NHS Treatment in Upshire at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Essex Integrated Care Board |
|---|---|
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Deprivation | More deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 16.9% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.5% of 2,773 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE, Epping — 2.6 miles; 15 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | King Harold Business & Enterprise Academy — 1.5 miles Epping St John's Church of England School — 2.2 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Royal London Dental Hospital, London — about 13 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 18.2% 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 Upshire
On our practice register: 8 practices within 5 miles of Upshire, 46 practices within 10 and 303 practices within 20. The closest is Dental Beauty Orthodontics Epping, 2.6 miles east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE, 2.6 miles east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICEEpping | 2.6 miles east | ✓ | – | – |
| Chingford Smile & Orthodontic StudioChingford | 4.4 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.3 (143 reviews) |
| FIRST Ortho - FIRST ImpressionsBuckhurst Hill | 4.5 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (108 reviews) |
| Dentality @ Hoddesdon - Dental and Aesthetics PracticeHoddesdon | 5.5 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.7 (320 reviews) |
| Chingford Mount Dental PracticeHighams Park | 5.9 miles south-west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (635 reviews) |
| ANGLE HOUSE ORTHODONTIC CHINGFORDLondon | 6.2 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Upshire with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Epping, 2.6 miles east; the next are Chingford (4.4 miles south-west) and Buckhurst Hill (4.5 miles south).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Epping | 1 | 2.6 miles east |
| Chingford | 1 | 4.4 miles south-west |
| Buckhurst Hill | 1 | 4.5 miles south |
| Hoddesdon | 1 | 5.5 miles north-west |
| Highams Park | 1 | 5.9 miles south-west |
| London | 2 | 6.2 miles south-west |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Upshire
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is FIRST Ortho - FIRST Impressions in Buckhurst Hill (5.0 from 108 reviews), 4.5 miles south.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST Ortho - FIRST ImpressionsBuckhurst Hill | 5.0 (108 reviews) | 4.5 miles south |
| Winchmore Hill Dental PracticeEnfield Town | 4.9 (108 reviews) | 7.1 miles south-west |
| Chingford Mount Dental PracticeHighams Park | 4.8 (635 reviews) | 5.9 miles south-west |
| Ilford Dental CentreIlford | 4.8 (251 reviews) | 8.9 miles south |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Upshire, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Station Road Dental Practice, 3.2 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE, Epping, 2.6 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 13 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Upshire are commissioned by NHS Essex 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 Upshire focuses limited resources on the greatest clinical need. For eligible under-18s it's outstanding value — full treatment at no charge at all. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Essex.
NHS vs Private Fees in Upshire
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Private treatment in Upshire 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.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Upshire
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. Waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment in Essex differ considerably between practices and can change over time.
What's available in Upshire depends on the practice, so it's worth checking directly what each one offers. By national deprivation ranking, Upshire sits among the more deprived areas of England. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 6.5% of the 2,773 residents in Upshire's census neighbourhood, close to the 6.9% average across Essex. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Upshire is about 13 miles from Royal London Dental Hospital in London. For NHS dental services, Upshire falls under NHS Essex Integrated Care Board. ONS classifies Upshire as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city. 16.9% of Upshire's residents are under 16, per the 2021 Census. The closest secondary schools to Upshire are King Harold Business & Enterprise Academy (1.5 miles) and Epping St John's Church of England School (2.2 miles). 4 secondary schools are within three miles. With 8 orthodontic practices within five miles, Upshire is better served than 69% of towns in England. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Upshire itself. The nearest we do hold are Dental Beauty Orthodontics Epping, about 3 miles away; The Lodge Dental Suite in Cheshunt, about 4 miles away; and The Barbara Castle Dental Practice in Harlow, about 4 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.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Upshire?
Many patients in Essex 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Upshire
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Not every child who sees an orthodontist needs treatment right away, but early identification allows targeted intervention. Early review can prevent more complex problems later and simplify treatment when it does begin.
The Age-7 Assessment
The British Orthodontic Society recommends an orthodontic assessment by age 7 for children with notable concerns. At age 7, most children have their first permanent molars and incisors, giving an orthodontist enough information to evaluate jaw relationships, arch development, bite patterns, and likely future crowding.
Understanding Orthodontic Eligibility in Upshire
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Essex apply the same national criteria consistently. Understanding the scoring in advance means a more informed conversation with your dentist.
Eligibility in Upshire — Local Context
NHS waiting times in Essex are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Upshire
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Upshire?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Upshire is Dental Beauty Orthodontics Epping, about 2.6 miles to the east. The next closest are SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE (2.6 miles) and The Lodge Dental Suite (3.7 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Upshire?
Our register has 8 practices within 5 miles of Upshire, 46 practices within 10 miles and 303 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Upshire?
The nearest practice to Upshire that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE in Epping, about 2.6 miles to the east. Others nearby include Chingford Smile & Orthodontic Studio (4.4 miles) and FIRST Ortho - FIRST Impressions (4.5 miles).
Is Upshire a family area?
Census data puts 16.9% of Upshire's population at under 16.
What NHS area is Upshire in for dental services?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Essex Integrated Care Board.
Is Upshire rural or urban?
ONS classifies Upshire as smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city.
How deprived is Upshire compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Upshire is more deprived than most of England. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What type of brace does the NHS provide?
NHS braces are almost always metal fixed braces. Ceramic, lingual, or clear aligner treatment is not available on the NHS. If you want a less visible option, private orthodontics is required.
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 Essex
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