Braces in Upper Upnor at a Glance
| Residents under 16 | 19.2% (Census 2021) |
|---|---|
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7.2% of 1,530 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest secondary schools | Maritime Academy — 0.7 miles Waterfront UTC — 1.3 miles |
| Nearest practice listing fixed braces | Enhance Smiles - East Grinstead, Chatham — under a mile; 10 within 10 miles |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | Enhance Smiles - East Grinstead, Chatham — under a mile; 14 within 10 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Royal London Dental Hospital, London — about 26 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Deprivation | More deprived than most of England |
| Access within Medway | 8th closest to a practice of 43 places in the county; the county median is 2.4 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 Upper Upnor
On our practice register: 15 practices within 5 miles of Upper Upnor, 41 practices within 10 and 136 practices within 20. The closest is Enhance Smiles - East Grinstead in Chatham, 0.7 miles south-west. The nearest that mentions fixed braces is Enhance Smiles - East Grinstead, 0.7 miles south-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Braces | Aligners | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enhance Smiles - East GrinsteadChatham | 0.7 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 3.6 (52 reviews) |
| GM Dental And Implant CentreChatham | 1.6 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (659 reviews) |
| Kent Smile StudioChatham | 4.9 miles south | – | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (598 reviews) |
| Portman Smile Clinic BansteadUpchurch | 5.3 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (261 reviews) |
| Parrock Dental & Implant CentresGravesend | 6.8 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (762 reviews) |
| PMA Dental CareGravesend | 6.9 miles 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 Upnor with practices offering braces
The closest town with practices offering braces is Chatham, 0.7 miles south-west; the next are Upchurch (5.3 miles south-east) and Gravesend (6.8 miles west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Chatham | 3 | 0.7 miles south-west |
| Upchurch | 1 | 5.3 miles south-east |
| Gravesend | 2 | 6.8 miles west |
| Tilbury | 1 | 7.6 miles north-west |
| Swanscombe | 1 | 8.9 miles west |
| Canvey Island | 1 | 9.5 miles north |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Upper Upnor
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Kent Smile Studio in Chatham (5.0 from 598 reviews), 4.9 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kent Smile StudioChatham | 5.0 (598 reviews) | 4.9 miles south |
| Belle Vue Dental and Skin ClinicCanvey Island | 5.0 (26 reviews) | 9.5 miles north |
| GM Dental And Implant CentreChatham | 4.9 (659 reviews) | 1.6 miles south-west |
| Parrock Dental & Implant CentresGravesend | 4.8 (762 reviews) | 6.8 miles west |
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. Patients in Upper Upnor with jaw pain, significant bite issues or visible asymmetry should seek specialist assessment. A photo assessment can help flag whether specialist referral is worth pursuing.
Jaw Treatment in Upper Upnor — Local Context
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Upper Upnor. Upper Upnor's ONS geography type is smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city. Upper Upnor sits within NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Census data puts 19.2% of Upper Upnor's population at under 16. In the census neighbourhood around Upper Upnor, 7.2% of the 1,530 residents are aged 10 to 15, close to the 6.8% average across Medway, the age band in which most NHS orthodontic treatment begins. Upper Upnor has 15 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 85% of towns in England. The closest secondary schools to Upper Upnor are Maritime Academy (0.7 miles) and Waterfront UTC (1.3 miles). 12 secondary schools are within three miles. There are 110 schools and 52,482 pupils in Upper Upnor's Local Authority area, per DfE data. National deprivation data ranks Upper Upnor among England's more deprived areas. The nearest university dental hospital to Upper Upnor is Royal London Dental Hospital, London, about 26 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. See local practice availability in Upper Upnor → They offer specialist orthodontic assessment for jaw problems.
As a guide, private orthodontic treatment for jaw-related conditions (standard course) in Upper Upnor usually ranges from £1,500 to £5,500. 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.
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 Upper Upnor: the nearest practice with a specialist orthodontist: Portman Smile Clinic Banstead in Upchurch (5.3 miles), one of 2 within 20 miles.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders
The TMJ joints connect the lower jaw to the skull on either side of the face. TMJ disorder (TMJD) symptoms include: jaw or facial pain particularly on waking; clicking or popping sounds when opening or closing the mouth; limited mouth opening; headaches at the temples; and earache without infection.
Bite and TMJ symptoms interact in complicated ways — orthodontics can correct a bite issue that's contributing to joint loading, but it's not a reliable fix for TMJ pain on its own. Anyone in Upper Upnor with real TMJ symptoms should see an orofacial pain specialist first, ahead of considering orthodontic treatment.
Near Upper Upnor: the nearest practice with a specialist orthodontist: Portman Smile Clinic Banstead in Upchurch (5.3 miles), one of 2 within 20 miles; the nearest general dentist, a usual first contact: New Road Dental Practice (1.9 miles).
Frequently Asked Questions — Jaw Problems in Upper Upnor
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Upper Upnor?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Upper Upnor is Enhance Smiles - East Grinstead in Chatham, about 0.7 miles to the south-west. The next closest are ROCHESTER ORTHODONTIC CENTRE (0.7 miles) and Smil Dental Clinic (0.9 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Upper Upnor?
Our register has 15 practices within 5 miles of Upper Upnor, 41 practices within 10 miles and 136 practices within 20 miles.
Where can I get braces near Upper Upnor?
The nearest practice to Upper Upnor that mentions fixed braces is Enhance Smiles - East Grinstead in Chatham, about 0.7 miles to the south-west. Others nearby include GM Dental And Implant Centre (1.6 miles) and Kent Smile Studio (4.9 miles).
Which county covers Upper Upnor?
Upper Upnor falls within Medway.
How many pupils are in Upper Upnor's Local Authority?
Upper Upnor's Local Authority has 110 schools educating 52,482 pupils (DfE data).
How many families live in Upper Upnor?
Around 19.2% of Upper Upnor's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census.
What towns are near Upper Upnor?
Nearby towns include Noke Street, Cooling, Chatham.
Can jaw problems be corrected in children without surgery?
Yes — in growing patients, functional appliances guide jaw growth to reduce the severity of skeletal discrepancies. This can sometimes eliminate or substantially reduce the need for later surgery. Early specialist assessment is key to identifying cases where growth modification is appropriate.
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 Medway
Explore braces information for other towns and cities in Medway — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: