NHS Treatment in Plawsworth at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS North East and North Cumbria 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 | 16.5% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.2% of 1,848 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | DUNELM ORTHODONTICS, Durham — 3.7 miles; 8 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Hermitage Academy — 1.4 miles Park View School — 1.9 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Newcastle Dental Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne — about 11 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 21.1% 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 Plawsworth
On our practice register: 5 practices within 5 miles of Plawsworth, 22 practices within 10 and 65 practices within 20. The closest is Fence Houses Dental Practice in Houghton-Le-Spring, 3.7 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is DUNELM ORTHODONTICS, 3.7 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUNELM ORTHODONTICSDurham | 3.7 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| Durham Smile ClinicDurham | 3.8 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.1 (113 reviews) |
| FALCHION ORTHODONTICS LIMITEDDurham | 3.8 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| Hetton Dental PracticeHoughton-Le-Spring | 5.6 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.1 (14 reviews) |
| Windmill Orthodontics GatesheadLamesley | 7.0 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (4 reviews) |
| Breeze DentalSunderland | 9.0 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (641 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Plawsworth with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Durham, 3.7 miles south; the next are Houghton-Le-Spring (5.6 miles east) and Lamesley (7.0 miles north).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 3 | 3.7 miles south |
| Houghton-Le-Spring | 1 | 5.6 miles east |
| Lamesley | 1 | 7.0 miles north |
| Sunderland | 1 | 9.0 miles north-east |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 4 | 9.5 miles north |
| Consett | 1 | 9.8 miles west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Plawsworth
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Breeze Dental in Sunderland (4.9 from 641 reviews), 9.0 miles north-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Breeze DentalSunderland | 4.9 (641 reviews) | 9.0 miles north-east |
| Queensway Orthodontics - BillinghamNewcastle upon Tyne | 4.9 (122 reviews) | 10.7 miles north |
| Alpha Dental Care - NHS Dentist StocktonWallsend | 4.9 (111 reviews) | 10.1 miles north |
| Neo OrthodonticsBenwell | 4.8 (138 reviews) | 10.6 miles north |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Plawsworth, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Alpha Dental Studio, 1.7 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is DUNELM ORTHODONTICS, Durham, 3.7 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Newcastle Dental Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, about 11 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Plawsworth are commissioned by NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Plawsworth funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. For eligible under-18s it's outstanding value — full treatment at no charge at all. Understanding its limits helps families in Plawsworth plan around realistic waiting times.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Plawsworth
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 County Durham are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Plawsworth has no orthodontic practice of its own, but a dentist — Alpha Dental Studio — is about 2 miles away, and a general dentist is who most people ask for an orthodontic referral in the first place. Plawsworth's deprivation ranking places it in a more deprived band than most of England. OHID data for this ICB shows 22.3% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 6.2% of the 1,848 residents in Plawsworth's census neighbourhood, close to the 6.6% average across County Durham. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Plawsworth is Newcastle Dental Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, about 11 miles away. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board. Plawsworth is classified as larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city. Census data puts 16.5% of Plawsworth's population at under 16. Families in Plawsworth are served by secondary schools including Hermitage Academy (1.4 miles) and Park View School (1.9 miles). 3 secondary schools are within three miles. There are 273 schools and 74,080 pupils in Plawsworth's Local Authority area, per DfE data. Plawsworth has 5 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 60% of towns in England. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Plawsworth itself. The nearest recorded are DUNELM ORTHODONTICS in Durham, about 4 miles away; Fence Houses Dental Practice in Houghton-Le-Spring, about 4 miles away; and Smile in Durham, about 6 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 vs Private Fees in Plawsworth
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Private treatment in Plawsworth 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.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Plawsworth?
Many patients in County Durham 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 Brace Eligibility in Plawsworth
Whether you or your child qualifies for NHS treatment in Plawsworth comes down to a structured assessment. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across County Durham to decide who receives funded treatment. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Eligibility in Plawsworth — Local Context
NHS waiting times in County Durham are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Plawsworth
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Parents in Plawsworth increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Plawsworth
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 Plawsworth
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Plawsworth?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Plawsworth is Fence Houses Dental Practice in Houghton-Le-Spring, about 3.7 miles to the east. The next closest are DUNELM ORTHODONTICS (3.7 miles) and Durham Smile Clinic (3.8 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Plawsworth?
Our register has 5 practices within 5 miles of Plawsworth, 22 practices within 10 miles and 65 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Plawsworth?
The nearest practice to Plawsworth that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is DUNELM ORTHODONTICS in Durham, about 3.7 miles to the south. Others nearby include Durham Smile Clinic (3.8 miles) and FALCHION ORTHODONTICS LIMITED (3.8 miles).
How's children's dental health in Plawsworth's area?
OHID figures for this ICB show 22.3% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay.
What towns are near Plawsworth?
Nettlesworth, Framwellgate Moor, Newton Hall are within easy reach of Plawsworth.
Where's the nearest dentist to Plawsworth?
No orthodontic practice covers Plawsworth directly — the nearest dentist, Alpha Dental Studio, is about 2 miles away and is a normal first stop for a referral into orthodontic care.
How many schools are in Plawsworth's area?
DfE figures put 273 schools and 74,080 pupils across Plawsworth's Local Authority.
What does NHS orthodontic treatment include?
A standard NHS course covers the specialist assessment, all adjustment appointments, the brace itself, de-bonding, and retainers — all as one 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 County Durham
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in County Durham — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: