NHS Treatment in Paddington at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS West and North London 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 | 8.7% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 2.7% of 1,837 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | ST JOHNS WOOD ORTHODONTIC CLINIC, London — 1.2 miles; 13 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Marylebone Academy — 0.1 miles Ark King Solomon Academy — 0.5 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | UCL Eastman Dental Hospital, London — about 3 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 9.5% 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 Paddington
On our practice register: 88 practices within 5 miles of Paddington, 184 practices within 10 and 379 practices within 20. The closest is Art Align Orthodontics by Dr Hanna Reinartz in London, 0.6 miles south-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is ST JOHNS WOOD ORTHODONTIC CLINIC, 1.2 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST JOHNS WOOD ORTHODONTIC CLINICLondon | 1.2 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| Moira Wong OrthodonticsLondon | 1.3 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (79 reviews) |
| THE LONDON LINGUAL ORTHODONTICS CLINICLondon | 1.3 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| Bass OrthodonticsSoho | 1.5 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (175 reviews) |
| BASS ORTHODONTICSLondon | 1.5 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| REDHEAD ORTHODONTICS ARKR LTDLondon | 1.5 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Paddington with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is London, 1.2 miles north; the next are Soho (1.5 miles east) and Kilburn (1.6 miles north-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| London | 8 | 1.2 miles north |
| Soho | 1 | 1.5 miles east |
| Kilburn | 2 | 1.6 miles north-west |
| Battersea | 2 | 1.7 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Paddington
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is [le] dental in Kilburn (5.0 from 238 reviews), 1.7 miles north.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| [le] dentalKilburn | 5.0 (238 reviews) | 1.7 miles north |
| Boston Orthodontics BelgraviaBattersea | 5.0 (106 reviews) | 2.1 miles south-east |
| Queens Gate OrthodonticsBattersea | 4.9 (178 reviews) | 1.7 miles south |
| Bass OrthodonticsSoho | 4.9 (175 reviews) | 1.5 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Paddington, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, under a mile away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is ST JOHNS WOOD ORTHODONTIC CLINIC, London, 1.2 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is UCL Eastman Dental Hospital in London, about 3 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Paddington are commissioned by NHS West and North London Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
For families in Paddington, the NHS pathway offers a subsidised route to fixed braces for eligible children. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
The NHS Orthodontic Pathway in Paddington
For eligible patients in Paddington, 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 Paddington.
- 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 Access in Paddington
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 Greater London vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Treatment range and appointment slots differ between the practices covering Paddington — comparing a couple is worthwhile. By national deprivation ranking, Paddington sits among the less deprived areas of England. Census 2021 counts 1,837 residents in the neighbourhood around Paddington, 2.7% of them aged 10 to 15, below the 6.8% average across Greater London. The nearest university dental hospital to Paddington is UCL Eastman Dental Hospital, London, about 3 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Paddington sits within NHS West and North London Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. By ONS classification, Paddington falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city. Paddington has a smaller share of children than most areas — 8.7% of residents are under 16. Families in Paddington are served by secondary schools including Marylebone Academy (0.1 miles) and Ark King Solomon Academy (0.5 miles). 36 secondary schools are within three miles. Paddington's Local Authority area covers 84 schools and 28,683 pupils, according to DfE figures. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (88), Paddington has more choice than 99% of towns in England. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Paddington itself. The closest on record are Art Align Orthodontics by Dr Hanna Reinartz in London, under a mile away; St Johns Wood Orthodontic Clinic in Abbey Road, about a mile away; and Ortho London in Soho, about a mile 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.
NHS Waiting Times in Paddington
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Greater London vary and can range from 12 to 36 months from referral to treatment starting. For families where timing is important — particularly approaching the optimal treatment age — private orthodontics eliminates the wait entirely and typically begins within a few weeks of consultation.
Orthodontic Eligibility in Paddington
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. Knowing where you stand before the referral process saves time and manages expectations in Paddington.
Eligibility in Paddington — Local Context
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Greater London vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children in Paddington
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. Not every child who sees an orthodontist needs treatment right away, but early identification allows targeted intervention. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
The Age-7 Assessment
British Orthodontic Society guidance points to age 7 for an assessment where there's a noticeable concern — by then most children have their first permanent molars and incisors through, which is enough for an orthodontist to judge jaw relationships, arch development, bite and likely future crowding.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Paddington
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Paddington?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Paddington is Art Align Orthodontics by Dr Hanna Reinartz in London, about 0.6 miles to the south-west. The next closest are St Johns Wood Orthodontic Clinic (1.2 miles) and ST JOHNS WOOD ORTHODONTIC CLINIC (1.2 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Paddington?
Our register has 88 practices within 5 miles of Paddington, 184 practices within 10 miles and 379 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Paddington?
The nearest practice to Paddington that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is ST JOHNS WOOD ORTHODONTIC CLINIC in London, about 1.2 miles to the north. Others nearby include Moira Wong Orthodontics (1.3 miles) and THE LONDON LINGUAL ORTHODONTICS CLINIC (1.3 miles).
How deprived is Paddington compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Paddington is less deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What county is Paddington in?
Paddington falls within Greater London.
How many schools are in Paddington's area?
DfE figures put 84 schools and 28,683 pupils across Paddington's Local Authority.
What towns are near Paddington?
Maida Vale, Lancaster Gate, Little Venice are within easy reach of Paddington.
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 Greater London
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Greater London — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: