NHS Treatment in Lower Knowle at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | More deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 25% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 10.3% of 1,518 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | The Bristol Dental Practice, Bristol — 1.5 miles; 19 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Oasis Academy Daventry Road — 0.4 miles Oasis Academy Temple Quarter — 1.0 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Bristol Dental Hospital, Bristol — about 2 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 23.1% 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 Lower Knowle
On our practice register: 19 practices within 5 miles of Lower Knowle, 30 practices within 10 and 59 practices within 20. The closest is Queen Square Dental Clinic in Bristol, 1.4 miles north. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is The Bristol Dental Practice, 1.5 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Bristol Dental PracticeBristol | 1.5 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (689 reviews) |
| High Street Dental ClinicBristol | 1.7 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (166 reviews) |
| Bristol Dental Specialists - Orthodontist & Dental ImplantsBristol | 1.9 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (142 reviews) |
| Clifton OrthodonticsBristol | 1.9 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (107 reviews) |
| Dr Nik GognaBristol | 1.9 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (44 reviews) |
| Dental Touch - Dentist in BristolBristol | 2.3 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (110 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Lower Knowle with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Bristol, 1.5 miles north; the next are Kingswood (4.1 miles north-east) and Mangotsfield (4.9 miles north-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol | 12 | 1.5 miles north |
| Kingswood | 1 | 4.1 miles north-east |
| Mangotsfield | 1 | 4.9 miles north-east |
| Easton-in-Gordano | 1 | 5.4 miles north-west |
| Stoke Gifford | 1 | 7.6 miles north |
| Iron Acton | 1 | 8.6 miles north-east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Lower Knowle
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Dr Nik Gogna in Bristol (5.0 from 44 reviews), 1.9 miles north.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Nik GognaBristol | 5.0 (44 reviews) | 1.9 miles north |
| The Bristol Dental PracticeBristol | 4.9 (689 reviews) | 1.5 miles north |
| Smile SolutionEaston-in-Gordano | 4.9 (150 reviews) | 5.4 miles north-west |
| Bristol Dental Specialists - Orthodontist & Dental ImplantsBristol | 4.9 (142 reviews) | 1.9 miles north |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Lower Knowle, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is mydentist, 1.9 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is The Bristol Dental Practice, 1.5 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Bristol Dental Hospital in Bristol, about 2 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Lower Knowle are commissioned by NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Lower Knowle funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. The process starts with your dentist, includes a formal eligibility assessment, and places you on a waiting list. Understanding its limits helps families in Lower Knowle plan around realistic waiting times.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Lower Knowle?
Many patients in City of Bristol wait 18 months or longer between NHS referral and treatment starting. During this period teeth continue to develop and cases can become more complex. Private treatment, while more expensive, begins promptly and offers far greater choice of treatment type.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Lower Knowle
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. How long NHS treatment takes to start in City of Bristol depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Lower Knowle. Lower Knowle's deprivation ranking places it in a more deprived band than most of England. OHID's regional oral-health data records visible dental decay in 19.7% of local 5-year-olds. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 10.3% of the 1,518 residents in Lower Knowle's census neighbourhood, above the 6.4% average across City of Bristol. The nearest university dental hospital to Lower Knowle is Bristol Dental Hospital, Bristol, about 2 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Lower Knowle sits within NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Lower Knowle's ONS geography type is urban: Nearer to a major town or city. Census data shows a relatively family-heavy population here — 25% of Lower Knowle's residents are under 16. Secondary-age pupils near Lower Knowle attend schools such as Oasis Academy Daventry Road (0.4 miles) and Oasis Academy Temple Quarter (1.0 miles). 14 secondary schools are within three miles. DfE figures put 168 schools and 69,339 pupils across Lower Knowle's Local Authority. With 19 orthodontic practices within five miles, Lower Knowle is better served than 90% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in Lower Knowle itself. The nearest we do hold are Queen Square Dental Clinic in Bristol, about a mile away; Lodge Causeway Dental Centre in Kingswood, about 4 miles away; and Staple Hill Dental Practice in Mangotsfield, about 5 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.
How the NHS Route Works in Lower Knowle
For eligible patients in Lower Knowle, 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 Lower Knowle.
- 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.
Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children in Lower Knowle
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
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.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Lower Knowle?
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
What Is IOTN?
NHS eligibility is decided by the IOTN — a two-part clinical index applied consistently by orthodontists throughout City of Bristol.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Lower Knowle
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Lower Knowle?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Lower Knowle is Queen Square Dental Clinic in Bristol, about 1.4 miles to the north. The next closest are The Bristol Dental Practice (1.5 miles) and High Street Dental Clinic (1.7 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Lower Knowle?
Our register has 19 practices within 5 miles of Lower Knowle, 30 practices within 10 miles and 59 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Lower Knowle?
The nearest practice to Lower Knowle that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is The Bristol Dental Practice, about 1.5 miles to the north. Others nearby include High Street Dental Clinic (1.7 miles) and Bristol Dental Specialists - Orthodontist & Dental Implants (1.9 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Lower Knowle?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board.
What county is Lower Knowle in?
Lower Knowle falls within City of Bristol.
How many families live in Lower Knowle?
Census data puts 25% of Lower Knowle's population at under 16.
How's children's dental health in Lower Knowle's area?
OHID figures for this ICB show 19.7% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay.
Is NHS orthodontic treatment as good as private?
NHS orthodontic treatment delivered by specialist orthodontists achieves excellent clinical results. The key differences: NHS is almost exclusively metal braces with a waiting list; private offers ceramic, aligner, and lingual options with immediate access.
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 City of Bristol
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in City of Bristol — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: