NHS Treatment in Passmores at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Essex Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | More deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 22.4% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7.6% of 1,512 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Old Harlow Dental Practice, Old Harlow — 2.2 miles; 8 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Sir Frederick Gibberd College — 0.1 miles St Mark's West Essex Catholic School — 0.3 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Royal London Dental Hospital, London — about 18 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 24.9% 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 Passmores
On our practice register: 8 practices within 5 miles of Passmores, 19 practices within 10 and 197 practices within 20. The closest is The Barbara Castle Dental Practice in Harlow, 1.4 miles south-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Old Harlow Dental Practice, 2.2 miles north-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Harlow Dental PracticeOld Harlow | 2.2 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (217 reviews) |
| SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICEEpping | 4.3 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| Dentality @ Hoddesdon - Dental and Aesthetics PracticeHoddesdon | 4.8 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (320 reviews) |
| Herts OrthodonticsWare | 6.8 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (64 reviews) |
| The DentistBishops Stortford | 7.9 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (486 reviews) |
| THE ORTHODONTIC PRACTICEFord | 8.1 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Passmores with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Old Harlow, 2.2 miles north-east; the next are Epping (4.3 miles south) and Hoddesdon (4.8 miles west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Old Harlow | 1 | 2.2 miles north-east |
| Epping | 1 | 4.3 miles south |
| Hoddesdon | 1 | 4.8 miles west |
| Ware | 1 | 6.8 miles north-west |
| Bishops Stortford | 1 | 7.9 miles north |
| Ford | 1 | 8.1 miles north |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Passmores
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is FIRST Ortho - FIRST Impressions in Buckhurst Hill (5.0 from 108 reviews), 9.6 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST Ortho - FIRST ImpressionsBuckhurst Hill | 5.0 (108 reviews) | 9.6 miles south |
| Winchmore Hill Dental PracticeEnfield Town | 4.9 (108 reviews) | 11.9 miles south-west |
| Chingford Mount Dental PracticeHighams Park | 4.8 (635 reviews) | 11.2 miles south-west |
| Old Harlow Dental PracticeOld Harlow | 4.8 (217 reviews) | 2.2 miles north-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Passmores, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Much Hadham Dental Care, 6.8 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Old Harlow Dental Practice, 2.2 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Royal London Dental Hospital in London, about 18 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Passmores are commissioned by NHS Essex 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 Passmores 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 Passmores
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. How long NHS treatment takes to start in Essex depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Passmores. National deprivation data ranks Passmores among England's more deprived areas. Census 2021 counts 1,512 residents in the neighbourhood around Passmores, 7.6% of them aged 10 to 15, above the 6.9% average across Essex. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Passmores is Royal London Dental Hospital in London, about 18 miles away. Passmores is classified as urban: Nearer to a major town or city, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Essex Integrated Care Board. 22.4% of Passmores's population is under 16 — noticeably family-heavy by Census figures. The closest secondary schools to Passmores are Sir Frederick Gibberd College (0.1 miles) and St Mark's West Essex Catholic School (0.3 miles). 7 secondary schools are within three miles. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (8), Passmores has more choice than 69% of towns in England. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Passmores. The closest on record are The Barbara Castle Dental Practice in Harlow, about a mile away; Mulberry Dental Clinic (Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Leading Centre) in Old Harlow, about 2 miles away; and Dental Beauty Orthodontics Epping, about 4 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.
NHS Waiting Times in Passmores
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Essex 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.
NHS vs Private Fees in Passmores
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Equivalent private metal braces in Passmores typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
Orthodontic Eligibility in Passmores
Many patients in Passmores are surprised they don't automatically qualify for NHS braces. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Can Adults Get NHS Braces in Passmores?
In practice, NHS orthodontic treatment in Passmores is almost exclusively for patients under 18. Adult NHS orthodontic slots are very limited and reserved for exceptional functional cases. Adults seeking orthodontic treatment should plan for private care — no waiting list and full choice of treatment type.
Children's Orthodontics in Passmores
For many families in Passmores, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. The aim is to monitor development and intervene at the right time, not to begin treatment immediately. Early review can prevent more complex problems later and simplify treatment when it does begin.
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 Passmores
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Passmores?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Passmores is The Barbara Castle Dental Practice in Harlow, about 1.4 miles to the south-west. The next closest are Mulberry Dental Clinic (Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Leading Centre) (2.1 miles) and Old Harlow Dental Practice (2.2 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Passmores?
Our register has 8 practices within 5 miles of Passmores, 19 practices within 10 miles and 197 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Passmores?
The nearest practice to Passmores that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Old Harlow Dental Practice, about 2.2 miles to the north-east. Others nearby include SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE (4.3 miles) and Dentality @ Hoddesdon - Dental and Aesthetics Practice (4.8 miles).
Is Passmores a family area?
22.4% of the local population is under 16, per the most recent Census.
What NHS area is Passmores in for dental services?
Passmores sits within NHS Essex Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
Is Passmores rural or urban?
ONS classifies Passmores as urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is Passmores compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Passmores is more deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Can I switch from the NHS waiting list to private?
Yes, at any point — even while still on the NHS list. Plenty of patients do this to skip the wait or get access to ceramic or aligner options; you don't have to formally withdraw first, though it's polite to let the practice know.
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 Essex
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