NHS Treatment in Silverknowes at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Lothian |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of Scotland |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | 65 MAIN STREET, Edinburgh — under a mile; 28 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee — about 36 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Large Urban Areas |
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 Silverknowes
On our practice register: 105 practices within 5 miles of Silverknowes, 158 practices within 10 and 251 practices within 20. The closest is 65 MAIN STREET in Edinburgh, 0.3 miles south. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is 65 MAIN STREET, 0.3 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 MAIN STREETEdinburgh | 0.3 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| 26-28 MAIN STREETDavidsons Mains | 0.4 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| LA BELLE COURTEdinburgh | 0.5 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| BARNTON DENTAL SPAClermiston | 1.0 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| BARNTON DENTALClermiston | 1.1 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| WEST GRANTON DENTAL CAREEdinburgh | 1.2 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Silverknowes with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Edinburgh, 0.3 miles south; the next are Davidsons Mains (0.4 miles south-west) and Clermiston (1.0 miles south-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | 18 | 0.3 miles south |
| Davidsons Mains | 1 | 0.4 miles south-west |
| Clermiston | 2 | 1.0 miles south-west |
| Cramond Bridge | 1 | 1.8 miles south-west |
| Colinton | 6 | 1.9 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Silverknowes
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Edinburgh Dental Studio (5.0 from 242 reviews), 2.6 miles south-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Dental StudioEdinburgh | 5.0 (242 reviews) | 2.6 miles south-east |
| Sunrise Dental Clinic I Award Winning Paediatric I Orthodontic I Implant & Smile Design ClinicColinton | 4.9 (219 reviews) | 1.9 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Silverknowes, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Cornerstone Smile, 1.9 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is 65 MAIN STREET, Edinburgh, under a mile 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 36 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Silverknowes are commissioned by NHS Lothian. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Silverknowes follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. 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 City of Edinburgh.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Silverknowes
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Private treatment in Silverknowes 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.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Silverknowes
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 City of Edinburgh depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Silverknowes. By national deprivation ranking, Silverknowes sits among the less deprived areas of Scotland. The nearest university dental hospital to Silverknowes is Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee, about 36 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. NHS Lothian is the NHS body responsible for dental commissioning in Silverknowes. Silverknowes is classified as large Urban Areas. With 105 orthodontic practices within five miles, Silverknowes is better served than 96% of towns in Scotland. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Silverknowes itself. The nearest recorded are 65 MAIN STREET in Edinburgh, under a mile away; 26-28 MAIN STREET in Davidsons Mains, under a mile away; and BARNTON DENTAL SPA in Clermiston, about a mile 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 the NHS Route Works in Silverknowes
From first check-up to retainers, the NHS process in Silverknowes runs like this:
- 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 Silverknowes.
- 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.
NHS Brace Eligibility in Silverknowes
Eligibility for NHS braces is decided by a clinical scoring system, not by appearance alone. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the primary tool used across City of Edinburgh to decide who receives funded treatment. Knowing where you stand before the referral process saves time and manages expectations in Silverknowes.
Adult NHS Orthodontic Access in Silverknowes
Adults (18 and over) are rarely eligible for NHS orthodontic treatment in Silverknowes. 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Silverknowes
Children's orthodontics in Silverknowes covers a spectrum from early monitoring to active interceptive treatment. Parents in Silverknowes increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
NHS Treatment for Children in Silverknowes
Eligible children under 18 in Silverknowes are entitled to NHS orthodontic treatment free of charge. The process starts with a dentist IOTN assessment and formal referral to the local NHS orthodontic service.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Silverknowes
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Silverknowes?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Silverknowes is 65 MAIN STREET in Edinburgh, about 0.3 miles to the south. The next closest are 26-28 MAIN STREET (0.4 miles) and LA BELLE COURT (0.5 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Silverknowes?
Our register has 105 practices within 5 miles of Silverknowes, 158 practices within 10 miles and 251 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Silverknowes?
The nearest practice to Silverknowes that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is 65 MAIN STREET in Edinburgh, about 0.3 miles to the south. Others nearby include 26-28 MAIN STREET (0.4 miles) and LA BELLE COURT (0.5 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Silverknowes?
Silverknowes sits within NHS Lothian for NHS dental commissioning.
Is Silverknowes rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Silverknowes falls under large Urban Areas.
How deprived is Silverknowes compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Silverknowes 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 Silverknowes?
Nearby towns include Clermiston, Carrick Knowe, Corstorphine.
How long is the NHS orthodontic wait in Silverknowes?
Typically 12-24 months in City of Edinburgh, sometimes more depending on the area. Private treatment skips the list entirely, usually starting within weeks.
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 City of Edinburgh
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in City of Edinburgh — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: