NHS Treatment in Temple Fields at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Essex 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 | 17.4% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.8% of 1,802 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Old Harlow Dental Practice, Old Harlow — 1.1 miles; 6 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Burnt Mill Academy — 0.2 miles Bmat Stem Academy — 0.9 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Royal London Dental Hospital, London — about 19 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to 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 Temple Fields
On our practice register: 3 practices within 5 miles of Temple Fields, 15 practices within 10 and 160 practices within 20. The closest is Mulberry Dental Clinic (Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Leading Centre) in Old Harlow, 0.9 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Old Harlow Dental Practice, 1.1 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Harlow Dental PracticeOld Harlow | 1.1 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (217 reviews) |
| Dentality @ Hoddesdon - Dental and Aesthetics PracticeHoddesdon | 5.4 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (320 reviews) |
| SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICEEpping | 5.7 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| Herts OrthodonticsWare | 6.5 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (64 reviews) |
| The DentistBishops Stortford | 6.5 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (486 reviews) |
| THE ORTHODONTIC PRACTICEFord | 6.7 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Temple Fields with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Old Harlow, 1.1 miles east; the next are Hoddesdon (5.4 miles west) and Epping (5.7 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Old Harlow | 1 | 1.1 miles east |
| Hoddesdon | 1 | 5.4 miles west |
| Epping | 1 | 5.7 miles south |
| Ware | 1 | 6.5 miles west |
| Bishops Stortford | 1 | 6.5 miles north |
| Ford | 1 | 6.7 miles north |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Temple Fields
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is FIRST Ortho - FIRST Impressions in Buckhurst Hill (5.0 from 108 reviews), 11.1 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST Ortho - FIRST ImpressionsBuckhurst Hill | 5.0 (108 reviews) | 11.1 miles south |
| Winchmore Hill Dental PracticeEnfield Town | 4.9 (108 reviews) | 13.2 miles south-west |
| Chingford Mount Dental PracticeHighams Park | 4.8 (635 reviews) | 12.6 miles south-west |
| Old Harlow Dental PracticeOld Harlow | 4.8 (217 reviews) | 1.1 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Temple Fields, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Much Hadham Dental Care, 5.5 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Old Harlow Dental Practice, 1.1 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Royal London Dental Hospital in London, about 19 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Temple Fields are commissioned by NHS Essex Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Temple Fields 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. Understanding its limits helps families in Temple Fields plan around realistic waiting times.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Temple Fields?
Many patients in Essex 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 Temple Fields
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. NHS orthodontic waiting times in Essex vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Orthodontic practices in and around Temple Fields vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. Temple Fields's deprivation ranking is neither notably high nor low compared with England as a whole. Census 2021 counts 1,802 residents in the neighbourhood around Temple Fields, 6.8% of them aged 10 to 15, close to the 6.9% average across Essex. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Temple Fields is about 19 miles from Royal London Dental Hospital in London. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Essex Integrated Care Board. Officially, Temple Fields is categorised as urban: Nearer to a major town or city. Census figures show 17.4% of the local population is under 16. Secondary-age pupils near Temple Fields attend schools such as Burnt Mill Academy (0.2 miles) and Bmat Stem Academy (0.9 miles). 7 secondary schools are within three miles. Temple Fields has 3 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 52% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in Temple Fields itself. The nearest recorded are Mulberry Dental Clinic (Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Leading Centre) in Old Harlow, under a mile away; The Barbara Castle Dental Practice in Harlow, about 3 miles away; and Dentality @ Hoddesdon - Dental and Aesthetics Practice, about 5 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.
How the NHS Route Works in Temple Fields
For eligible patients in Temple Fields, 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 Temple Fields.
- 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Temple Fields
For many families in Temple Fields, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Parents in Temple Fields increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Temple Fields
Space maintainers keep the space from a baby tooth lost too soon from closing up, so neighbouring teeth don't drift into the gap before the adult tooth is ready to come through.
Orthodontic Eligibility in Temple Fields
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 Essex to decide who receives funded treatment. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
Adult NHS Orthodontic Access in Temple Fields
Adults (18 and over) are rarely eligible for NHS orthodontic treatment in Temple Fields. 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 Temple Fields
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Temple Fields?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Temple Fields is Mulberry Dental Clinic (Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Leading Centre) in Old Harlow, about 0.9 miles to the east. The next closest are Old Harlow Dental Practice (1.1 miles) and The Barbara Castle Dental Practice (2.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Temple Fields?
Our register has 3 practices within 5 miles of Temple Fields, 15 practices within 10 miles and 160 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Temple Fields?
The nearest practice to Temple Fields that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Old Harlow Dental Practice, about 1.1 miles to the east. Others nearby include Dentality @ Hoddesdon - Dental and Aesthetics Practice (5.4 miles) and SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE (5.7 miles).
How many families live in Temple Fields?
Census data puts 17.4% of Temple Fields's population at under 16.
Which NHS body covers Temple Fields for dental care?
Temple Fields sits within NHS Essex Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is Temple Fields?
ONS classifies Temple Fields as urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is Temple Fields compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Temple Fields is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What if the NHS wait is too long?
Private orthodontic treatment removes the waiting list entirely. It offers the same clinical outcomes with greater choice of brace type and typically a more personalised experience — at higher cost than the NHS charge.
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 Essex
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