NHS Treatment in The Forge at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire 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 | 15.8% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.4% of 1,694 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Willows Dentistry, Hereford — 15.9 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Lady Hawkins' School — 3.7 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 17.9% 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 Forge
On our practice register: None within 10 miles of The Forge; 9 practices within 20. The closest is St.Owen Dental Studio in Hereford, 15.9 miles south-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Willows Dentistry, 15.9 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willows DentistryHereford | 15.9 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (196 reviews) |
| Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant CentreHereford | 16.0 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (146 reviews) |
| St Martins Dental & Implant ClinicHereford | 16.1 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (167 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of The Forge
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Willows Dentistry in Hereford (4.9 from 196 reviews), 15.9 miles south-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Willows DentistryHereford | 4.9 (196 reviews) | 15.9 miles south-east |
| Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant CentreHereford | 4.9 (146 reviews) | 16.0 miles south-east |
| St Martins Dental & Implant ClinicHereford | 4.8 (167 reviews) | 16.1 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 Forge, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is mydentist, 8.7 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Willows Dentistry, Hereford, 15.9 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around The Forge are commissioned by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
The NHS orthodontic pathway in The Forge focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. 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 Herefordshire.
NHS Waiting Times in The Forge
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Herefordshire 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 Forge
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 Herefordshire vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
There's no orthodontist on record in The Forge itself; the nearest dentist, mydentist, is about 9 miles away and is a reasonable place to start for a referral. National deprivation data puts The Forge close to the England median. 19.4% of 5-year-olds across this ICB have visible dental decay, per OHID's most recent figures. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 6.4% of the 1,694 residents in The Forge's census neighbourhood, close to the 6.2% average across Herefordshire. NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board is the NHS body responsible for dental commissioning in The Forge. The Forge is classified as smaller rural: Further from a major town or city. Census figures show 15.8% of the local population is under 16. Families in The Forge are served by secondary schools including Lady Hawkins' School (3.7 miles). The Forge's Local Authority area covers 110 schools and 24,851 pupils, according to DfE figures. No orthodontic practice on our register is within five miles of The Forge; the nearest is about 16 miles away. No orthodontic practice is recorded in The Forge. The closest on record are St.Owen Dental Studio in Hereford, about 16 miles away; Buckingham House Dental Surgery in Great Malvern, about 28 miles away; and Mercian House Dental Practice in Stourport-on-Severn, about 30 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 vs Private Fees in The Forge
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Private treatment in The Forge 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.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in The Forge
For many families in The Forge, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. The aim is to monitor development and intervene at the right time, not to begin treatment immediately. A photo assessment is a gentle way to get an early steer before booking anything.
Children's Orthodontics in The Forge — Local Context
There's no orthodontist on record in The Forge itself; the nearest dentist, mydentist, is about 9 miles away and is a reasonable place to start for a referral. Census figures show 15.8% of the local population is under 16. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 6.4% of the 1,694 residents in The Forge's census neighbourhood, close to the 6.2% average across Herefordshire. Secondary-age pupils near The Forge attend schools such as Lady Hawkins' School (3.7 miles). The Forge's Local Authority area covers 110 schools and 24,851 pupils, according to DfE figures. Regionally, 19.4% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay (OHID data). The Forge — smaller rural: Further from a major town or city by ONS classification — is covered by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board for NHS dentistry. National deprivation data puts The Forge close to the England median. The Forge has no orthodontic practice within five miles on our register, and the closest is roughly 16 miles away. They typically offer children's assessments and NHS-funded treatment for eligible patients.
NHS Brace Eligibility in The Forge
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Herefordshire apply the same national criteria consistently. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
Adult NHS Orthodontic Access in The Forge
Adults (18 and over) are rarely eligible for NHS orthodontic treatment in The Forge. 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 The Forge
Where is the nearest orthodontist to The Forge?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to The Forge is St.Owen Dental Studio in Hereford, about 15.9 miles to the south-east. The next closest are Willows Dentistry (15.9 miles) and Evans Morton & Evans Orthodontics (16.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near The Forge?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of The Forge, 0 practices within 10 miles and 9 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Hereford, 15.9 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near The Forge?
The nearest practice to The Forge that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Willows Dentistry in Hereford, about 15.9 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant Centre (16.0 miles) and St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic (16.1 miles).
Which towns are close to The Forge?
Horseway Head, Lyonshall, Staunton are within easy reach of The Forge.
How many pupils are in The Forge's Local Authority?
The Forge's Local Authority has 110 schools educating 24,851 pupils (DfE data).
Is there a dentist near The Forge?
The Forge has no orthodontic practice of its own, but mydentist is about 9 miles away and, like any general dentist, can assess and refer for orthodontic treatment.
Is tooth decay common among young children near The Forge?
OHID figures for this ICB show 19.4% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay.
Will I lose NHS eligibility if I turn 18 while waiting?
This is a real risk with long waiting lists. NHS orthodontic funding is age-sensitive, so a case that qualifies at 16 may be assessed differently once you turn 18. If you're close to 18 and eligible, ask your dentist about timescales — it can be a reason to consider private treatment.
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 Herefordshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Herefordshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: