NHS Treatment in Upper Bush at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | Less deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 17.9% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 8% of 1,504 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | GM Dental And Implant Centre, Chatham — 2.8 miles; 14 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Leigh Academy Strood — 2.0 miles Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School — 3.0 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Royal London Dental Hospital, London — about 23 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 15.3% 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 Upper Bush
On our practice register: 16 practices within 5 miles of Upper Bush, 43 practices within 10 and 165 practices within 20. The closest is GM Dental And Implant Centre in Chatham, 2.8 miles north-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is GM Dental And Implant Centre, 2.8 miles north-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GM Dental And Implant CentreChatham | 2.8 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (659 reviews) |
| Enhance Smiles - East GrinsteadChatham | 3.7 miles north-east | ✓ | ✓ | 3.6 (52 reviews) |
| ROCHESTER ORTHODONTIC CENTRERochester | 3.7 miles north-east | ✓ | – | – |
| Ashley Lupin and AssociatesChatham | 4.0 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (764 reviews) |
| Parrock Dental & Implant CentresGravesend | 4.9 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (762 reviews) |
| PMA Dental CareGravesend | 4.9 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (242 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Upper Bush with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Chatham, 2.8 miles north-east; the next are Rochester (3.7 miles north-east) and Gravesend (4.9 miles north-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Chatham | 4 | 2.8 miles north-east |
| Rochester | 1 | 3.7 miles north-east |
| Gravesend | 3 | 4.9 miles north-west |
| Tilbury | 1 | 6.3 miles north-west |
| Swanscombe | 1 | 6.6 miles north-west |
| Upchurch | 1 | 8.0 miles east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Upper Bush
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is GM Dental And Implant Centre in Chatham (4.9 from 659 reviews), 2.8 miles north-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| GM Dental And Implant CentreChatham | 4.9 (659 reviews) | 2.8 miles north-east |
| Toothshine Dental ClinicGrays | 4.9 (470 reviews) | 8.2 miles north-west |
| Parrock Dental & Implant CentresGravesend | 4.9 (246 reviews) | 5.0 miles north-west |
| DentoBeauty ClinicGrays | 4.9 (63 reviews) | 8.3 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 Upper Bush, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Louise Lunness-Barnes Dental Clinic, 2.5 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is GM Dental And Implant Centre, Chatham, 2.8 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Royal London Dental Hospital in London, about 23 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Upper Bush are commissioned by NHS Kent and Medway 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 Upper Bush 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 Upper Bush plan around realistic waiting times.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Upper Bush
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 Medway are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
No orthodontic practice covers Upper Bush directly, though Louise Lunness-Barnes Dental Clinic (about 2 miles away) is the nearest dentist and can usually point patients toward orthodontic care locally. Upper Bush's deprivation ranking places it in a less deprived band than most of England. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 8% of the 1,504 residents in Upper Bush's census neighbourhood, above the 6.8% average across Medway. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Upper Bush is about 23 miles from Royal London Dental Hospital in London. Upper Bush sits within NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Upper Bush is classified as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city. Census figures show 17.9% of the local population is under 16. The closest secondary schools to Upper Bush are Leigh Academy Strood (2.0 miles) and Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School (3.0 miles). 1 secondary school is within three miles. DfE figures put 110 schools and 52,482 pupils across Upper Bush's Local Authority. With 14 orthodontic practices within five miles, Upper Bush is better served than 83% of towns in England. There is no orthodontist on our records in Upper Bush itself. The nearest we do hold are GM Dental And Implant Centre in Chatham, about 3 miles away; David Austin Orthodontics in Rochester, about 4 miles away; and Kreate Dental Gravesend, about 5 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.
What NHS Treatment Costs in Upper Bush
The NHS route covers the whole course, from the specialist assessment to the retainers at the end.
Private treatment in Upper Bush trades cost for speed and choice — around £1,500–£3,500 for metal braces, but starting within weeks and with ceramic, lingual and aligner options on the table.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Upper Bush?
Many patients in Medway 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.
Kids' Braces & Interceptive Treatment in Upper Bush
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. This guide explains the age-7 assessment, interceptive options and NHS access for children.
NHS Orthodontics for Children in Upper Bush
Children in Upper Bush who meet the IOTN eligibility threshold are entitled to NHS-funded orthodontic treatment. Referrals are made by the child's dentist once most adult teeth have erupted. NHS treatment for children is almost always metal fixed braces.
Orthodontic Eligibility in Upper Bush
Whether you or your child qualifies for NHS treatment in Upper Bush comes down to a structured assessment. 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.
Eligibility in Upper Bush — Local Context
Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in Medway differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Upper Bush
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Upper Bush?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Upper Bush is GM Dental And Implant Centre in Chatham, about 2.8 miles to the north-east. The next closest are Enhance Smiles - East Grinstead (3.7 miles) and Leverstock Green Dental Practice (Oradent group) (3.7 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Upper Bush?
Our register has 16 practices within 5 miles of Upper Bush, 43 practices within 10 miles and 165 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Upper Bush?
The nearest practice to Upper Bush that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is GM Dental And Implant Centre in Chatham, about 2.8 miles to the north-east. Others nearby include Enhance Smiles - East Grinstead (3.7 miles) and ROCHESTER ORTHODONTIC CENTRE (3.7 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Upper Bush?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board.
How deprived is Upper Bush compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Upper Bush is less deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Where's the nearest dentist to Upper Bush?
No orthodontic practice covers Upper Bush directly — the nearest dentist, Louise Lunness-Barnes Dental Clinic, is about 2 miles away and is a normal first stop for a referral into orthodontic care.
Is Upper Bush a family area?
Census data puts 17.9% of Upper Bush's population at under 16.
What does NHS orthodontic treatment include?
A standard NHS course covers the specialist assessment, all adjustment appointments, the brace itself, de-bonding, and retainers — all as one course of treatment.
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 Medway
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Medway — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: