NHS Treatment in Stothill Croft at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Grampian |
|---|---|
| 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 | FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, Aboyne — 4.6 miles; 4 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen — about 21 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 Stothill Croft
On our practice register: 1 practice within 5 miles of Stothill Croft, 4 practices within 10 and 28 practices within 20. The closest is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, 4.6 miles south-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, 4.6 miles south-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNEAboyne | 4.6 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| Young Smile Dental CareBridge of Alford | 7.8 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (319 reviews) |
| DEESIDE DENTAL CAREBanchory | 8.2 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-BANCHORYBanchory | 8.5 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| WESTHILL DENTAL PRACTICEWesthill | 14.3 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| KINTORE DENTAL PRACTICEKintore | 14.5 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Stothill Croft with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Aboyne, 4.6 miles south-west; the next are Bridge of Alford (7.8 miles north) and Banchory (8.2 miles south-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Aboyne | 1 | 4.6 miles south-west |
| Bridge of Alford | 1 | 7.8 miles north |
| Banchory | 2 | 8.2 miles south-east |
| Westhill | 4 | 14.3 miles east |
| Kintore | 1 | 14.5 miles north-east |
| Peterculter | 1 | 15.5 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Stothill Croft
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Young Smile Dental Care in Bridge of Alford (4.9 from 319 reviews), 7.8 miles north.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Young Smile Dental CareBridge of Alford | 4.9 (319 reviews) | 7.8 miles north |
| Mastrick Smile CareAberdeen | 4.9 (213 reviews) | 19.6 miles east |
| Abercrombie Smile Design and Abercrombie OrthodonticsWesthill | 4.1 (41 reviews) | 15.1 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Stothill Croft, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Banchory Dental Practice, 8.3 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, 4.6 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen, about 21 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Stothill Croft are commissioned by NHS Grampian. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Stothill Croft 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. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in Stothill Croft
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Equivalent private metal braces in Stothill Croft typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
The NHS Orthodontic Pathway in Stothill Croft
For eligible patients in Stothill Croft, the NHS route follows a defined sequence from dentist to specialist:
- 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 Stothill Croft.
- 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 Orthodontic Access in Stothill Croft
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. NHS waiting times in Aberdeenshire are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
How quickly you can be seen, and what's on offer, varies between the practices serving Stothill Croft. Stothill Croft's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of Scotland. The nearest university dental hospital to Stothill Croft is Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen, about 21 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. NHS dental commissioning in Stothill Croft falls under NHS Grampian. ONS classifies Stothill Croft as accessible Rural. There is no orthodontist on our records in Stothill Croft itself. The nearest recorded are FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, about 5 miles away; Young Smile Dental Care in Bridge of Alford, about 8 miles away; and DEESIDE DENTAL CARE in Banchory, about 8 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 Brace Eligibility in Stothill Croft
Whether you or your child qualifies for NHS treatment in Stothill Croft comes down to a structured assessment. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Aberdeenshire apply the same national criteria consistently. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
Not Eligible? Here's What to Do Next in Stothill Croft
An IOTN score below grade 4 does not mean your teeth don't need attention — it means NHS resources are prioritised for the most clinically significant cases. Private treatment is open to everyone and provides more treatment choices, faster access, and a more personalised experience.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Stothill Croft
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. The aim is to monitor development and intervene at the right time, not to begin treatment immediately. Early review can prevent more complex problems later and simplify treatment when it does begin.
Children's Orthodontics in Stothill Croft — Local Context
How quickly you can be seen, and what's on offer, varies between the practices serving Stothill Croft. ONS classifies Stothill Croft as accessible Rural. NHS dental commissioning in Stothill Croft falls under NHS Grampian. By national deprivation ranking, Stothill Croft sits among the less deprived areas of Scotland. Complex cases can be referred to a hospital orthodontic department; the nearest university dental hospital to Stothill Croft is Aberdeen Dental School in Aberdeen, about 21 miles away. They typically offer children's assessments and NHS-funded treatment for eligible patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Stothill Croft
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Stothill Croft?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Stothill Croft is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, about 4.6 miles to the south-west. The next closest are Young Smile Dental Care (7.8 miles) and DEESIDE DENTAL CARE (8.2 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Stothill Croft?
Our register has 1 practice within 5 miles of Stothill Croft, 4 practices within 10 miles and 28 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Stothill Croft?
The nearest practice to Stothill Croft that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is FOUNTAIN DENTAL GROUP-ABOYNE, about 4.6 miles to the south-west. Others nearby include Young Smile Dental Care (7.8 miles) and DEESIDE DENTAL CARE (8.2 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Stothill Croft?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Grampian.
What kind of area is Stothill Croft?
ONS classifies Stothill Croft as accessible Rural.
How deprived is Stothill Croft compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Stothill Croft 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 Stothill Croft?
Ballogie, Kincardine O’Neil, Tornaveen are within easy reach of Stothill Croft.
What happens if I miss NHS appointments?
NHS contracts expect reasonable attendance, and repeatedly missing adjustments can get treatment discontinued since it extends the course and ties up scarce capacity. If attendance is genuinely difficult, tell the practice rather than just not showing up.
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.
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