Braces in Rickarton at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing fixed braces | Portlethen Dental Care, Portlethen — 8.1 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice listing NHS | ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICE, Stonehaven — 3.2 miles; 10 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen — about 13 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Accessible Rural |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of Scotland |
| Access within Aberdeenshire | 181st closest to a practice of 487 places in the county; the county median is 4.3 miles |
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 offering braces near Rickarton
On our practice register: 4 practices within 5 miles of Rickarton, 10 practices within 10 and 70 practices within 20. The closest is ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICE in Stonehaven, 3.2 miles south-east. The nearest that mentions fixed braces is Portlethen Dental Care, 8.1 miles north-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Braces | Aligners | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portlethen Dental CarePortlethen | 8.1 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (517 reviews) |
| Abercrombie Smile Design and Abercrombie OrthodonticsWesthill | 11.3 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4.1 (41 reviews) |
| Holburn Dental and Implant CentreAberdeen | 11.6 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4.5 (219 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Rickarton with practices offering braces
The closest town with practices offering braces is Portlethen, 8.1 miles north-east; the next are Westhill (11.3 miles north) and Aberdeen (11.6 miles north-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Portlethen | 1 | 8.1 miles north-east |
| Westhill | 1 | 11.3 miles north |
| Aberdeen | 1 | 11.6 miles north-east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Rickarton
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Portlethen Dental Care (4.9 from 517 reviews), 8.1 miles north-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Portlethen Dental CarePortlethen | 4.9 (517 reviews) | 8.1 miles north-east |
| Holburn Dental and Implant CentreAberdeen | 4.5 (219 reviews) | 11.6 miles north-east |
| Abercrombie Smile Design and Abercrombie OrthodonticsWesthill | 4.1 (41 reviews) | 11.3 miles north |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
For everything from mild crowding to complex bite correction, fixed braces do the heavy lifting. Patients across Rickarton can access the full range, from traditional metal to discreet ceramic and hidden lingual systems. Their constant, controlled force is why they remain first choice for significant bite problems. Simple cases can finish inside a year; more involved corrections run longer.
Local Context for Rickarton
Provision in Rickarton varies by practice — it's worth comparing more than one before committing. Rickarton — accessible Rural by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Grampian for NHS dentistry. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (4), Rickarton has more choice than 68% of towns in Scotland. Rickarton falls in a less deprived area than most of Scotland. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Rickarton is about 13 miles from Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen. There is no orthodontist on our records in Rickarton itself. The nearest recorded are ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICE in Stonehaven, about 3 miles away; PETERCULTER DENTAL PRACTICE, about 7 miles away; and Portlethen Dental Care, about 8 miles away. Whether aligners or fixed braces are recommended usually comes down to case complexity rather than personal preference alone.
How long NHS treatment takes to start in Aberdeenshire depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload. Private treatment can usually begin within a few weeks of the initial consultation.
Private brace in Rickarton typically costs between £1,500 and £5,500, depending on case complexity. Many practices offer 0% or low-interest payment plans spread over 12 to 24 months.
What to Look For in an Orthodontic Practice in Rickarton
The practices worth shortlisting in Rickarton explain your options rather than pushing one, quote transparently, and make clear who will treat you and what happens if the case runs over.
For complex bites, a specialist practice earns its fee; for simple alignment, a GDP with orthodontic experience is often perfectly appropriate and more competitive on price.
Brace Types Explained for Patients in Rickarton
Metal braces remain the most prescribed appliance worldwide. Stainless-steel brackets are progressively tightened at each visit, making them the most cost-effective route for both simple and complex cases.
Ceramic braces work identically to metal but use tooth-coloured or clear brackets, making them far less visible. They cost a little more and need careful cleaning to avoid staining.
Lingual braces sit on the inner surfaces of the teeth and are completely hidden when you smile or speak. Custom-milled per tooth, they handle a wide range of cases but are the most technically demanding and expensive.
Self-ligating braces replace the elastic ligature with a built-in clip, which lowers friction and can mean fewer appointments. Many practices in Rickarton offer them in both metal and ceramic finishes.
Teen Orthodontics in Rickarton
For teenagers in Rickarton, orthodontics improves far more than just the smile. It can have a lasting positive impact on confidence, dental health and facial development. A photo assessment is a low-pressure first step for a hesitant teenager.
Teen Orthodontics in Rickarton — Local Context
Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in Aberdeenshire differ considerably between practices and can change over time. That's a significant period when timing matters.
Teeth Problems Treated by Orthodontists in Rickarton
What looks like a purely cosmetic issue often carries real functional consequences. Patients across Rickarton seek assessment for everything from mild crowding to complex bite misalignments. This guide explains the common problems, their causes, and how each is corrected.
The Conditions Orthodontists Treat in Rickarton
The problems below cover the great majority of cases assessed in Rickarton, from the very common to the more complex.
TMJ, Underbite & Jaw Surgery in Rickarton
Some bite problems come from the jaws themselves, not just the teeth. Some patients in Rickarton have jaw discrepancies that can't be corrected by moving teeth alone. Many of these conditions are treatable, and early diagnosis improves outcomes.
Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery
Orthognathic surgery repositions one or both jaws to correct skeletal discrepancies that orthodontics alone cannot address. Performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMFS) under general anaesthetic, it is combined with 12-18 months of orthodontic treatment before and after the surgical procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions — Braces in Rickarton
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Rickarton?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Rickarton is ARDUTHIE DENTAL PRACTICE in Stonehaven, about 3.2 miles to the south-east. The next closest are C. A. GARDEN (3.8 miles) and MARKET SQUARE DENTAL PRACTICE (3.9 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Rickarton?
Our register has 4 practices within 5 miles of Rickarton, 10 practices within 10 miles and 70 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get braces near Rickarton?
The nearest practice to Rickarton that mentions fixed braces is Portlethen Dental Care, about 8.1 miles to the north-east. Others nearby include Abercrombie Smile Design and Abercrombie Orthodontics (11.3 miles) and Holburn Dental and Implant Centre (11.6 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Rickarton?
Rickarton sits within NHS Grampian for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is Rickarton?
ONS classifies Rickarton as accessible Rural.
How deprived is Rickarton compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Rickarton is less deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Rickarton?
Nearby towns include Fetteresso, Stonehaven, Denside.
What is the difference between ceramic and metal braces?
Mechanically they're the same — brackets bonded to each tooth. Metal is silver and the cheapest option; ceramic uses tooth-coloured or clear brackets for much less visibility, at a slightly higher price and with more care needed to avoid staining.
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.
Braces Across Aberdeenshire
Explore braces information for other towns and cities in Aberdeenshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: