NHS Treatment in Philham at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Devon Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | Around the England average |
| Residents under 16 | 17.4% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.9% of 1,674 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Queen Annes Dental Practice, Bideford — 12.3 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 17% 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 Philham
On our practice register: None within 10 miles of Philham; 6 practices within 20. The closest is Queen Annes Dental Practice in Bideford, 12.3 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Queen Annes Dental Practice, 12.3 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Annes Dental PracticeBideford | 12.3 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.4 (38 reviews) |
| Torrington Dental PracticeGreat Torrington | 14.6 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (238 reviews) |
| Pure Dental CentreBarnstaple | 18.1 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (27 reviews) |
| Dr Zol - Excellence in DentistryBarnstaple | 18.9 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (14 reviews) |
| Litchdon Medical CentreBarnstaple | 20.2 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 3.4 (70 reviews) |
| Next Wave DentalBarnstaple | 20.2 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (66 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Philham with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Bideford, 12.3 miles east; the next are Great Torrington (14.6 miles east) and Barnstaple (18.1 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Bideford | 1 | 12.3 miles east |
| Great Torrington | 1 | 14.6 miles east |
| Barnstaple | 4 | 18.1 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Philham
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Torrington Dental Practice in Great Torrington (4.9 from 238 reviews), 14.6 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Torrington Dental PracticeGreat Torrington | 4.9 (238 reviews) | 14.6 miles east |
| Dr Zol - Excellence in DentistryBarnstaple | 4.9 (14 reviews) | 18.9 miles east |
| Pure Dental CentreBarnstaple | 4.6 (27 reviews) | 18.1 miles east |
| Queen Annes Dental PracticeBideford | 4.4 (38 reviews) | 12.3 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Philham, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 35.7 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Queen Annes Dental Practice, Bideford, 12.3 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Philham are commissioned by NHS Devon 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 Philham focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. The process starts with your dentist, includes a formal eligibility assessment, and places you on a waiting list. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Philham
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 waiting times in Devon are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Not every practice near Philham offers the same treatments, so it's worth checking what each one covers. By national deprivation ranking, Philham is roughly mid-table for England. OHID's regional oral-health data records visible dental decay in 22.6% of local 5-year-olds. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 6.9% of the 1,674 residents in Philham's census neighbourhood, above the 6.3% average across Devon. Classified by ONS as smaller rural: Further from a major town or city, Philham sits within NHS Devon Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Census figures show 17.4% of the local population is under 16. No orthodontic practice on our register is within five miles of Philham; the nearest is about 12 miles away. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Philham itself. The closest on record are Queen Annes Dental Practice in Bideford, about 12 miles away; Torrington Dental Practice in Great Torrington, about 15 miles away; and Pure Dental Centre in Barnstaple, about 18 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 Philham?
Many patients in Devon 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.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in Philham
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Private treatment in Philham 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.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Philham?
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across Devon to decide who receives funded treatment. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Adult NHS Orthodontic Access in Philham
Adults (18 and over) are rarely eligible for NHS orthodontic treatment in Philham. NHS funding for adults is generally limited to severe clinical cases — such as jaw surgery patients or those with significant cleft palate-related needs. Cosmetic adult orthodontics is not NHS-funded.
Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children in Philham
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. 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.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Philham
Space maintainers hold open the gap left by a prematurely lost baby tooth, preventing neighbouring teeth from drifting in before the adult tooth erupts.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Philham
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Philham?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Philham is Queen Annes Dental Practice in Bideford, about 12.3 miles to the east. The next closest are The Quay Dental Practice (12.4 miles) and Torrington Dental Practice (14.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Philham?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Philham, 0 practices within 10 miles and 6 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Bideford, 12.3 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Philham?
The nearest practice to Philham that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Queen Annes Dental Practice in Bideford, about 12.3 miles to the east. Others nearby include Torrington Dental Practice (14.6 miles) and Pure Dental Centre (18.1 miles).
How many families live in Philham?
17.4% of the local population is under 16, per the most recent Census.
What county is Philham in?
Philham falls within Devon.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Philham?
Philham sits within NHS Devon Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
Is Philham rural or urban?
ONS classifies Philham as smaller rural: Further from a major town or city.
How do I get an NHS referral?
Visit your dentist and ask for an orthodontic assessment. If your IOTN score meets the threshold, they will make a formal referral to the local NHS orthodontic service. Some practices also accept self-referrals.
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 Devon
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Devon — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: