NHS Treatment in Saint Martins at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Tayside |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Around the Scotland average |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | SCONE DENTAL PRACTICE, Scone — 2.6 miles; 12 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee — about 15 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Accessible Rural |
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 Saint Martins
On our practice register: 11 practices within 5 miles of Saint Martins, 16 practices within 10 and 72 practices within 20. The closest is SCONE DENTAL PRACTICE, 2.6 miles south. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is SCONE DENTAL PRACTICE, 2.6 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCONE DENTAL PRACTICEScone | 2.6 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| 11 MAIN STREETPerth | 3.8 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| BALHOUSIE DENTAL PRACTICEPerth | 4.0 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| DENTAL CARE PERTH AND IMPLANT CLINICPerth | 4.2 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| THE PERTH DENTAL CENTREPerth | 4.3 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| CALEDONIAN DENTAL CAREPerth | 4.4 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Saint Martins with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Scone, 2.6 miles south; the next are Perth (3.8 miles south-west) and Bridge of Earn (7.2 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Scone | 1 | 2.6 miles south |
| Perth | 8 | 3.8 miles south-west |
| Bridge of Earn | 1 | 7.2 miles south |
| Coupar Angus | 1 | 8.0 miles north-east |
| Blairgowrie and Rattray | 1 | 9.9 miles north |
| Dunkeld | 1 | 11.2 miles north-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Saint Martins, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 18.3 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is SCONE DENTAL PRACTICE, 2.6 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee, about 15 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Saint Martins are commissioned by NHS Tayside. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
For families in Saint Martins, the NHS pathway offers a subsidised route to fixed braces for eligible children. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. Knowing what the NHS can and cannot provide makes the NHS-versus-private decision clearer.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Saint Martins?
Many patients in Perth and Kinross 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 Access in Saint Martins
In Scotland, NHS dental treatment — including clinically necessary orthodontics — is free for everyone under 26. Adults aged 26 and over who qualify pay 80% of the NHS fee, capped at £384 for a course of treatment. How long NHS treatment takes to start in Perth and Kinross depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
What's available in Saint Martins depends on the practice, so it's worth checking directly what each one offers. Saint Martins's deprivation ranking is neither notably high nor low compared with Scotland as a whole. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Saint Martins is Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee, about 15 miles away. Saint Martins — accessible Rural by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Tayside for NHS dentistry. Saint Martins has 11 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 77% of towns in Scotland. There is no orthodontist on our records in Saint Martins itself. The nearest we do hold are SCONE DENTAL PRACTICE, about 3 miles away; 11 MAIN STREET in Perth, about 4 miles away; and BRIDGE OF EARN DENTAL PRACTICE, about 7 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 Saint Martins
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Equivalent private metal braces in Saint Martins 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 Saint Martins
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. It measures the complexity and impact of the problem, and only cases above a threshold score receive NHS funding. Knowing where you stand before the referral process saves time and manages expectations in Saint Martins.
Eligibility in Saint Martins — Local Context
How long NHS treatment takes to start in Perth and Kinross depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Children's Orthodontics in Saint Martins
For many families in Saint Martins, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Parents in Saint Martins increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. Early review can prevent more complex problems later and simplify treatment when it does begin.
NHS Orthodontics for Children in Saint Martins
Children in Saint Martins who meet the IOTN eligibility threshold are entitled to NHS-funded orthodontic treatment. Referrals are made by the child's dentist once most adult teeth have erupted. NHS treatment for children is almost always metal fixed braces.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Saint Martins
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Saint Martins?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Saint Martins is SCONE DENTAL PRACTICE, about 2.6 miles to the south. The next closest are 11 MAIN STREET (3.8 miles) and BALHOUSIE DENTAL PRACTICE (4.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Saint Martins?
Our register has 11 practices within 5 miles of Saint Martins, 16 practices within 10 miles and 72 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Saint Martins?
The nearest practice to Saint Martins that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is SCONE DENTAL PRACTICE, about 2.6 miles to the south. Others nearby include 11 MAIN STREET (3.8 miles) and BALHOUSIE DENTAL PRACTICE (4.0 miles).
Which NHS body covers Saint Martins for dental care?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Tayside.
What kind of area is Saint Martins?
ONS classifies Saint Martins as accessible Rural.
How deprived is Saint Martins compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Saint Martins is close to the Scotland average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What towns are near Saint Martins?
Scone, Corsiehill, Kinnoull are within easy reach of Saint Martins.
Is NHS orthodontic treatment as good as private?
NHS orthodontic treatment delivered by specialist orthodontists achieves excellent clinical results. The key differences: NHS is almost exclusively metal braces with a waiting list; private offers ceramic, aligner, and lingual options with immediate access.
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 Perth and Kinross
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Perth and Kinross — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: