NHS Treatment in Melbourne at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 14.9% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.5% of 1,539 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Remarkable Smiles - Alvaston, Derby — 5.3 miles; 15 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Chellaston Academy — 3.2 miles Castle Donington College — 4.1 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Birmingham Dental Hospital, Birmingham — about 30 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 14.8% 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 Melbourne
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of Melbourne; 33 practices within 10 and 117 practices within 20. The closest is Remarkable Smiles - Alvaston in Derby, 5.3 miles north. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Remarkable Smiles - Alvaston, 5.3 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remarkable Smiles - AlvastonDerby | 5.3 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (350 reviews) |
| Charming SmilesDerby | 5.6 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (98 reviews) |
| Cavendish Dental PracticeDerby | 6.1 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (884 reviews) |
| Hughes and Owen Dental CareSwadlincote | 6.1 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (103 reviews) |
| The Practice @ WillingtonRepton | 6.1 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (59 reviews) |
| Alexandra Dental CareSwadlincote | 6.4 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (422 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Melbourne with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Derby, 5.3 miles north; the next are Swadlincote (6.1 miles south-west) and Repton (6.1 miles west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Derby | 6 | 5.3 miles north |
| Swadlincote | 3 | 6.1 miles south-west |
| Repton | 1 | 6.1 miles west |
| Burton upon Trent | 4 | 8.2 miles west |
| Long Eaton | 1 | 8.3 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 Melbourne
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Alexandra Dental Care in Swadlincote (4.9 from 422 reviews), 6.4 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandra Dental CareSwadlincote | 4.9 (422 reviews) | 6.4 miles south-west |
| Beaufort Dental Health CentreSwadlincote | 4.9 (352 reviews) | 8.4 miles west |
| Ashbourne Road DentalDerby | 4.9 (346 reviews) | 7.8 miles north |
| Burton Smiles Dental ClinicBurton upon Trent | 4.9 (246 reviews) | 8.4 miles west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Melbourne, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 5.4 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Remarkable Smiles - Alvaston, Derby, 5.3 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Birmingham Dental Hospital in Birmingham, about 30 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Melbourne are commissioned by NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Melbourne 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. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Derbyshire.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Melbourne
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 waiting times in Derbyshire are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Practices serving Melbourne differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. National deprivation data ranks Melbourne among England's less deprived areas. OHID data for this ICB shows 18.8% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. Census 2021 counts 1,539 residents in the neighbourhood around Melbourne, 6.5% of them aged 10 to 15, close to the 6.4% average across Derbyshire. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Melbourne is Birmingham Dental Hospital in Birmingham, about 30 miles away. NHS dental commissioning in Melbourne falls under NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board. Melbourne is classified as larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city. Census figures show 14.9% of the local population is under 16. Families in Melbourne are served by secondary schools including Chellaston Academy (3.2 miles) and Castle Donington College (4.1 miles). No orthodontic practice on our register is within five miles of Melbourne; the nearest is about 5 miles away. There is no orthodontist on our records in Melbourne itself. The nearest recorded are Remarkable Smiles - Alvaston in Derby, about 5 miles away; Hughes and Owen Dental Care in Swadlincote, about 6 miles away; and The Practice @ Willington in Repton, about 6 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.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Melbourne
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Equivalent private metal braces in Melbourne typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Melbourne?
Many patients in Derbyshire 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.
Orthodontic Eligibility in Melbourne
Whether you or your child qualifies for NHS treatment in Melbourne comes down to a structured assessment. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. Knowing where you stand before the referral process saves time and manages expectations in Melbourne.
Eligibility in Melbourne — Local Context
Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in Derbyshire differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Melbourne
For many families in Melbourne, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
The Age-7 Assessment
The British Orthodontic Society recommends an orthodontic assessment by age 7 for children with notable concerns. At age 7, most children have their first permanent molars and incisors, giving an orthodontist enough information to evaluate jaw relationships, arch development, bite patterns, and likely future crowding.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Melbourne
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Melbourne?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Melbourne is Remarkable Smiles - Alvaston in Derby, about 5.3 miles to the north. The next closest are Charming Smiles (5.6 miles) and Cavendish Dental Practice (6.1 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Melbourne?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Melbourne, 33 practices within 10 miles and 117 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Derby, 5.3 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Melbourne?
The nearest practice to Melbourne that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Remarkable Smiles - Alvaston in Derby, about 5.3 miles to the north. Others nearby include Charming Smiles (5.6 miles) and Cavendish Dental Practice (6.1 miles).
Is Melbourne a family area?
Census data puts 14.9% of Melbourne's population at under 16.
Is Melbourne rural or urban?
ONS classifies Melbourne as larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
Which towns are close to Melbourne?
Nearby towns include King’s Newton, Staunton Harold, Calke.
Is tooth decay common among young children near Melbourne?
OHID figures for this ICB show 18.8% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay.
Will I lose NHS eligibility if I turn 18 while waiting?
It's a genuine risk on a long waiting list — NHS funding is age-sensitive, so a case eligible at 16 might be assessed differently at 18. If you're close to that age and eligible now, ask about timescales; it can tip the decision toward 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 Derbyshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Derbyshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: