NHS Treatment in Mace Green at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Norfolk and Suffolk 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 | 15.6% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.4% of 1,684 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Ipswich Dental Surgery, Ipswich — 4 miles; 10 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Chantry Academy — 2.7 miles Stoke High School - Ormiston Academy — 3.5 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 16.6% 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 Mace Green
On our practice register: 11 practices within 5 miles of Mace Green, 16 practices within 10 and 35 practices within 20. The closest is Page Dr in Ipswich, 3.9 miles north-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Ipswich Dental Surgery, 4.0 miles north-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ipswich Dental SurgeryIpswich | 4.0 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (1,210 reviews) |
| Ipswich OrthodonticsIpswich | 4.0 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (60 reviews) |
| OrthoactiveIpswich | 4.0 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.4 (8 reviews) |
| IPSWICH ORTHODONTIC CENTREIpswich | 4.0 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
| Quest Dental Care IpswichIpswich | 4.2 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (693 reviews) |
| Foxhall Dental PracticeIpswich | 4.7 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (804 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Mace Green with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Ipswich, 4.0 miles north-east; the next are Kesgrave (7.7 miles east) and Colchester (9.6 miles south-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Ipswich | 7 | 4.0 miles north-east |
| Kesgrave | 1 | 7.7 miles east |
| Colchester | 9 | 9.6 miles south-west |
| Eight Ash Green | 1 | 14.0 miles south-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Mace Green
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Hello Dental in Colchester (5.0 from 331 reviews), 9.6 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Hello DentalColchester | 5.0 (331 reviews) | 9.6 miles south-west |
| Colchester Orthodontic CentreColchester | 5.0 (185 reviews) | 9.7 miles south-west |
| Ipswich Dental SurgeryIpswich | 4.9 (1,210 reviews) | 4.0 miles north-east |
| Quest Dental Care IpswichIpswich | 4.9 (693 reviews) | 4.2 miles north-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Mace Green, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 10.7 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Ipswich Dental Surgery, 4 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Mace Green are commissioned by NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
For families in Mace Green, the NHS pathway offers a subsidised route to fixed braces for eligible children. The process starts with your dentist, includes a formal eligibility assessment, and places you on a waiting list. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Suffolk.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Mace Green
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 Suffolk vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Treatment range and appointment slots differ between the practices covering Mace Green — comparing a couple is worthwhile. Mace Green's deprivation ranking is neither notably high nor low compared with England as a whole. Census 2021 counts 1,684 residents in the neighbourhood around Mace Green, 6.4% of them aged 10 to 15, close to the 6.4% average across Suffolk. Mace Green sits within NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Mace Green is classified as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city. Census figures show 15.6% of the local population is under 16. The closest secondary schools to Mace Green are Chantry Academy (2.7 miles) and Stoke High School - Ormiston Academy (3.5 miles). 1 secondary school is within three miles. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (11), Mace Green has more choice than 77% of towns in England. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Mace Green. The closest on record are Page Dr in Ipswich, about 4 miles away; Suffolk Orthodontics in Kesgrave, about 8 miles away; and Hello Dental in Colchester, about 10 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 Mace Green
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Going private for the same metal braces in Mace Green costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
Your NHS Journey Step by Step in Mace Green
For eligible patients in Mace Green, 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 Mace Green.
- 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 Mace Green
Many patients in Mace Green are surprised they don't automatically qualify for NHS braces. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Suffolk to decide who receives funded treatment. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
How Eligibility Is Scored
NHS eligibility is decided by the IOTN — a two-part clinical index applied consistently by orthodontists throughout Suffolk.
Children's Orthodontics in Mace Green
Children's orthodontics in Mace Green covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. Not every child who sees an orthodontist needs treatment right away, but early identification allows targeted intervention. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
NHS Treatment for Children in Mace Green
Eligible children under 18 in Mace Green 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 Mace Green
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Mace Green?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Mace Green is Page Dr in Ipswich, about 3.9 miles to the north-east. The next closest are Ipswich Dental Surgery (4.0 miles) and Ipswich Orthodontics (4.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Mace Green?
Our register has 11 practices within 5 miles of Mace Green, 16 practices within 10 miles and 35 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Mace Green?
The nearest practice to Mace Green that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Ipswich Dental Surgery, about 4.0 miles to the north-east. Others nearby include Ipswich Orthodontics (4.0 miles) and Orthoactive (4.0 miles).
Is Mace Green a family area?
Around 15.6% of Mace Green's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Mace Green?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board.
Is Mace Green rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Mace Green falls under smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is Mace Green compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Mace Green is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Are NHS orthodontists the same as private ones?
Frequently the same specialist, sometimes even the same practice, provides both. The clinical skill doesn't change — what differs between the two routes is appliance choice, waiting time and how personalised the experience is.
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 Suffolk
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Suffolk — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: