NHS Treatment in The Mound at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Highland |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
| Deprivation | Around the Scotland average |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | ADC GOLSPIE PRACTICE, Golspie — 3.8 miles; 2 within 10 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Remote Rural |
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 Mound
On our practice register: 1 practice within 5 miles of The Mound, 2 practices within 10 and 6 practices within 20. The closest is ADC GOLSPIE PRACTICE, 3.8 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is ADC GOLSPIE PRACTICE, 3.8 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADC GOLSPIE PRACTICEGolspie | 3.8 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| DORNOCH DENTAL SURGERYDornoch | 5.7 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| TAIN DENTAL CARETain | 10.4 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| INVERGORDON DENTAL PRACTICEInvergordon | 19.1 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| 54A HIGH STREETAlness | 19.5 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
| GLENRIDDING DENTAL PRACTICENairn | 26.9 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to The Mound with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Golspie, 3.8 miles east; the next are Dornoch (5.7 miles south) and Tain (10.4 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Golspie | 1 | 3.8 miles east |
| Dornoch | 1 | 5.7 miles south |
| Tain | 1 | 10.4 miles south |
| Invergordon | 1 | 19.1 miles south |
| Alness | 1 | 19.5 miles south |
| Nairn | 2 | 26.9 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from The Mound, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Banchory Dental Practice, 85.7 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is ADC GOLSPIE PRACTICE, 3.8 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around The Mound are commissioned by NHS Highland. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in The Mound follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. It's free for eligible under-18s and aimed primarily at children and teenagers with significant malocclusion. Understanding its limits helps families in The Mound plan around realistic waiting times.
NHS Orthodontic Access in The Mound
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. NHS orthodontic waiting times in Highland vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Practices serving The Mound differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. The Mound's deprivation ranking is neither notably high nor low compared with Scotland as a whole. The Mound is classified as remote Rural, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Highland. There is no orthodontist on our records in The Mound itself. The nearest recorded are ADC GOLSPIE PRACTICE, about 4 miles away; DORNOCH DENTAL SURGERY, about 6 miles away; and TAIN DENTAL CARE, about 10 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 Waiting Times in The Mound
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Highland 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 Costs in The Mound
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 Mound costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
Children's Orthodontics in The Mound
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Parents in The Mound 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.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment for Children in The Mound
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 Mound
Eligibility for NHS braces is decided by a clinical scoring system, not by appearance alone. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Adult NHS Orthodontic Access in The Mound
Adults (18 and over) are rarely eligible for NHS orthodontic treatment in The Mound. 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 Mound
Where is the nearest orthodontist to The Mound?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to The Mound is ADC GOLSPIE PRACTICE, about 3.8 miles to the east. The next closest are DORNOCH DENTAL SURGERY (5.7 miles) and TAIN DENTAL CARE (10.4 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near The Mound?
Our register has 1 practice within 5 miles of The Mound, 2 practices within 10 miles and 6 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near The Mound?
The nearest practice to The Mound that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is ADC GOLSPIE PRACTICE, about 3.8 miles to the east. Others nearby include DORNOCH DENTAL SURGERY (5.7 miles) and TAIN DENTAL CARE (10.4 miles).
What NHS area is The Mound in for dental services?
NHS dental commissioning in The Mound falls under NHS Highland.
What kind of area is The Mound?
By ONS classification, The Mound falls under remote Rural.
How deprived is The Mound compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, The Mound is close to the Scotland average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What towns are near The Mound?
Nearby towns include Little Torboll, Achavandra Muir, Poles.
What if the NHS wait is too long?
Going private removes the wait entirely, with the same clinical outcomes plus a wider choice of brace type and a more personalised experience — for a higher price than the NHS charge.
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 Highland
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Highland — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: