 miles of Lothianburn, 140 practices within 10 miles and 230 practices within 20 miles.
Which practices near Lothianburn offer payment plans?
None of the practices within 30 miles mentions finance or monthly payments in its published information, though many offer them on request.
What NHS area is Lothianburn in for dental services?
Lothianburn sits within NHS Lothian for NHS dental commissioning.
Is Lothianburn rural or urban?
ONS classifies Lothianburn as large Urban Areas.
How deprived is Lothianburn compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Lothianburn is less deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What towns are near Lothianburn?
Old Pentland, Comiston, Bush are within easy reach of Lothianburn.
How much do braces cost in Lothianburn?
Private metal fixed braces in Lothianburn typically cost £1,500–£3,500. Ceramic braces £2,000–£4,500. NHS braces are free for eligible under-18s. Lingual braces and Invisalign cost more — see the full comparison above.
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.
Costs Across City of Edinburgh
Explore costs information for other towns and cities in City of Edinburgh — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: