NHS Treatment in Memus at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Tayside |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Around the Scotland average |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | KIRRIEMUIR DENTAL PRACTICE, Kirriemuir — 3.9 miles; 4 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee — about 18 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Accessible Rural |
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 Memus
On our practice register: 1 practice within 5 miles of Memus, 4 practices within 10 and 58 practices within 20. The closest is KIRRIEMUIR DENTAL PRACTICE, 3.9 miles south-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is KIRRIEMUIR DENTAL PRACTICE, 3.9 miles south-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIRRIEMUIR DENTAL PRACTICEKirriemuir | 3.9 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| FORFAR DENTAL CAREForfar | 5.5 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| CASTLE STREET DENTALForfar | 5.5 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| HIGH STREET DENTAL PRACTICEForfar | 5.6 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| R AND PM THOMSONBrechin | 10.5 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| ESK DENTAL CAREBrechin | 10.7 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Memus with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Kirriemuir, 3.9 miles south-west; the next are Forfar (5.5 miles south) and Brechin (10.5 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Kirriemuir | 1 | 3.9 miles south-west |
| Forfar | 3 | 5.5 miles south |
| Brechin | 2 | 10.5 miles east |
| Alyth | 1 | 12.9 miles south-west |
| Dundee | 11 | 15.9 miles south |
| Monifieth | 4 | 16.7 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Memus
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Oris Dental & Implant Studio in Monifieth (4.6 from 87 reviews), 17.1 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Oris Dental & Implant StudioMonifieth | 4.6 (87 reviews) | 17.1 miles south |
| Kingsway Dental PracticeDundee | 3.2 (14 reviews) | 16.6 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Memus, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Banchory Dental Practice, 28.3 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is KIRRIEMUIR DENTAL PRACTICE, 3.9 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee, about 18 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Memus are commissioned by NHS Tayside. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
The NHS orthodontic pathway in Memus focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. The process starts with your dentist, includes a formal eligibility assessment, and places you on a waiting list. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
NHS Waiting Times in Memus
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Angus vary and can range from 12 to 36 months from referral to treatment starting. For families where timing is important — particularly approaching the optimal treatment age — private orthodontics eliminates the wait entirely and typically begins within a few weeks of consultation.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Memus
In Scotland, NHS dental treatment — including clinically necessary orthodontics — is free for everyone under 26. Adults aged 26 and over who qualify pay 80% of the NHS fee, capped at £384 for a course of treatment. Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in Angus differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Orthodontic practices in and around Memus vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. Memus sits close to the Scotland average for deprivation. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Memus is about 18 miles from Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee. Memus sits within NHS Tayside for NHS dental commissioning. Memus's ONS geography type is accessible Rural. There is no orthodontist on our records in Memus itself. The nearest we do hold are KIRRIEMUIR DENTAL PRACTICE, about 4 miles away; FORFAR DENTAL CARE, about 6 miles away; and R AND PM THOMSON in Brechin, 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 Memus
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Going private for the same metal braces in Memus costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Memus
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. 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.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Memus?
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Angus to decide who receives funded treatment. Knowing where you stand before the referral process saves time and manages expectations in Memus.
How Eligibility Is Scored
Whether the NHS funds treatment comes down to the IOTN score, a standardised two-part measure used right across Angus.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Memus
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Memus?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Memus is KIRRIEMUIR DENTAL PRACTICE, about 3.9 miles to the south-west. The next closest are FORFAR DENTAL CARE (5.5 miles) and CASTLE STREET DENTAL (5.5 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Memus?
Our register has 1 practice within 5 miles of Memus, 4 practices within 10 miles and 58 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Memus?
The nearest practice to Memus that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is KIRRIEMUIR DENTAL PRACTICE, about 3.9 miles to the south-west. Others nearby include FORFAR DENTAL CARE (5.5 miles) and CASTLE STREET DENTAL (5.5 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Memus?
Memus sits within NHS Tayside for NHS dental commissioning.
Is Memus rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Memus falls under accessible Rural.
How deprived is Memus compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Memus is close to the Scotland average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Memus?
Nearby towns include Inverquharity, Tannadice, Kirriemuir.
How long does NHS treatment take?
18-24 months covers most moderate NHS cases, with complex cases running longer. Your orthodontist confirms a specific estimate after assessment.
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 Angus
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Angus — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: