NHS Treatment in Northtown at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Orkney |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Around the Scotland average |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | THE BALFOUR, Kirkwall — 7.5 miles; 4 within 10 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Remote 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 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. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is THE BALFOUR, 7.5 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | 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 practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics 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.
The NHS route from Northtown, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Dyce Dental Practice Family Dentist, 118.1 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is THE BALFOUR, Kirkwall, 7.5 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Northtown are commissioned by NHS Orkney. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
The NHS orthodontic pathway in Northtown focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. 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 Northtown
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 Orkney Islands differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Treatment range and appointment slots differ between the practices covering Northtown — comparing a couple is worthwhile. Northtown's deprivation ranking is neither notably high nor low compared with Scotland as a whole. NHS dental commissioning in Northtown falls under NHS Orkney. Officially, Northtown is categorised as remote Rural. Northtown has no orthodontic practice within five miles on our register, and the closest is roughly 8 miles away. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Northtown. The closest on record 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. 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 Northtown?
Many patients in Orkney Islands 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.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Northtown
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 Northtown costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment 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.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Northtown?
The nearest practice to Northtown that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is THE BALFOUR in Kirkwall, about 7.5 miles to the north. Others nearby include ORKNEY DENTAL (7.9 miles) and DAISYBANK CLINIC (8.0 miles).
What NHS area is Northtown in for dental services?
NHS dental commissioning in Northtown falls under NHS Orkney.
Is Northtown rural or urban?
ONS classifies Northtown as 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.
What towns are near Northtown?
Tankerness, Cornquoy, Quindry are within easy reach of Northtown.
What does NHS orthodontic treatment include?
Everything from the specialist assessment through adjustments, the brace, de-bonding and retainers is covered as a single course of treatment.
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 Orkney Islands
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Orkney Islands — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: