NHS Treatment in Upton at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS West 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 | 18.6% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 7.4% of 1,795 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | The Mount Dental Practice, Low Ackworth — 3.2 miles; 10 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Minsthorpe Community College — 0.6 miles Outwood Academy Hemsworth — 2.7 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Leeds Dental Institute, Leeds — about 17 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 19.3% 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 Upton
On our practice register: 1 practice within 5 miles of Upton, 19 practices within 10 and 90 practices within 20. The closest is The Mount Dental Practice in Low Ackworth, 3.2 miles north-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is The Mount Dental Practice, 3.2 miles north-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Mount Dental PracticeLow Ackworth | 3.2 miles north-west | ✓ | ✓ | 3.9 (18 reviews) |
| Ropergate Dental Care & Implant StudioPontefract | 5.6 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.6 (510 reviews) |
| Pontefract Dental CarePontefract | 5.7 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (937 reviews) |
| One Smile Dental - PontefractPontefract | 5.8 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (59 reviews) |
| TRINITY HOUSE ORTHODONTICSBarnsley | 7.5 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| Advance Dental CareWakefield | 8.7 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (357 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Upton with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is Low Ackworth, 3.2 miles north-west; the next are Pontefract (5.6 miles north) and Barnsley (7.5 miles south-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Low Ackworth | 1 | 3.2 miles north-west |
| Pontefract | 3 | 5.6 miles north |
| Barnsley | 1 | 7.5 miles south-west |
| Wakefield | 7 | 8.7 miles west |
| Doncaster | 1 | 9.1 miles south-east |
| Rotherham | 1 | 12.5 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Upton
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Pontefract Dental Care (5.0 from 937 reviews), 5.7 miles north.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Pontefract Dental CarePontefract | 5.0 (937 reviews) | 5.7 miles north |
| Smile Design StudioWakefield | 5.0 (116 reviews) | 10.3 miles north-west |
| Space DentalWakefield | 4.9 (1,305 reviews) | 9.6 miles north-west |
| Advance Dental CareWakefield | 4.9 (357 reviews) | 8.7 miles west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Upton, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is mydentist, 4.8 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is The Mount Dental Practice, Low Ackworth, 3.2 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is Leeds Dental Institute in Leeds, about 17 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Upton are commissioned by NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontics in Upton funds treatment for patients who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. The process starts with your dentist, includes a formal eligibility assessment, and places you on a waiting list. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
The NHS Orthodontic Pathway in Upton
From first check-up to retainers, the NHS process in Upton runs like this:
- 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 Upton.
- 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 Upton
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 City and Borough of Wakefield are not fixed — they depend on the referring practice and local demand at the time.
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Upton. Upton sits close to the England average for deprivation. Regionally, 30.2% of 5-year-olds in this ICB have experience of visible dental decay (OHID data). Census 2021 counts 1,795 residents in the neighbourhood around Upton, 7.4% of them aged 10 to 15, above the 6.7% average across City and Borough of Wakefield. For hospital-based orthodontic care, Upton is about 17 miles from Leeds Dental Institute in Leeds. Upton sits within NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning. Upton's ONS geography type is smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city. Upton's under-16 share sits at 18.6%, per the 2021 Census. The closest secondary schools to Upton are Minsthorpe Community College (0.6 miles) and Outwood Academy Hemsworth (2.7 miles). 2 secondary schools are within three miles. There are 155 schools and 57,141 pupils in Upton's Local Authority area, per DfE data. There is no orthodontist on our records in Upton itself. The nearest recorded are The Mount Dental Practice in Low Ackworth, about 3 miles away; Pontefract Hospital, about 6 miles away; and TRINITY HOUSE ORTHODONTICS in Barnsley, about 8 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.
NHS Orthodontic Costs in Upton
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Private treatment in Upton 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.
Orthodontic Eligibility in Upton
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. NHS-contracted orthodontists in City and Borough of Wakefield apply the same national criteria consistently. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
What If You Don't Qualify for NHS Treatment?
If your IOTN score falls below the threshold for NHS funding, private orthodontic treatment is fully available with no eligibility criteria and no waiting list. This means you can start treatment within weeks of your consultation, with full choice of brace type — metal, ceramic, aligner, or lingual — rather than being limited to NHS metal braces.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Upton
Orthodontic problems in children are often best identified early. Parents in Upton increasingly bring children for a first assessment around age 7-8. A photo assessment is a gentle way to get an early steer before booking anything.
NHS Treatment for Children in Upton
Eligible children under 18 in Upton 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.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Upton
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Upton?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Upton is The Mount Dental Practice in Low Ackworth, about 3.2 miles to the north-west. The next closest are Pontefract Hospital (5.6 miles) and Ropergate Dental Care & Implant Studio (5.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Upton?
Our register has 1 practice within 5 miles of Upton, 19 practices within 10 miles and 90 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Upton?
The nearest practice to Upton that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is The Mount Dental Practice in Low Ackworth, about 3.2 miles to the north-west. Others nearby include Ropergate Dental Care & Implant Studio (5.6 miles) and Pontefract Dental Care (5.7 miles).
How deprived is Upton compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Upton is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Upton?
Upton sits within NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
Is Upton a family area?
Census data puts 18.6% of Upton's population at under 16.
What towns are near Upton?
Nearby towns include Thorpe Audlin, North Elmsall, Priory Estate.
How much do NHS braces cost?
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. 18-year-olds in qualifying full-time education are also exempt, as are adults on certain benefits or low incomes, and one charge covers the full course from fitting to retainers.
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 City and Borough of Wakefield
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in City and Borough of Wakefield — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access:
See all orthodontic locations in City and Borough of Wakefield