Braces in Northtown at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing fixed braces | None within 30 miles on our register |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice listing NHS | THE BALFOUR, Kirkwall — 7.5 miles; 4 within 10 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Remote Rural |
| Deprivation | Around the Scotland average |
| Estimated drive to the nearest practice | about 15 minutes each way, to THE BALFOUR |
| Access within Orkney Islands | 68th closest to a practice of 149 places in the county; the county median is 8.4 miles |
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 offering braces near Northtown
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of Northtown; 4 practices within 10 and 5 practices within 20. The closest is THE BALFOUR in Kirkwall, 7.5 miles north. Few practices near here mention fixed braces in their published information, so this lists the nearest of any kind.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Braces | Aligners | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE BALFOURKirkwall | 7.5 miles north | ✓ | – | – | – |
| ORKNEY DENTALKirkwall | 7.9 miles north | ✓ | – | – | – |
| DAISYBANK CLINICKirkwall | 8.0 miles north | ✓ | – | – | – |
| KIRKWALL DENTAL PRACTICEKirkwall | 8.0 miles north | ✓ | – | – | – |
| ORKNEY DENTALStromness | 15.6 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – | – |
| BRIDGEND HEALTH CARE CENTREThurso | 29.4 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Northtown with orthodontic practices
The closest town with orthodontic practices is Kirkwall, 7.5 miles north; the next are Stromness (15.6 miles north-west) and Thurso (29.4 miles south-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkwall | 4 | 7.5 miles north |
| Stromness | 1 | 15.6 miles north-west |
| Thurso | 2 | 29.4 miles south-west |
| Wick | 1 | 29.5 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Fixed braces are still the benchmark for predictable, reliable tooth movement. In Northtown, the choice of brace type is wider than ever — the right one depends on your case, not just your preference. Their constant, controlled force is why they remain first choice for significant bite problems. Typical treatment spans roughly one to two years, depending on complexity.
Funding Your Braces in Northtown
For children and teenagers in Northtown who score highly enough on the IOTN scale, NHS braces are provided free of charge — typically metal appliances, delivered under a defined clinical pathway. Adults aged 26 and over who qualify pay 80% of the NHS fee, capped at £384 for a course of treatment. NHS orthodontic waiting times in Orkney Islands vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Private care is open to any age and starts within weeks. Indicative Northtown costs are £1,500+ for metal, £2,000+ for ceramic and £4,000+ for lingual, often spread over interest-free instalments.
Local Context for Northtown
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Northtown. Northtown's ONS geography type is remote Rural. For NHS dental services, Northtown falls under NHS Orkney. No orthodontic practice on our register is within five miles of Northtown; the nearest is about 8 miles away. National deprivation data puts Northtown close to the Scotland median. There is no orthodontist on our records in Northtown itself. The nearest recorded are THE BALFOUR in Kirkwall, about 8 miles away; ORKNEY DENTAL in Stromness, about 16 miles away; and BRIDGEND HEALTH CARE CENTRE in Thurso, about 29 miles away. Mild-to-moderate crowding or spacing is often suitable for clear aligners, while more complex cases are more commonly recommended fixed braces.
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Orkney Islands vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made. Private treatment can usually begin within a few weeks of the initial consultation.
Expect private brace costs in Northtown to fall roughly between £1,500 and £5,500. Many practices offer 0% or low-interest payment plans spread over 12 to 24 months.
What to Expect During Brace Treatment in Northtown
Fitting takes around an hour, and adjustment appointments in Northtown are usually every 7–9 weeks. Keeping to them is what holds the treatment on schedule. The Northtown overview sets out local facts, the nearest practices and the NHS funding route that applies here.
Frequently Asked Questions — Braces in Northtown
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Northtown?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Northtown is THE BALFOUR in Kirkwall, about 7.5 miles to the north. The next closest are ORKNEY DENTAL (7.9 miles) and DAISYBANK CLINIC (8.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Northtown?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Northtown, 4 practices within 10 miles and 5 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Kirkwall, 7.5 miles away.
Where can I get braces near Northtown?
None of the practices within 30 miles mentions fixed braces in its published information, although most orthodontic practices do fit them — ask the nearest ones directly.
What NHS area is Northtown in for dental services?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Orkney.
Is Northtown rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Northtown falls under remote Rural.
How deprived is Northtown compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Northtown 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 Northtown?
Nearby towns include Aikers, Saint Margaret's Hope, Upper Sanday.
Can I eat normally with braces?
Most foods are fine, but you should avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods that can damage brackets or get trapped in the brace. Crunchy raw vegetables, hard sweets, chewing gum, and hard crusty bread should be cut up or avoided. Your orthodontist will give a full guidance list at fitting.
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.
Braces Across Orkney Islands
Explore braces information for other towns and cities in Orkney Islands — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: