NHS Treatment in Mere Green at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Birmingham and Solihull 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 | 14.6% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 5.8% of 1,718 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Browne's Dental Surgery, Sutton Coldfield — under a mile; 14 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | The Arthur Terry School — 0.3 miles Bishop Vesey's Grammar School — 1.5 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Birmingham Dental Hospital, Birmingham — about 8 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 18.7% 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 Mere Green
On our practice register: 19 practices within 5 miles of Mere Green, 76 practices within 10 and 181 practices within 20. The closest is Browne's Dental Surgery in Sutton Coldfield, 0.1 miles south. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Browne's Dental Surgery, 0.1 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browne's Dental SurgerySutton Coldfield | 0.1 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (155 reviews) |
| Sutton Orthodontic CentreSutton Coldfield | 1.8 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (69 reviews) |
| Birmingham OrthodonticsSutton Coldfield | 2.9 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (189 reviews) |
| Nothing But The ToothSutton Coldfield | 3.6 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (238 reviews) |
| MIDLAND ORTHODONTISTSSutton Coldfield | 3.7 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| Walmley Dental PracticeSutton Coldfield | 3.7 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (189 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Mere Green with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Sutton Coldfield, 0.1 miles south; the next are Walsall (3.8 miles west) and Castle Vale (5.2 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Sutton Coldfield | 6 | 0.1 miles south |
| Walsall | 4 | 3.8 miles west |
| Castle Vale | 1 | 5.2 miles south |
| West Bromwich | 1 | 5.3 miles south-west |
| Lichfield | 2 | 6.1 miles north |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Mere Green
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Nothing But The Tooth in Sutton Coldfield (4.9 from 238 reviews), 3.6 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing But The ToothSutton Coldfield | 4.9 (238 reviews) | 3.6 miles south |
| Church Lane Dental WalsallWalsall | 4.9 (178 reviews) | 6.1 miles west |
| Browne's Dental SurgerySutton Coldfield | 4.9 (155 reviews) | 0.1 miles south |
| Birmingham OrthodonticsSutton Coldfield | 4.8 (189 reviews) | 2.9 miles south-west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Mere 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, 1.8 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Browne's Dental Surgery, Sutton Coldfield, under a mile 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 8 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Mere Green are commissioned by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Mere Green follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. Eligible under-18s get excellent clinical outcomes at no cost. Knowing what the NHS can and cannot provide makes the NHS-versus-private decision clearer.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Mere 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. How long NHS treatment takes to start in City and Borough of Birmingham depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Practices serving Mere Green differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. Mere Green's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of England. OHID's regional oral-health data records visible dental decay in 26.9% of local 5-year-olds. Census 2021 counts 1,718 residents in the neighbourhood around Mere Green, 5.8% of them aged 10 to 15, below the 8.2% average across City and Borough of Birmingham. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Mere Green is Birmingham Dental Hospital in Birmingham, about 8 miles away. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board. Mere Green is classified as urban: Nearer to a major town or city. Census data puts 14.6% of Mere Green's population at under 16. Secondary-age pupils near Mere Green attend schools such as The Arthur Terry School (0.3 miles) and Bishop Vesey's Grammar School (1.5 miles). 7 secondary schools are within three miles. There are 501 schools and 210,486 pupils in Mere Green's Local Authority area, per DfE data. Mere Green has 18 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 89% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in Mere Green itself. The closest on record are Browne's Dental Surgery in Sutton Coldfield, under a mile away; Streetly Smiles Dental Care, about 2 miles away; and Shenstone Dental Centre in Lichfield, about 3 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.
The NHS Orthodontic Pathway in Mere Green
For eligible patients in Mere 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 Mere 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 Orthodontic Costs in Mere Green
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Equivalent private metal braces in Mere Green typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Mere Green?
Eligibility for NHS braces is decided by a clinical scoring system, not by appearance alone. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Eligibility in Mere Green — Local Context
Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in City and Borough of Birmingham differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Children's Orthodontics in Mere Green
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. Parents in Mere Green increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. Early review can prevent more complex problems later and simplify treatment when it does begin.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Mere Green
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 Mere Green
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Mere Green?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Mere Green is Browne's Dental Surgery in Sutton Coldfield, about 0.1 miles to the south. The next closest are Clear Braces Clinics (0.2 miles) and Noble Dental Practice (1.8 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Mere Green?
Our register has 19 practices within 5 miles of Mere Green, 76 practices within 10 miles and 181 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Mere Green?
The nearest practice to Mere Green that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Browne's Dental Surgery in Sutton Coldfield, about 0.1 miles to the south. Others nearby include Sutton Orthodontic Centre (1.8 miles) and Birmingham Orthodontics (2.9 miles).
Is Mere Green a family area?
Around 14.6% of Mere Green's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
Is tooth decay common among young children near Mere Green?
Regionally, 26.9% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay, per OHID data.
What towns are near Mere Green?
Nearby towns include Shenstone Woodend, Little Hay, Moor Hall.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Mere Green?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board.
What if the NHS wait is too long?
Private orthodontic treatment removes the waiting list entirely. It offers the same clinical outcomes with greater choice of brace type and typically a more personalised experience — at higher cost than the NHS charge.
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 and Borough of Birmingham
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in City and Borough of Birmingham — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access:
See all orthodontic locations in City and Borough of Birmingham