NHS Treatment in Silwick at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Shetland |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Around the Scotland average |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | 4 MARKET STREET, Lerwick — 11.2 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Remote 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 Silwick
On our practice register: None within 10 miles of Silwick; 2 practices within 20. The closest is 4 MARKET STREET in Lerwick, 11.2 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is 4 MARKET STREET, 11.2 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 MARKET STREETLerwick | 11.2 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| BRAE DENTAL CLINICBrae | 15.6 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Silwick with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Lerwick, 11.2 miles east; the next are Brae (15.6 miles north).
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Silwick, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Dyce Dental Practice Family Dentist, 206.4 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is 4 MARKET STREET, Lerwick, 11.2 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Silwick are commissioned by NHS Shetland. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Silwick funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. Understanding its limits helps families in Silwick plan around realistic waiting times.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Silwick?
Many patients in Shetland Islands 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 Silwick
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 Shetland Islands depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Silwick. Silwick sits close to the Scotland average for deprivation. For NHS dental services, Silwick falls under NHS Shetland. By ONS classification, Silwick falls under remote Rural. No orthodontic practice on our register is within five miles of Silwick; the nearest is about 11 miles away. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Silwick. The closest on record are 4 MARKET STREET in Lerwick, about 11 miles away; BRAE DENTAL CLINIC, about 16 miles away; and DAISYBANK CLINIC in Kirkwall, about 97 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.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Silwick
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Equivalent private metal braces in Silwick typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Silwick
For many families in Silwick, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. The aim is to monitor development and intervene at the right time, not to begin treatment immediately. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Silwick
Space maintainers hold open the gap left by a prematurely lost baby tooth, preventing neighbouring teeth from drifting in before the adult tooth erupts.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Silwick?
Whether you or your child qualifies for NHS treatment in Silwick comes down to a structured assessment. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Shetland Islands apply the same national criteria consistently. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
Adult NHS Orthodontic Access in Silwick
Adults (18 and over) are rarely eligible for NHS orthodontic treatment in Silwick. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Silwick
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Silwick?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Silwick is 4 MARKET STREET in Lerwick, about 11.2 miles to the east. The next closest are BRAE DENTAL CLINIC (15.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Silwick?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Silwick, 0 practices within 10 miles and 2 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Lerwick, 11.2 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Silwick?
The nearest practice to Silwick that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is 4 MARKET STREET in Lerwick, about 11.2 miles to the east. Others nearby include BRAE DENTAL CLINIC (15.6 miles).
What NHS area is Silwick in for dental services?
NHS dental commissioning in Silwick falls under NHS Shetland.
What kind of area is Silwick?
ONS classifies Silwick as remote Rural.
How deprived is Silwick compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Silwick is close to the Scotland average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which towns are close to Silwick?
Culswick, Wester Skeld, Reawick are within easy reach of Silwick.
What does NHS orthodontic treatment include?
Everything from the specialist assessment through adjustments, the brace, de-bonding and retainers is covered as a single 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 Shetland Islands
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Shetland Islands — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: