NHS Treatment in Preston Park at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Surrey and Sussex 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 | 19% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 10% of 1,551 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | The Town House Dental Practice, Hove — under a mile; 12 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Dorothy Stringer School — 0.3 miles Varndean School — 0.6 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 13.4% 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 Preston Park
On our practice register: 15 practices within 5 miles of Preston Park, 30 practices within 10 and 61 practices within 20. The closest is The Town House Dental Practice in Hove, 0.6 miles south-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is The Town House Dental Practice, 0.6 miles south-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Town House Dental PracticeHove | 0.6 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (169 reviews) |
| Albion Dental BrightonBrighton | 1.7 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (474 reviews) |
| Brunswick Road Dental PracticeHove | 1.7 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.2 (153 reviews) |
| Splash OrthodonticsBrighton | 1.7 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (649 reviews) |
| TwentyOneDentalBrighton | 2.0 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (386 reviews) |
| MK Dental and Implant ClinicBrighton | 2.8 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (516 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Preston Park with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Hove, 0.6 miles south-west; the next are Brighton (1.7 miles south-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (5.5 miles west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Hove | 2 | 0.6 miles south-west |
| Brighton | 4 | 1.7 miles south-east |
| Shoreham-by-Sea | 1 | 5.5 miles west |
| Burgess Hill | 2 | 7.2 miles north |
| Worthing | 3 | 9.9 miles west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Preston Park
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Burgess Hill Dental (5.0 from 369 reviews), 7.2 miles north.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Burgess Hill DentalBurgess Hill | 5.0 (369 reviews) | 7.2 miles north |
| George Billis EndodonticsBurgess Hill | 5.0 (18 reviews) | 7.2 miles north |
| Splash OrthodonticsBrighton | 4.9 (649 reviews) | 1.7 miles south-west |
| Strand Dental WorthingWorthing | 4.9 (144 reviews) | 10.0 miles west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Preston Park, 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 The Town House Dental Practice, Hove, under a mile away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Preston Park are commissioned by NHS Surrey and Sussex 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 Preston Park focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Brighton and Hove.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Preston Park
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 Brighton and Hove vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
How quickly you can be seen, and what's on offer, varies between the practices serving Preston Park. Preston Park falls in a less deprived area than most of England. Census 2021 counts 1,551 residents in the neighbourhood around Preston Park, 10% of them aged 10 to 15, above the 6.3% average across Brighton and Hove. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board. ONS classifies Preston Park as urban: Nearer to a major town or city. Census data puts 19% of Preston Park's population at under 16. Families in Preston Park are served by secondary schools including Dorothy Stringer School (0.3 miles) and Varndean School (0.6 miles). 8 secondary schools are within three miles. Preston Park's Local Authority has 77 schools educating 33,623 pupils (DfE data). With 15 orthodontic practices within five miles, Preston Park is better served than 85% of towns in England. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Preston Park itself. The closest on record are The Town House Dental Practice in Hove, under a mile away; SmileWorks Dental & Orthodontic Clinic - Brighton, under a mile away; and Kingsend Dental : Ruislip in Shoreham-by-Sea, 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 Orthodontic Costs in Preston Park
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Private treatment in Preston Park 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.
Your NHS Journey Step by Step in Preston Park
The NHS pathway in Preston Park is well-structured — here's what to expect at each stage:
- 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 Preston Park.
- 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Preston Park
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Preston Park
Space maintainers hold open the gap left by a prematurely lost baby tooth, preventing neighbouring teeth from drifting in before the adult tooth erupts.
NHS Brace Eligibility in Preston Park
Eligibility for NHS braces is decided by a clinical scoring system, not by appearance alone. It measures the complexity and impact of the problem, and only cases above a threshold score receive NHS funding. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
How Eligibility Is Scored
The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the two-part scoring system orthodontists across Brighton and Hove use to decide whether a patient qualifies for NHS treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Preston Park
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Preston Park?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Preston Park is The Town House Dental Practice in Hove, about 0.6 miles to the south-west. The next closest are SmileWorks Dental & Orthodontic Clinic - Brighton (0.7 miles) and The Dental Practice UK (1.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Preston Park?
Our register has 15 practices within 5 miles of Preston Park, 30 practices within 10 miles and 61 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Preston Park?
The nearest practice to Preston Park that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is The Town House Dental Practice in Hove, about 0.6 miles to the south-west. Others nearby include Albion Dental Brighton (1.7 miles) and Brunswick Road Dental Practice (1.7 miles).
Is Preston Park a family area?
19% of the local population is under 16, per the most recent Census.
Which towns are close to Preston Park?
Brighton, Hollingdean, West Blatchington are within easy reach of Preston Park.
What county is Preston Park in?
Preston Park is in Brighton and Hove.
How many pupils are in Preston Park's Local Authority?
There are 77 schools and 33,623 pupils in Preston Park's Local Authority area, per DfE data.
How do I get an NHS referral?
Ask your dentist for an orthodontic assessment — if the IOTN score clears the threshold, they refer you to the local NHS orthodontic service. Some practices also take self-referrals directly.
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 Brighton and Hove
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Brighton and Hove — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: