NHS Treatment in The City at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 14.7% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.8% of 1,181 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | WYCOMBE DENTAL CLINIC, High Wycombe — 4.5 miles; 7 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Princes Risborough School — 4.3 miles Cressex Community School — 4.7 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | UCL Eastman Dental Hospital, London — about 33 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 14.6% 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 The City
On our practice register: 3 practices within 5 miles of The City, 12 practices within 10 and 138 practices within 20. The closest is WYCOMBE DENTAL CLINIC in High Wycombe, 4.5 miles south-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is WYCOMBE DENTAL CLINIC, 4.5 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WYCOMBE DENTAL CLINICHigh Wycombe | 4.5 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (655 reviews) |
| Wycombe Dental HubHigh Wycombe | 4.9 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (732 reviews) |
| Enhance Dental Centre.High Wycombe | 5.2 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (1,030 reviews) |
| Making Smiles AmershamHigh Wycombe | 5.2 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.4 (121 reviews) |
| DENTALIGN ORTHODONTICSMarlow | 7.0 miles south-east | ✓ | – | – |
| Thame OrthodonticsThame | 7.9 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (56 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to The City with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is High Wycombe, 4.5 miles south-east; the next are Marlow (7.0 miles south-east) and Thame (7.9 miles north-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| High Wycombe | 4 | 4.5 miles south-east |
| Marlow | 1 | 7.0 miles south-east |
| Thame | 1 | 7.9 miles north-west |
| Wendover | 1 | 8.6 miles north-east |
| Beaconsfield | 2 | 10.3 miles east |
| Aylesbury | 4 | 10.9 miles north |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of The City
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Fairford Leys Smile Centre in Aylesbury (5.0 from 478 reviews), 10.9 miles north.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Fairford Leys Smile CentreAylesbury | 5.0 (478 reviews) | 10.9 miles north |
| Smile Design Dental PracticeWendover | 5.0 (158 reviews) | 8.6 miles north-east |
| Thame OrthodonticsThame | 5.0 (56 reviews) | 7.9 miles north-west |
| Enhance Dental Centre.High Wycombe | 4.9 (1,030 reviews) | 5.2 miles south-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from The City, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Rodericks - Cookham Dental practice, 9.3 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is WYCOMBE DENTAL CLINIC, High Wycombe, 4.5 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is UCL Eastman Dental Hospital in London, about 33 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around The City are commissioned by NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in The City 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. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in The City
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Private treatment in The City trades cost for speed and choice — around £1,500–£3,500 for metal braces, but starting within weeks and with ceramic, lingual and aligner options on the table.
NHS Waiting Times in The City
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Buckinghamshire vary and can range from 12 to 36 months from referral to treatment starting. For families where timing is important — particularly approaching the optimal treatment age — private orthodontics eliminates the wait entirely and typically begins within a few weeks of consultation.
NHS Orthodontic Access in The City
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 Buckinghamshire vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Not every practice near The City offers the same treatments, so it's worth checking what each one covers. The City's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of England. Census 2021 counts 1,181 residents in the neighbourhood around The City, 6.8% of them aged 10 to 15, below the 7.7% average across Buckinghamshire. The nearest university dental hospital to The City is UCL Eastman Dental Hospital, London, about 33 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. The City — smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board for NHS dentistry. 14.7% of The City's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census. Families in The City are served by secondary schools including Princes Risborough School (4.3 miles) and Cressex Community School (4.7 miles). The City's Local Authority area covers 270 schools and 98,299 pupils, according to DfE figures. With 3 orthodontic practices within five miles, The City is better served than 52% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in The City itself. The nearest recorded are WYCOMBE DENTAL CLINIC in High Wycombe, about 4 miles away; Belur Orthodontics - Specialist Orthodontist in Marlow, about 7 miles away; and Thame Orthodontics, 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.
Children's Orthodontics in The City
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. It means the right treatment at the right time rather than rushing in early.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in The City
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 The City
Many patients in The City are surprised they don't automatically qualify for NHS braces. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Buckinghamshire apply the same national criteria consistently. Knowing where you stand before the referral process saves time and manages expectations in The City.
What If You Don't Qualify for NHS Treatment?
If your IOTN score falls below the threshold for NHS funding, private orthodontic treatment is fully available with no eligibility criteria and no waiting list. This means you can start treatment within weeks of your consultation, with full choice of brace type — metal, ceramic, aligner, or lingual — rather than being limited to NHS metal braces.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in The City
Where is the nearest orthodontist to The City?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to The City is WYCOMBE DENTAL CLINIC in High Wycombe, about 4.5 miles to the south-east. The next closest are The Dental Practice (4.7 miles) and Wycombe Dental Hub (4.9 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near The City?
Our register has 3 practices within 5 miles of The City, 12 practices within 10 miles and 138 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near The City?
The nearest practice to The City that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is WYCOMBE DENTAL CLINIC in High Wycombe, about 4.5 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include Wycombe Dental Hub (4.9 miles) and Enhance Dental Centre. (5.2 miles).
Is The City rural or urban?
By ONS classification, The City falls under smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
How many families live in The City?
Around 14.7% of The City's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
Which county covers The City?
The City falls within Buckinghamshire.
Which NHS body covers The City for dental care?
NHS dental commissioning in The City falls under NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board.
What type of brace does the NHS provide?
NHS braces are almost always metal fixed braces. Ceramic, lingual, or clear aligner treatment is not available on the NHS. If you want a less visible option, private orthodontics is required.
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 Buckinghamshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Buckinghamshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: