NHS Treatment in The Holdings at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight 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 | 19.9% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 8.7% of 1,484 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Christchurch Orthodontics, Christchurch — 7.3 miles; 8 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Ringwood School Academy — 0.8 miles West Moors Middle School — 4.7 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 13.1% 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 Holdings
On our practice register: 1 practice within 5 miles of The Holdings, 15 practices within 10 and 56 practices within 20. The closest is The Straight Tooth Company in Ringwood, 1.1 miles north-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is Christchurch Orthodontics, 7.3 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch OrthodonticsChristchurch | 7.3 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (130 reviews) |
| Pearl Fine Dental CareChristchurch | 8.1 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (67 reviews) |
| 740 DentalBournemouth | 8.2 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (203 reviews) |
| New Leaf DentalBournemouth | 8.5 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (73 reviews) |
| Wallisdown Dental PracticeBournemouth | 8.8 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (274 reviews) |
| Ocean DentalcareBournemouth | 9.1 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (401 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to The Holdings with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Christchurch, 7.3 miles south; the next are Bournemouth (8.2 miles south) and Poole (10.9 miles south-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Christchurch | 2 | 7.3 miles south |
| Bournemouth | 7 | 8.2 miles south |
| Poole | 4 | 10.9 miles south-west |
| Broadstone | 1 | 11.2 miles south-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of The Holdings
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Dental on the Banks in Poole (4.9 from 1,019 reviews), 11.4 miles south-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dental on the BanksPoole | 4.9 (1,019 reviews) | 11.4 miles south-west |
| Ocean DentalcareBournemouth | 4.9 (401 reviews) | 9.1 miles south-west |
| Dorset Dental ClinicPoole | 4.9 (389 reviews) | 12.3 miles south-west |
| Dorset Dental ImplantsPoole | 4.9 (237 reviews) | 12.3 miles south-west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from The Holdings, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Bupa Dental Care, 7.5 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Christchurch Orthodontics, 7.3 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around The Holdings are commissioned by NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight 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 Holdings focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. The process starts with your dentist, includes a formal eligibility assessment, and places you on a waiting list. Understanding its limits helps families in The Holdings plan around realistic waiting times.
How the NHS Route Works in The Holdings
The NHS pathway in The Holdings is well-structured — here's what to expect at each stage:
- 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 Holdings.
- 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 Holdings
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 Hampshire depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around The Holdings. The Holdings's deprivation ranking is neither notably high nor low compared with England as a whole. In the census neighbourhood around The Holdings, 8.7% of the 1,484 residents are aged 10 to 15, above the 7.1% average across Hampshire, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board. By ONS classification, The Holdings falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city. Census data puts 19.9% of The Holdings's population at under 16. Secondary-age pupils near The Holdings attend schools such as Ringwood School Academy (0.8 miles) and West Moors Middle School (4.7 miles). 1 secondary school is within three miles. There is no orthodontist on our records in The Holdings itself. The nearest we do hold are The Straight Tooth Company in Ringwood, about a mile away; Hoburne Dental Practice in Christchurch, about 7 miles away; and 740 Dental in Bournemouth, 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.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in The Holdings?
Many patients in Hampshire 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.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in The Holdings?
Many patients in The Holdings are surprised they don't automatically qualify for NHS braces. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
Eligibility in The Holdings — Local Context
How long NHS treatment takes to start in Hampshire depends heavily on the individual practice's current caseload.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in The Holdings
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Parents in The Holdings increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in The Holdings
Space maintainers hold open the gap left by a prematurely lost baby tooth, preventing neighbouring teeth from drifting in before the adult tooth erupts.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in The Holdings
Where is the nearest orthodontist to The Holdings?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to The Holdings is The Straight Tooth Company in Ringwood, about 1.1 miles to the north-west. The next closest are Hoburne Dental Practice (6.9 miles) and Cheriton Dental Practice (7.2 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near The Holdings?
Our register has 1 practice within 5 miles of The Holdings, 15 practices within 10 miles and 56 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near The Holdings?
The nearest practice to The Holdings that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Christchurch Orthodontics, about 7.3 miles to the south. Others nearby include Pearl Fine Dental Care (8.1 miles) and 740 Dental (8.2 miles).
How many families live in The Holdings?
Around 19.9% of The Holdings's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
Which NHS body covers The Holdings for dental care?
The Holdings sits within NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
What kind of area is The Holdings?
By ONS classification, The Holdings falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is The Holdings compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, The Holdings is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Are NHS orthodontic charges the same across the UK?
No — NHS dental charges are set separately in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. What stays the same everywhere is that eligible under-18s pay nothing. Adults who do qualify pay the NHS Band 3 charge, £332.10 in England from April 2026, which covers the whole course.
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 Hampshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Hampshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: