NHS Treatment in The High 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 | More deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 22.8% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 3.1% of 1,157 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Old Harlow Dental Practice, Old Harlow — 2.1 miles; 6 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Bmat Stem Academy — 0.4 miles St Mark's West Essex Catholic School — 0.7 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Royal London Dental Hospital, London — about 18 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 18.6% 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 High
On our practice register: 8 practices within 5 miles of The High, 15 practices within 10 and 193 practices within 20. The closest is The Barbara Castle Dental Practice in Harlow, 1.6 miles south-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Old Harlow Dental Practice, 2.1 miles north-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Harlow Dental PracticeOld Harlow | 2.1 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (217 reviews) |
| Dentality @ Hoddesdon - Dental and Aesthetics PracticeHoddesdon | 4.4 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (320 reviews) |
| SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICEEpping | 5.0 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| Herts OrthodonticsWare | 6.0 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (64 reviews) |
| The DentistBishops Stortford | 7.4 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (486 reviews) |
| THE ORTHODONTIC PRACTICEFord | 7.7 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to The High with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Old Harlow, 2.1 miles north-east; the next are Hoddesdon (4.4 miles west) and Epping (5.0 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Old Harlow | 1 | 2.1 miles north-east |
| Hoddesdon | 1 | 4.4 miles west |
| Epping | 1 | 5.0 miles south |
| Ware | 1 | 6.0 miles north-west |
| Bishops Stortford | 1 | 7.4 miles north-east |
| Ford | 1 | 7.7 miles north-east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of The High
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), 10.2 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST Ortho - FIRST ImpressionsBuckhurst Hill | 5.0 (108 reviews) | 10.2 miles south |
| Winchmore Hill Dental PracticeEnfield Town | 4.9 (108 reviews) | 12.1 miles south-west |
| Chingford Mount Dental PracticeHighams Park | 4.8 (635 reviews) | 11.6 miles south-west |
| Old Harlow Dental PracticeOld Harlow | 4.8 (217 reviews) | 2.1 miles north-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from The High, 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, 6 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, 2.1 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 18 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around The High 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 orthodontics in The High funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in The High?
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 The High
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. How long NHS treatment takes to start in Essex depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Orthodontic practices in and around The High vary in the treatments and appointment types they offer. National deprivation data ranks The High among England's more deprived areas. In the census neighbourhood around The High, 3.1% of the 1,157 residents are aged 10 to 15, below the 6.9% average across Essex, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. For hospital-based orthodontic care, The High is about 18 miles from Royal London Dental Hospital in London. The High is classified as urban: Nearer to a major town or city, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Essex Integrated Care Board. With 22.8% of residents under 16, The High has an above-average share of children. Families in The High are served by secondary schools including Bmat Stem Academy (0.4 miles) and St Mark's West Essex Catholic School (0.7 miles). 7 secondary schools are within three miles. The High has 6 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 64% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in The High itself. The nearest recorded are The Barbara Castle Dental Practice in Harlow, about 2 miles away; Mulberry Dental Clinic (Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Leading Centre) in Old Harlow, about 2 miles away; and Dentality @ Hoddesdon - Dental and Aesthetics Practice, about 4 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 The High
From first check-up to retainers, the NHS process in The High runs like this:
- 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 High.
- 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.
Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children in The High
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. Parents in The High increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. A photo assessment is a gentle way to get an early steer before booking anything.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in The High
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.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in The High
Whether you or your child qualifies for NHS treatment in The High comes down to a structured assessment. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Essex apply the same national criteria consistently. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
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 High
Where is the nearest orthodontist to The High?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to The High is The Barbara Castle Dental Practice in Harlow, about 1.6 miles to the south-west. The next closest are Mulberry Dental Clinic (Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Leading Centre) (2.0 miles) and Old Harlow Dental Practice (2.1 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near The High?
Our register has 8 practices within 5 miles of The High, 15 practices within 10 miles and 193 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near The High?
The nearest practice to The High that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Old Harlow Dental Practice, about 2.1 miles to the north-east. Others nearby include Dentality @ Hoddesdon - Dental and Aesthetics Practice (4.4 miles) and SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE (5.0 miles).
Is The High a family area?
Census data puts 22.8% of The High's population at under 16.
Which NHS body covers The High for dental care?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Essex Integrated Care Board.
What kind of area is The High?
By ONS classification, The High falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is The High compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, The High is more deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
How do I get an NHS referral?
Visit your dentist and ask for an orthodontic assessment. If your IOTN score meets the threshold, they will make a formal referral to the local NHS orthodontic service. Some practices also accept self-referrals.
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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