NHS Treatment in The Braids 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 | 31 MORNINGSIDE DRIVE, Edinburgh — under a mile; 27 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee — about 38 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 The Braids
On our practice register: 123 practices within 5 miles of The Braids, 146 practices within 10 and 240 practices within 20. The closest is 31 MORNINGSIDE DRIVE in Edinburgh, 0.5 miles north-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is 31 MORNINGSIDE DRIVE, 0.5 miles north-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 MORNINGSIDE DRIVEEdinburgh | 0.5 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – |
| 27 COMISTON ROADEdinburgh | 0.5 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – |
| EH10 DENTALEdinburgh | 0.6 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – |
| MORNINGSIDE DENTAL CAREEdinburgh | 0.8 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – |
| CHURCH HILL DENTAL PRACTICEEdinburgh | 0.9 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – |
| LINKS DENTAL PRACTICEEdinburgh | 1.1 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to The Braids with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Edinburgh, 0.5 miles north-west; the next are Colinton (1.3 miles south) and Danderhall (1.3 miles east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | 23 | 0.5 miles north-west |
| Colinton | 3 | 1.3 miles south |
| Danderhall | 1 | 1.3 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of The Braids
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Southside Dental Care in Edinburgh (4.8 from 437 reviews), 1.1 miles north-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Southside Dental CareEdinburgh | 4.8 (437 reviews) | 1.1 miles north-east |
| Ardmillan Orthodontics LtdEdinburgh | 4.5 (68 reviews) | 1.6 miles north-west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from The Braids, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Edinburgh Dental, 1.3 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is 31 MORNINGSIDE DRIVE, 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 38 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around The Braids are commissioned by NHS Lothian. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in The Braids funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. For eligible under-18s it's outstanding value — full treatment at no charge at all. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across City of Edinburgh.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in The Braids
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Going private for the same metal braces in The Braids costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
How the NHS Route Works in The Braids
For eligible patients in The Braids, 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 The Braids.
- 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 The Braids
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.
Treatment range and appointment slots differ between the practices covering The Braids — comparing a couple is worthwhile. The Braids's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of Scotland. For hospital-based orthodontic care, The Braids is about 38 miles from Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee. Classified by ONS as large Urban Areas, The Braids sits within NHS Lothian for NHS dental commissioning. The Braids has 123 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 97% of towns in Scotland. No orthodontic practice is recorded in The Braids. The closest on record are 31 MORNINGSIDE DRIVE in Edinburgh, under a mile away; FAIRMILEHEAD DENTAL PRACTICE in Colinton, about a mile away; and 1 LIBERTON BRAE in Danderhall, 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.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in The Braids?
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. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
Eligibility in The Braids — Local Context
NHS waiting times in City of Edinburgh are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Children's Orthodontics in The Braids
For many families in The Braids, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Parents in The Braids 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.
Children's Orthodontics in The Braids — Local Context
What's available in The Braids depends on the practice, so it's worth checking directly what each one offers. The Braids is classified as large Urban Areas, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Lothian. By national deprivation ranking, The Braids sits among the less deprived areas of Scotland. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (123), The Braids has more choice than 97% of towns in Scotland. For hospital-based orthodontic care, The Braids is about 38 miles from Dundee Dental Hospital in Dundee. They typically offer children's assessments and NHS-funded treatment for eligible patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in The Braids
Where is the nearest orthodontist to The Braids?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to The Braids is 31 MORNINGSIDE DRIVE in Edinburgh, about 0.5 miles to the north-west. The next closest are 27 COMISTON ROAD (0.5 miles) and EH10 DENTAL (0.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near The Braids?
Our register has 123 practices within 5 miles of The Braids, 146 practices within 10 miles and 240 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near The Braids?
The nearest practice to The Braids that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is 31 MORNINGSIDE DRIVE in Edinburgh, about 0.5 miles to the north-west. Others nearby include 27 COMISTON ROAD (0.5 miles) and EH10 DENTAL (0.6 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in The Braids?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Lothian.
What kind of area is The Braids?
By ONS classification, The Braids falls under large Urban Areas.
How deprived is The Braids compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, The Braids is less deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What towns are near The Braids?
Bruntsfield, Oxgangs, South Side are within easy reach of The Braids.
How long is the NHS orthodontic wait in The Braids?
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: