NHS Treatment in Moredun at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Lothian |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of Scotland |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | BRITE DENTAL GILMERTON, Danderhall — under a mile; 28 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee — about 38 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Large Urban Areas |
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 Moredun
On our practice register: 112 practices within 5 miles of Moredun, 141 practices within 10 and 235 practices within 20. The closest is BRITE DENTAL GILMERTON in Danderhall, 0.2 miles south-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is BRITE DENTAL GILMERTON, 0.2 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRITE DENTAL GILMERTONDanderhall | 0.2 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| SHANKS DENTAL CARE LTDLoanhead | 0.8 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| 1 LIBERTON BRAEDanderhall | 1.2 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – |
| CRAIGMILLAR DENTAL CENTREDanderhall | 1.5 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| Southside Dental CareEdinburgh | 1.8 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (437 reviews) |
| BARBOUR DENTAL PRACTICEEdinburgh | 2.0 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Moredun with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Danderhall, 0.2 miles south-east; the next are Loanhead (0.8 miles south-west) and Edinburgh (1.8 miles north-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Danderhall | 6 | 0.2 miles south-east |
| Loanhead | 2 | 0.8 miles south-west |
| Edinburgh | 13 | 1.8 miles north-west |
| Bonnyrigg | 3 | 2.6 miles south-east |
| Colinton | 1 | 2.6 miles west |
| Musselburgh | 1 | 2.7 miles north-east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Moredun, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Edinburgh Dental, 2.2 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is BRITE DENTAL GILMERTON, Danderhall, 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 Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee, about 38 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Moredun are commissioned by NHS Lothian. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Moredun funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. 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.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Moredun
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Private treatment in Moredun 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 Moredun
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. How long NHS treatment takes to start in City of Edinburgh depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
How quickly you can be seen, and what's on offer, varies between the practices serving Moredun. Moredun's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of Scotland. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Moredun is about 38 miles from Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Lothian. Moredun is classified as large Urban Areas. Moredun has 110 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 96% of towns in Scotland. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Moredun itself. The nearest recorded are BRITE DENTAL GILMERTON in Danderhall, under a mile away; SHANKS DENTAL CARE LTD in Loanhead, under a mile away; and Southside Dental Care in Edinburgh, about 2 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.
Your NHS Journey Step by Step in Moredun
For eligible patients in Moredun, 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 Moredun.
- 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.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Moredun
Children's orthodontics in Moredun covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. Not every child who sees an orthodontist needs treatment right away, but early identification allows targeted intervention. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Moredun
Space maintainers hold open the gap left by a prematurely lost baby tooth, preventing neighbouring teeth from drifting in before the adult tooth erupts.
NHS Brace Eligibility in Moredun
Whether you or your child qualifies for NHS treatment in Moredun comes down to a structured assessment. NHS-contracted orthodontists in City of Edinburgh apply the same national criteria consistently. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Private Alternatives If You're Not NHS-Eligible in Moredun
Patients who don't meet the IOTN threshold have several straightforward private options. A free photo assessment through Virtual Consultant Online is a quick first step to understand which treatments suit your case and what they typically cost locally — before committing to a paid in-person consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Moredun
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Moredun?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Moredun is BRITE DENTAL GILMERTON in Danderhall, about 0.2 miles to the south-east. The next closest are SHANKS DENTAL CARE LTD (0.8 miles) and 1 LIBERTON BRAE (1.2 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Moredun?
Our register has 112 practices within 5 miles of Moredun, 141 practices within 10 miles and 235 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Moredun?
The nearest practice to Moredun that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is BRITE DENTAL GILMERTON in Danderhall, about 0.2 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include SHANKS DENTAL CARE LTD (0.8 miles) and 1 LIBERTON BRAE (1.2 miles).
What NHS area is Moredun in for dental services?
NHS dental commissioning in Moredun falls under NHS Lothian.
What kind of area is Moredun?
ONS classifies Moredun as large Urban Areas.
How deprived is Moredun compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Moredun is less deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Moredun?
Southhouse, Duddingston, Gracemount are within easy reach of Moredun.
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 City of Edinburgh
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in City of Edinburgh — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: