Costs in Three Gates at a Glance
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
|---|---|
| Deprivation | Around the England average |
| Nearest practice listing private treatment | Yeovil Hospital, Yeovil — 7.2 miles; 3 within 10 miles |
| Nearest practice listing payment plans | Carlton Dental Practice, Weymouth — 17.6 miles |
| Practices on our register | 0 within 5 miles, 3 within 10, 9 within 20 |
| Adults locally | 7.1% aged 16 to 24 and 20.5% aged 25 to 49 of 1,869 residents |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city |
| Access within Dorset | 244th closest to a practice of 523 places in the county; the county median is 7.5 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 near Three Gates that list payment plans
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of Three Gates; 3 practices within 10 and 9 practices within 20. The closest is Yeovil Hospital, 7.2 miles north-west. The nearest that mentions finance or monthly payments is Carlton Dental Practice, 17.6 miles south.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Finance | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yeovil HospitalYeovil | 7.2 miles north-west | – | ✓ | – | 3.8 (352 reviews) |
| Smile Dental LaboratoryYeovil | 7.3 miles north-west | – | ✓ | – | 3.7 (3 reviews) |
| Yeovil Dental Access CentreYeovil | 7.7 miles north-west | – | ✓ | – | 4.8 (9 reviews) |
| Dorchester Orthodontic ClinicDorchester | 11.4 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | – | 4.9 (127 reviews) |
| Orthodontic DepartmentDorchester | 11.4 miles south | – | ✓ | – | – |
| Orchard Lane Crewkerne DentalCrewkerne | 12.0 miles west | – | ✓ | – | 4.6 (118 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Three Gates with practices listing payment plans
The closest town with practices listing payment plans is Yeovil, 7.2 miles north-west; the next are Dorchester (11.4 miles south) and Crewkerne (12.0 miles west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Yeovil | 3 | 7.2 miles north-west |
| Dorchester | 2 | 11.4 miles south |
| Crewkerne | 1 | 12.0 miles west |
| Weymouth | 3 | 17.6 miles south |
| Mendip | 3 | 23.9 miles north |
| Poole | 6 | 24.4 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 Three Gates
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Dorchester Orthodontic Clinic (4.9 from 127 reviews), 11.4 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dorchester Orthodontic ClinicDorchester | 4.9 (127 reviews) | 11.4 miles south |
| Carlton Dental PracticeWeymouth | 4.7 (101 reviews) | 17.6 miles south |
| Orchard Lane Crewkerne DentalCrewkerne | 4.6 (118 reviews) | 12.0 miles west |
| The Clock Dental PracticeWeymouth | 4.5 (188 reviews) | 17.9 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
What a course costs from Three Gates, travel included
The fees are typical UK private prices. Travel is added for the journey to Yeovil Hospital, the nearest practice on our register (7.2 miles away, about 9.4 miles by road), at the 45p a mile HMRC rate for every visit there and back.
| Treatment | Typical fee | Visits | Travel | Total from here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal braces | £1,500 to £3,500 | 10 to 20 | £85 to £170 | £1,585 to £3,670 |
| Ceramic braces | £2,000 to £4,500 | 10 to 20 | £85 to £170 | £2,085 to £4,670 |
| Lingual braces | £4,000 to £8,000 | 10 to 20 | £85 to £170 | £4,085 to £8,170 |
| Clear aligners | £1,500 to £5,500 | 6 to 10 | £50 to £85 | £1,550 to £5,585 |
| Invisalign | £2,500 to £5,500 | 6 to 10 | £50 to £85 | £2,550 to £5,585 |
Estimates. Fees vary by practice and case, so ask what each quote includes (retainers, refinements, emergency visits). NHS treatment for eligible under-18s is free.
What affects cost near Three Gates
| Cost factor | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free first appointment | a free consultation | Dorset Dental Clinic, Poole (25.8 miles) | Dorset Dental Implants (25.8 miles); Octagon Dental Surgery (25.9 miles) | 0 |
| Monthly payments | payment plans | Carlton Dental Practice, Weymouth (17.6 miles) | DK Dental Practice (18.3 miles); Priory Dental (23.9 miles) | 2 |
| NHS treatment | NHS orthodontics | Dorchester Orthodontic Clinic (11.4 miles) | Somerset Orthodontist (23.9 miles); Priory Dental (23.9 miles) | 1 |
| Private treatment | private fees | Yeovil Hospital (7.2 miles) | Smile Dental Laboratory (7.3 miles); Yeovil Dental Access Centre (7.7 miles) | 9 |
| Aligner prices to compare | aligners | Smile Dental Laboratory, Yeovil (7.3 miles) | Dorchester Orthodontic Clinic (11.4 miles); Somerset Orthodontist (23.9 miles) | 2 |
| Brace prices to compare | fixed braces | Dorchester Orthodontic Clinic (11.4 miles) | DK Dental Practice (18.3 miles); Somerset Orthodontist (23.9 miles) | 2 |
Built from what each practice's own published information mentions, so a missing entry means not mentioned, which does not mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Price is often the deciding factor when choosing orthodontic treatment in Three Gates. Case complexity, appliance type and inclusions all move the total up or down. Below we break down NHS and private pricing and the finance options available locally.
Orthodontic Price Guide for Three Gates
As a private-fee guide for Three Gates, the main options compare roughly as follows:
| Treatment type | Typical cost range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NHS metal braces | Free for eligible under-18s | Adults who do qualify pay the NHS Band 3 charge, £332.10 in England from April 2026, which covers the whole course. |
| Private metal braces | £1,500–£3,500 | No waiting list. Full arch treatment. Retainers included in good practices. |
| Ceramic braces | £2,000–£4,500 | Tooth-coloured brackets. More discreet than metal. Not NHS-available. |
| Clear aligners (non-Invisalign) | £1,500–£4,500 | Wide range by brand and complexity. Confirm refinements and retainers are included. |
| Invisalign Lite | £2,500–£3,500 | Mild cases only. Limited refinements. |
| Invisalign Comprehensive | £3,500–£5,500 | Moderate to complex. Unlimited refinements within treatment cycle. |
| Lingual braces | £4,000–£8,000 | Completely hidden. Highest cost. Fewest providers in Three Gates. |
These are typical private fee ranges for Three Gates — individual practices may charge more or less depending on their overheads, location, and clinician experience. Always request a written treatment plan with the full fee itemised before committing.
Orthodontic Payment Plans in Three Gates
Spreading the cost of orthodontic treatment over monthly payments makes even higher-cost options such as Invisalign or ceramic braces more manageable. Most practices in Three Gates offer payment plans — ask whether they are 0% interest, what deposit is required, and whether payments continue if treatment takes longer than planned.
NHS treatment is free for eligible under-18s. Adults who do qualify pay the NHS Band 3 charge, £332.10 in England from April 2026, which covers the whole course.
Cost Context for Three Gates
Private full fixed brace treatment in Three Gates typically costs between £1,500 and £5,500, depending on case complexity. Mild-to-moderate crowding or spacing is often suitable for clear aligners, while more complex cases are more commonly recommended fixed braces.
Treatment range and appointment slots differ between the practices covering Three Gates — comparing a couple is worthwhile. Classified by ONS as smaller rural: Further from a major town or city, Three Gates sits within NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Census data puts only 12.8% of Three Gates's population at under 16, below the typical share. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 5.8% of the 1,869 residents in Three Gates's census neighbourhood, below the 6.3% average across Dorset. No orthodontic practice on our register is within five miles of Three Gates; the nearest is about 7 miles away. Regionally, 16.7% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay (OHID data). Three Gates's Local Authority has 179 schools educating 51,332 pupils (DfE data). By national deprivation ranking, Three Gates is roughly mid-table for England. See local practice availability in Three Gates → Costs can vary significantly between providers — getting two or three quotes and comparing what's included (retainers, refinements, both arches) before committing is strongly recommended.
Budget aligner options in Three Gates
There are competitively priced aligner routes in Three Gates — the trick is knowing what a lower price represents. The key is whether the saving comes from a genuinely simple case or from reduced clinical oversight. This guide explains where corners are sometimes cut and how to spot real value.
Getting Real Value in Three Gates
Good value in Three Gates comes from comparing like with like. Get an early sense of your case complexity first; that context is what lets you judge whether a low quote is a bargain or a false economy.
Aligner pricing in Three Gates explained
What you pay for clear aligners in Three Gates reflects the case, not just the brand. Two quotes at the same headline price can include very different levels of clinical input. What's included matters more than the sticker price when you compare providers.
Indicative Clear Aligner Costs in Three Gates
Indicative private aligner pricing in Three Gates looks like this:
Frequently Asked Questions — Costs in Three Gates
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Three Gates?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Three Gates is Yeovil Hospital, about 7.2 miles to the north-west. The next closest are Smile Dental Laboratory (7.3 miles) and Yeovil Dental Access Centre (7.7 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Three Gates?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Three Gates, 3 practices within 10 miles and 9 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Yeovil, 7.2 miles away.
Which practices near Three Gates offer payment plans?
The nearest practice to Three Gates that mentions finance or monthly payment options is Carlton Dental Practice in Weymouth, about 17.6 miles to the south. Others nearby include DK Dental Practice (18.3 miles) and Priory Dental (23.9 miles).
Which county covers Three Gates?
Three Gates falls within Dorset.
Is tooth decay common among young children near Three Gates?
Regionally, 16.7% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay, per OHID data.
Is Three Gates a family area?
Around 12.8% of Three Gates's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
Is Three Gates rural or urban?
By ONS classification, Three Gates falls under smaller rural: Further from a major town or city.
How much do aligners cost?
Clear aligner costs range from around £1,500 for simple entry-level systems to £5,500+ for comprehensive Invisalign treatment. The fee should include all trays, refinements, and retainers. Always confirm what is and isn't included before signing a treatment agreement.
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.
Costs Across Dorset
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