Braces in The Trench at a Glance
| Nearest practice listing fixed braces | Monkstown Dental, Jordanstown — 4.3 miles; 7 within 10 miles |
|---|---|
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Monkstown Dental, Jordanstown — 4.3 miles; 16 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Royal Dental Hospital of Belfast, Belfast — about 6 miles |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of Northern Ireland |
| Access within Antrim and Newtownabbey | 7th closest to a practice of 26 places in the county; the county median is 5.8 miles |
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 offering braces near The Trench
On our practice register: 4 practices within 5 miles of The Trench, 29 practices within 10 and 54 practices within 20. The closest is M A Irwin Dental in Carnmoney, 2.4 miles east. The nearest that mentions fixed braces is Monkstown Dental, 4.3 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Braces | Aligners | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monkstown DentalJordanstown | 4.3 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (30 reviews) |
| Abbey Dental ClinicNewtownabbey | 5.2 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4.4 (37 reviews) |
| Paste DentalBelfast | 6.4 miles south-east | – | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (284 reviews) |
| Kennedy Orthodontics -BelfastBelfast | 6.9 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (19 reviews) |
| Malone DentalBelfast | 7.1 miles south-east | – | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (75 reviews) |
| Turk Dental CareBelfast | 7.4 miles south-east | – | ✓ | ✓ | 4.2 (20 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to The Trench with practices offering braces
The closest town with practices offering braces is Jordanstown, 4.3 miles east; the next are Newtownabbey (5.2 miles east) and Belfast (6.4 miles south-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Jordanstown | 1 | 4.3 miles east |
| Newtownabbey | 1 | 5.2 miles east |
| Belfast | 5 | 6.4 miles south-east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of The Trench
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Paste Dental in Belfast (4.9 from 284 reviews), 6.4 miles south-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Paste DentalBelfast | 4.9 (284 reviews) | 6.4 miles south-east |
| Kennedy Orthodontics -BelfastBelfast | 4.8 (19 reviews) | 6.9 miles south-east |
| Malone DentalBelfast | 4.7 (75 reviews) | 7.1 miles south-east |
| Monkstown DentalJordanstown | 4.6 (30 reviews) | 4.3 miles east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Jaw problems range from mild functional discomfort to complex skeletal discrepancies. Some patients in The Trench have jaw discrepancies that can't be corrected by moving teeth alone. This guide explains TMJ, skeletal bites and when orthognathic surgery is involved.
Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery
Orthognathic surgery repositions one or both jaws to correct skeletal discrepancies that orthodontics alone cannot address. Performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMFS) under general anaesthetic, it is combined with 12-18 months of orthodontic treatment before and after the surgical procedure.
The referral pathway from The Trench begins with your dentist or orthodontist, who refers to an NHS OMFS or a combined orthodontic-surgical clinic. NHS funding covers surgery where there is a clear functional need. Recovery takes several weeks, but for patients with significant jaw discrepancies the outcomes — in both function and appearance — cannot be achieved any other way.
Near The Trench: the nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics: Monkstown Dental in Jordanstown (4.3 miles), one of 16 within 20 miles; a specialist orthodontist: Shankill Orthodontic Practice in Belfast (5.3 miles), one of 4 within 20 miles; the nearest university dental hospital, where complex referrals are often seen: Royal Dental Hospital of Belfast, Belfast (5.9 miles).
Skeletal Jaw Discrepancies
Skeletal underbite (Class III) occurs when the lower jaw is larger or more forward than the upper jaw. Mild cases can be addressed with camouflage orthodontics. Moderate to severe cases — particularly in adults — require orthognathic surgery to reposition one or both jaws.
Skeletal overbite / retrognathism is the reverse — the lower jaw sits noticeably smaller or further back than the upper one. In children, a functional appliance can guide jaw growth to correct it; in adults with a severe case, jaw surgery is sometimes the only route.
Facial asymmetry caused by uneven jaw growth shows up as an off-centre chin point and midlines that don't line up. A mild degree of this is genuinely common and not a concern; only when it's pronounced enough to affect function does surgical correction come into the conversation.
Skeletal open bite — front teeth that don't meet due to vertical jaw growth patterns. Often requires surgical correction in adults when severe.
Near The Trench: the nearest practice with a specialist orthodontist: Shankill Orthodontic Practice in Belfast (5.3 miles), one of 4 within 20 miles.
Jaw Treatment in The Trench — Local Context
Provision in The Trench varies by practice — it's worth comparing more than one before committing. The Trench sits within Health and Social Care Northern Ireland for NHS dental commissioning. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (4), The Trench has more choice than 79% of towns in Northern Ireland. The Trench falls in a less deprived area than most of Northern Ireland. The nearest university dental hospital to The Trench is Royal Dental Hospital of Belfast, Belfast, about 6 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. See local practice availability in The Trench → They offer specialist orthodontic assessment for jaw problems.
Private orthodontic treatment for jaw-related conditions (standard course) in The Trench typically costs between £1,500 and £5,500, depending on case complexity. Orthognathic surgery cases involve additional NHS or private surgical fees on top of orthodontic treatment costs. The referral pathway for jaw surgery begins with your dentist or orthodontist.
Frequently Asked Questions — Jaw Problems in The Trench
Where is the nearest orthodontist to The Trench?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to The Trench is M A Irwin Dental in Carnmoney, about 2.4 miles to the east. The next closest are Whiteabbey Dental Practice (4.2 miles) and Monkstown Dental (4.3 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near The Trench?
Our register has 4 practices within 5 miles of The Trench, 29 practices within 10 miles and 54 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get braces near The Trench?
The nearest practice to The Trench that mentions fixed braces is Monkstown Dental in Jordanstown, about 4.3 miles to the east. Others nearby include Abbey Dental Clinic (5.2 miles) and Paste Dental (6.4 miles).
What NHS area is The Trench in for dental services?
NHS dental commissioning in The Trench falls under Health and Social Care Northern Ireland.
How deprived is The Trench compared with the rest of Northern Ireland?
By the national deprivation index, The Trench is less deprived than most of Northern Ireland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What towns are near The Trench?
Nearby towns include Andersonstown, Shankill, Carnmoney.
Which county covers The Trench?
The Trench is in Antrim and Newtownabbey.
What causes jaw asymmetry?
Jaw asymmetry can result from uneven condylar growth, untreated crossbite causing adaptive jaw shift, or developmental conditions. Mild asymmetry is very common. Significant asymmetry affecting function or self-confidence may warrant orthodontic and/or surgical assessment.
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.
Braces Across Antrim and Newtownabbey
Explore braces information for other towns and cities in Antrim and Newtownabbey — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: