NHS Treatment in Mackerel's Common at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Surrey and Sussex 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 | 17.1% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.4% of 1,264 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Cranleigh Orthodontics, Cranleigh — 7.5 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Weald School, The — 4.5 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Guy's Hospital Dental Institute, London — about 38 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 12.9% 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 Mackerel's Common
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of Mackerel's Common; 4 practices within 10 and 82 practices within 20. The closest is Cranleigh Orthodontics, 7.5 miles north. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Cranleigh Orthodontics, 7.5 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cranleigh OrthodonticsCranleigh | 7.5 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (47 reviews) |
| Surrey Orthodontics in GodalmingGodalming | 10.4 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (75 reviews) |
| Holbrook Dental and Implant CentreHorsham | 11.2 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (169 reviews) |
| BROCKLEY HOUSE ORTHODONTIC PRACTICEGuildford | 12.8 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| Eastgate Dental ClinicGuildford | 13.7 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (122 reviews) |
| Guildford Dental PartnershipGuildford | 13.8 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (121 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Mackerel's Common with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Cranleigh, 7.5 miles north; the next are Godalming (10.4 miles north) and Horsham (11.2 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Cranleigh | 1 | 7.5 miles north |
| Godalming | 1 | 10.4 miles north |
| Horsham | 1 | 11.2 miles east |
| Guildford | 6 | 12.8 miles north |
| Crawley | 1 | 15.6 miles east |
| Fairlands | 1 | 15.7 miles north |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Mackerel's Common
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Eastgate Dental Clinic in Guildford (5.0 from 122 reviews), 13.7 miles north.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Eastgate Dental ClinicGuildford | 5.0 (122 reviews) | 13.7 miles north |
| Levitas Dental Clinic part of the Levitas Group (Formerly known as The Mews Dental)Guildford | 5.0 (87 reviews) | 14.2 miles north |
| Woodbridge Hill Dental Practice GuildfordGuildford | 4.9 (586 reviews) | 14.5 miles north |
| North Lane Dental PracticeAldershot | 4.9 (203 reviews) | 16.3 miles north-west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Mackerel's Common, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is IDH Dentists, 14.5 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Cranleigh Orthodontics, 7.5 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Guy's Hospital Dental Institute in London, about 38 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Mackerel's Common are commissioned by NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Mackerel's Common follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. Eligible under-18s get excellent clinical outcomes at no cost. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Mackerel's Common?
Many patients in West Sussex 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.
Your NHS Journey Step by Step in Mackerel's Common
The NHS pathway in Mackerel's Common 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 Mackerel's Common.
- 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 Mackerel's Common
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 West Sussex differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
What's available in Mackerel's Common depends on the practice, so it's worth checking directly what each one offers. Mackerel's Common sits close to the England average for deprivation. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 6.4% of the 1,264 residents in Mackerel's Common's census neighbourhood, below the 7% average across West Sussex. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Mackerel's Common is about 38 miles from Guy's Hospital Dental Institute in London. Mackerel's Common sits within NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Officially, Mackerel's Common is categorised as smaller rural: Further from a major town or city. 17.1% of Mackerel's Common's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census. Families in Mackerel's Common are served by secondary schools including Weald School, The (4.5 miles). Mackerel's Common has no orthodontic practice within five miles on our register, and the closest is roughly 8 miles away. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Mackerel's Common itself. The nearest we do hold are Cranleigh Orthodontics, about 8 miles away; Horsham Smiles Dental Practice, about 10 miles away; and Surrey Orthodontics in Godalming, 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.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Mackerel's Common
Eligibility for NHS braces is decided by a clinical scoring system, not by appearance alone. NHS-contracted orthodontists in West Sussex apply the same national criteria consistently. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
What If You Don't Qualify for NHS Treatment?
If your IOTN score falls below the threshold for NHS funding, private orthodontic treatment is fully available with no eligibility criteria and no waiting list. This means you can start treatment within weeks of your consultation, with full choice of brace type — metal, ceramic, aligner, or lingual — rather than being limited to NHS metal braces.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Mackerel's Common
For many families in Mackerel's Common, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. The aim is to monitor development and intervene at the right time, not to begin treatment immediately. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Mackerel's Common
Space maintainers keep the space from a baby tooth lost too soon from closing up, so neighbouring teeth don't drift into the gap before the adult tooth is ready to come through.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Mackerel's Common
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Mackerel's Common?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Mackerel's Common is Cranleigh Orthodontics, about 7.5 miles to the north. The next closest are Horsham Smiles Dental Practice (9.7 miles) and Dr Mark O'Hara (9.7 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Mackerel's Common?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Mackerel's Common, 4 practices within 10 miles and 82 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Cranleigh, 7.5 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Mackerel's Common?
The nearest practice to Mackerel's Common that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Cranleigh Orthodontics, about 7.5 miles to the north. Others nearby include Surrey Orthodontics in Godalming (10.4 miles) and Holbrook Dental and Implant Centre (11.2 miles).
How many families live in Mackerel's Common?
Around 17.1% of Mackerel's Common's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
What NHS area is Mackerel's Common in for dental services?
Mackerel's Common sits within NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
Is Mackerel's Common rural or urban?
ONS classifies Mackerel's Common as smaller rural: Further from a major town or city.
How deprived is Mackerel's Common compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Mackerel's Common is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What type of brace does the NHS provide?
Almost always metal fixed braces — ceramic, lingual and aligner treatment aren't NHS options. A less visible appliance means going private.
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 West Sussex
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in West Sussex — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: