NHS Treatment in Milton Combe at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Devon 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 | 13.5% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.9% of 1,819 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, Plymouth — 4.1 miles; 7 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Notre Dame RC School — 3.3 miles Sir John Hunt Community Sports College — 3.7 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth — about 4 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 16.8% 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 Milton Combe
On our practice register: 5 practices within 5 miles of Milton Combe, 14 practices within 10 and 18 practices within 20. The closest is Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, 4.1 miles south. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, 4.1 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eilertsen Dental Care, PlymouthPlymouth | 4.1 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (273 reviews) |
| Meavy Way Dental PracticePlymouth | 4.2 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 3.6 (238 reviews) |
| Crownhill Dental Practice - PlymouthPlymouth | 4.3 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (236 reviews) |
| Plymouth Dental Centre of ExcellenceSaltash | 4.9 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (768 reviews) |
| Plymouth OrthodonticsPlymouth | 5.6 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (120 reviews) |
| Mannamead Cosmetic Dental Centre PlymouthPlymouth | 5.8 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (52 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Milton Combe with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Plymouth, 4.1 miles south; the next are Saltash (4.9 miles south-west) and Ashburton (16.9 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | 6 | 4.1 miles south |
| Saltash | 1 | 4.9 miles south-west |
| Ashburton | 1 | 16.9 miles east |
| Totnes | 2 | 19.6 miles east |
| Newton Abbot | 1 | 23.5 miles east |
| Cockington | 1 | 24.7 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Milton Combe
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Plymouth Dental Centre of Excellence in Saltash (4.9 from 768 reviews), 4.9 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Dental Centre of ExcellenceSaltash | 4.9 (768 reviews) | 4.9 miles south-west |
| Eilertsen Dental Care, PlymouthPlymouth | 4.9 (273 reviews) | 4.1 miles south |
| Crownhill Dental Practice - PlymouthPlymouth | 4.9 (236 reviews) | 4.3 miles south |
| Devon Dental Centre of ExcellenceAshburton | 4.8 (243 reviews) | 16.9 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Milton Combe, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Transit Way Dentist, 4.1 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, 4.1 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Peninsula Dental School in Plymouth, about 4 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Milton Combe are commissioned by NHS Devon Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
The NHS orthodontic pathway in Milton Combe focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. Knowing what the NHS can and cannot provide makes the NHS-versus-private decision clearer.
NHS vs Private Fees in Milton Combe
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Private treatment in Milton Combe trades cost for speed and choice — around £1,500–£3,500 for metal braces, but starting within weeks and with ceramic, lingual and aligner options on the table.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Milton Combe
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 Devon vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
What's available in Milton Combe depends on the practice, so it's worth checking directly what each one offers. Milton Combe falls in a less deprived area than most of England. OHID's regional oral-health data records visible dental decay in 22.6% of local 5-year-olds. In the census neighbourhood around Milton Combe, 6.9% of the 1,819 residents are aged 10 to 15, above the 6.3% average across Devon, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Milton Combe is Peninsula Dental School in Plymouth, about 4 miles away. For NHS dental services, Milton Combe falls under NHS Devon Integrated Care Board. Officially, Milton Combe is categorised as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city. Milton Combe has a smaller share of children than most areas — 13.5% of residents are under 16. Secondary-age pupils near Milton Combe attend schools such as Notre Dame RC School (3.3 miles) and Sir John Hunt Community Sports College (3.7 miles). With 5 orthodontic practices within five miles, Milton Combe is better served than 60% of towns in England. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Milton Combe itself. The nearest recorded are Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, about 4 miles away; Plymouth Dental Centre of Excellence in Saltash, about 5 miles away; and Moor Dental & Implant Clinic in Ashburton, about 17 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.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Milton Combe?
Many patients in Devon 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 Milton Combe
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. It measures the complexity and impact of the problem, and only cases above a threshold score receive NHS funding. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
Eligibility in Milton Combe — Local Context
Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in Devon differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Milton Combe
For many families in Milton Combe, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Parents in Milton Combe 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.
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 Milton Combe
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Milton Combe?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Milton Combe is Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, about 4.1 miles to the south. The next closest are Transit Way Dental & Implant Clinic (4.1 miles) and Meavy Way Dental Practice (4.2 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Milton Combe?
Our register has 5 practices within 5 miles of Milton Combe, 14 practices within 10 miles and 18 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Milton Combe?
The nearest practice to Milton Combe that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Eilertsen Dental Care, Plymouth, about 4.1 miles to the south. Others nearby include Meavy Way Dental Practice (4.2 miles) and Crownhill Dental Practice - Plymouth (4.3 miles).
Which NHS body covers Milton Combe for dental care?
Milton Combe sits within NHS Devon Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is Milton Combe?
ONS classifies Milton Combe as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
Is Milton Combe a family area?
Around 13.5% of Milton Combe's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
How deprived is Milton Combe compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Milton Combe is less deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Are NHS orthodontic charges the same across the UK?
No — NHS dental charges are set separately in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. What stays the same everywhere is that eligible under-18s pay nothing. Adults who do qualify pay the NHS Band 3 charge, £332.10 in England from April 2026, which covers the whole course.
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 Devon
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Devon — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: