NHS Treatment in The Willows at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Humber and North Yorkshire 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 | 14.5% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 5.5% of 1,196 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | The Dental Design Studio, Cleethorpes — 3.1 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | John Whitgift Academy — 0.2 miles Healing Academy — 1.4 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 17.1% 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 Willows
On our practice register: 5 practices within 5 miles of The Willows, 5 practices within 10 and 15 practices within 20. The closest is A C Dental Services in Cleethorpes, 2.3 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is The Dental Design Studio, 3.1 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Dental Design StudioCleethorpes | 3.1 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (103 reviews) |
| TRINITY HOUSE ORTHODONTICS HULLKingston upon Hull | 14.9 miles north-west | ✓ | – | – |
| BritasiaDoctors LimitedKingston upon Hull | 15.1 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (223 reviews) |
| 543 Dental Centre LimitedSaint Andrews Quay | 15.8 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (1,202 reviews) |
| Night and Day Emergency Dentist HullSaint Andrews Quay | 16.2 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (590 reviews) |
| Cosmetic and Family DentistryKingston upon Hull | 16.4 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (213 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to The Willows with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Cleethorpes, 3.1 miles east; the next are Kingston upon Hull (14.9 miles north-west) and Saint Andrews Quay (15.8 miles north-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Cleethorpes | 1 | 3.1 miles east |
| Kingston upon Hull | 5 | 14.9 miles north-west |
| Saint Andrews Quay | 3 | 15.8 miles north-west |
| Scunthorpe | 2 | 20.9 miles west |
| Brough | 1 | 21.0 miles north-west |
| Beverley | 1 | 22.7 miles north-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of The Willows
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Night and Day Emergency Dentist Hull in Saint Andrews Quay (4.9 from 590 reviews), 16.2 miles north-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Night and Day Emergency Dentist HullSaint Andrews Quay | 4.9 (590 reviews) | 16.2 miles north-west |
| BritasiaDoctors LimitedKingston upon Hull | 4.9 (223 reviews) | 15.1 miles north-west |
| Cosmetic and Family DentistryKingston upon Hull | 4.9 (213 reviews) | 16.4 miles north-west |
| Manor Dental HealthSaint Andrews Quay | 4.9 (95 reviews) | 17.1 miles north-west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from The Willows, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is mydentist, under a mile away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is The Dental Design Studio, Cleethorpes, 3.1 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around The Willows are commissioned by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
For families in The Willows, the NHS pathway offers a subsidised route to fixed braces for eligible children. Eligible under-18s get excellent clinical outcomes at no cost. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across North East Lincolnshire.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in The Willows
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Equivalent private metal braces in The Willows typically run £1,500–£3,500 — far more than NHS treatment, but with no waiting list and a wider choice of appliance.
The NHS Orthodontic Pathway in The Willows
For eligible patients in The Willows, the NHS route follows a defined sequence from dentist to specialist:
- 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 Willows.
- 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 Willows
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 waiting times in North East Lincolnshire are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
The Willows has no orthodontic practice of its own, but a dentist — mydentist — is under a mile away, and a general dentist is who most people ask for an orthodontic referral in the first place. The Willows's deprivation ranking is neither notably high nor low compared with England as a whole. OHID data for this ICB shows 25.7% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. In the census neighbourhood around The Willows, 5.5% of the 1,196 residents are aged 10 to 15, below the 6.5% average across North East Lincolnshire, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. The Willows is classified as urban: Nearer to a major town or city, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. The Willows's under-16 share sits at 14.5%, per the 2021 Census. Secondary-age pupils near The Willows attend schools such as John Whitgift Academy (0.2 miles) and Healing Academy (1.4 miles). 4 secondary schools are within three miles. DfE figures put 70 schools and 23,159 pupils across The Willows's Local Authority. With 5 orthodontic practices within five miles, The Willows is better served than 60% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in The Willows itself. The closest on record are A C Dental Services in Cleethorpes, about 2 miles away; Waltham Dental Practice, about 4 miles away; and TRINITY HOUSE ORTHODONTICS HULL in Kingston upon Hull, about 15 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.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in The Willows
Spotting a developing problem early rarely means treating it straight away. Parents in The Willows 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.
NHS Treatment for Children in The Willows
Eligible children under 18 in The Willows are entitled to NHS orthodontic treatment free of charge. The process starts with a dentist IOTN assessment and formal referral to the local NHS orthodontic service.
Orthodontic Eligibility in The Willows
Many patients in The Willows are surprised they don't automatically qualify for NHS braces. NHS-contracted orthodontists in North East Lincolnshire apply the same national criteria consistently. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Eligibility in The Willows — Local Context
Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in North East Lincolnshire differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in The Willows
Where is the nearest orthodontist to The Willows?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to The Willows is A C Dental Services in Cleethorpes, about 2.3 miles to the east. The next closest are Smile Lincs (2.3 miles) and Shakespeare House Dental Practice (2.3 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near The Willows?
Our register has 5 practices within 5 miles of The Willows, 5 practices within 10 miles and 15 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near The Willows?
The nearest practice to The Willows that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is The Dental Design Studio in Cleethorpes, about 3.1 miles to the east. Others nearby include TRINITY HOUSE ORTHODONTICS HULL (14.9 miles) and BritasiaDoctors Limited (15.1 miles).
Which towns are close to The Willows?
Nearby towns include Nunsthorpe, Pyewipe, Grimsby.
How many pupils are in The Willows's Local Authority?
DfE figures put 70 schools and 23,159 pupils across The Willows's Local Authority.
Is there a dentist near The Willows?
No orthodontic practice covers The Willows directly — the nearest dentist, mydentist, is under a mile away and is a normal first stop for a referral into orthodontic care.
How many families live in The Willows?
Around 14.5% of The Willows's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
How do I get an NHS referral?
Ask your dentist for an orthodontic assessment — if the IOTN score clears the threshold, they refer you to the local NHS orthodontic service. Some practices also take self-referrals directly.
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 North East Lincolnshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in North East Lincolnshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: