NHS Treatment in Stour Provost at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | Around the England average |
| Residents under 16 | 12.5% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 5.8% of 1,852 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Portway Dental Practice, Frome — 16.5 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Gillingham School — 3.5 miles Sturminster Newton High School — 3.9 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Bristol Dental Hospital, Bristol — about 35 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 16.6% of residents in the surrounding census area (Census 2021) |
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 Stour Provost
On our practice register: None within 10 miles of Stour Provost; 7 practices within 20. The closest is Yeovil Hospital, 15.3 miles west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Portway Dental Practice, 16.5 miles north.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portway Dental PracticeFrome | 16.5 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (124 reviews) |
| Dorchester Orthodontic ClinicDorchester | 20.3 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (127 reviews) |
| POOLE ORTHODONTICS LTDBroadstone | 21.2 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| Somerset OrthodontistMendip | 21.6 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.4 (19 reviews) |
| Priory DentalMendip | 21.6 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (94 reviews) |
| Salisbury Orthodontics LtdSalisbury | 22.2 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (210 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Stour Provost with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Frome, 16.5 miles north; the next are Dorchester (20.3 miles south) and Broadstone (21.2 miles south-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Frome | 1 | 16.5 miles north |
| Dorchester | 1 | 20.3 miles south |
| Broadstone | 1 | 21.2 miles south-east |
| Mendip | 2 | 21.6 miles north-west |
| Salisbury | 3 | 22.2 miles east |
| Poole | 2 | 23.1 miles south-east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Stour Provost, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 4.2 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Portway Dental Practice, Frome, 16.5 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Bristol Dental Hospital in Bristol, about 35 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Stour Provost are commissioned by NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Stour Provost follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. For eligible under-18s it's outstanding value — full treatment at no charge at all. Understanding its limits helps families in Stour Provost plan around realistic waiting times.
How the NHS Route Works in Stour Provost
The NHS pathway in Stour Provost is well-structured — here's what to expect at each stage:
- 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 Stour Provost.
- 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.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Stour Provost
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 Stour Provost typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Stour Provost
NHS orthodontic treatment is free for under-18s who meet the clinical threshold. Adults who do qualify pay the NHS Band 3 charge, £332.10 in England from April 2026, which covers the whole course. Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in Dorset differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Stour Provost has no orthodontic practice of its own, but a dentist — Bupa Dental Care — is about 4 miles away, and a general dentist is who most people ask for an orthodontic referral in the first place. Stour Provost sits close to the England average for deprivation. OHID data for this ICB shows 16.7% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. In the census neighbourhood around Stour Provost, 5.8% of the 1,852 residents are aged 10 to 15, below the 6.3% average across Dorset, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Stour Provost is about 35 miles from Bristol Dental Hospital in Bristol. Stour Provost — smaller rural: Further from a major town or city by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board for NHS dentistry. Stour Provost has a smaller share of children than most areas — 12.5% of residents are under 16. Secondary-age pupils near Stour Provost attend schools such as Gillingham School (3.5 miles) and Sturminster Newton High School (3.9 miles). Stour Provost's Local Authority area covers 179 schools and 51,332 pupils, according to DfE figures. People in Stour Provost usually travel further for an orthodontist: the nearest on our register is about 15 miles away. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Stour Provost. The closest on record are Yeovil Hospital, about 15 miles away; Southwest Dental Laboratory in Frome, about 16 miles away; and Dorchester Orthodontic Clinic, about 20 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.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Stour Provost
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 Stour Provost.
How Eligibility Is Scored
The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the two-part scoring system orthodontists across Dorset use to decide whether a patient qualifies for NHS treatment.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Stour Provost
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. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
The Age-7 Assessment
British Orthodontic Society guidance points to age 7 for an assessment where there's a noticeable concern — by then most children have their first permanent molars and incisors through, which is enough for an orthodontist to judge jaw relationships, arch development, bite and likely future crowding.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Stour Provost
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Stour Provost?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Stour Provost is Yeovil Hospital, about 15.3 miles to the west. The next closest are Smile Dental Laboratory (15.6 miles) and Yeovil Dental Access Centre (15.9 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Stour Provost?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Stour Provost, 0 practices within 10 miles and 7 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Yeovil, 15.3 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Stour Provost?
The nearest practice to Stour Provost that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Portway Dental Practice in Frome, about 16.5 miles to the north. Others nearby include Dorchester Orthodontic Clinic (20.3 miles) and POOLE ORTHODONTICS LTD (21.2 miles).
Where's the nearest dentist to Stour Provost?
There's no orthodontist based in Stour Provost, though Bupa Dental Care (about 4 miles away) is a general dentist who can carry out an initial assessment and refer on if needed.
Which county covers Stour Provost?
Stour Provost falls within Dorset.
Which towns are close to Stour Provost?
Fifehead Magdalen, Pillwell, Madjeston are within easy reach of Stour Provost.
Is Stour Provost rural or urban?
ONS classifies Stour Provost as smaller rural: Further from a major town or city.
Can adults access NHS orthodontics in Stour Provost?
Adult access to NHS orthodontics in Dorset is very limited — generally restricted to jaw surgery patients or exceptional functional cases. Most adult orthodontic treatment is privately funded.
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 Dorset
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Dorset — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: