NHS Treatment in Woods Eaves at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire 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 | 12.5% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 4.7% of 1,541 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic, Hereford — 15 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Lady Hawkins' School — 4.4 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 17.3% 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 Woods Eaves
On our practice register: None within 10 miles of Woods Eaves; 9 practices within 20. The closest is St.Owen Dental Studio in Hereford, 14.9 miles south-east. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic, 15.0 miles south-east.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Martins Dental & Implant ClinicHereford | 15.0 miles south-east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.8 (167 reviews) |
| Willows DentistryHereford | 15.0 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (196 reviews) |
| Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant CentreHereford | 15.4 miles east | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (146 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Woods Eaves
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Willows Dentistry in Hereford (4.9 from 196 reviews), 15.0 miles east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Willows DentistryHereford | 4.9 (196 reviews) | 15.0 miles east |
| Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant CentreHereford | 4.9 (146 reviews) | 15.4 miles east |
| St Martins Dental & Implant ClinicHereford | 4.8 (167 reviews) | 15.0 miles south-east |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Woods Eaves, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is mydentist, 14.1 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic, Hereford, 15 miles away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Woods Eaves are commissioned by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
NHS orthodontic treatment in Woods Eaves follows a structured pathway from your dentist through to a specialist. For eligible under-18s it's outstanding value — full treatment at no charge at all. For those who don't qualify or can't wait, private treatment fills the gap effectively.
NHS Waiting Times in Woods Eaves
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Herefordshire vary and can range from 12 to 36 months from referral to treatment starting. For families where timing is important — particularly approaching the optimal treatment age — private orthodontics eliminates the wait entirely and typically begins within a few weeks of consultation.
NHS vs Private Fees in Woods Eaves
On the NHS, one course of treatment runs from fitting right through to retainers, with nothing added along the way.
Private treatment in Woods Eaves 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 Woods Eaves
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 orthodontic waiting times in Herefordshire vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
There's no orthodontist on record in Woods Eaves itself; the nearest dentist, mydentist, is about 14 miles away and is a reasonable place to start for a referral. Woods Eaves sits close to the England average for deprivation. OHID data for this ICB shows 19.4% of 5-year-olds with visible dental decay. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 4.7% of the 1,541 residents in Woods Eaves's census neighbourhood, below the 6.2% average across Herefordshire. NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board. ONS classifies Woods Eaves as smaller rural: Further from a major town or city. Woods Eaves has a smaller share of children than most areas — 12.5% of residents are under 16. Secondary-age pupils near Woods Eaves attend schools such as Lady Hawkins' School (4.4 miles). DfE figures put 110 schools and 24,851 pupils across Woods Eaves's Local Authority. No orthodontic practice on our register is within five miles of Woods Eaves; the nearest is about 15 miles away. No orthodontic practice is recorded in Woods Eaves. The nearest we do hold are St.Owen Dental Studio in Hereford, about 15 miles away; The Mayhill Dental & Specialist Centre in Monmouth, about 27 miles away; and Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, about 30 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.
Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Woods Eaves
For many families in Woods Eaves, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. The aim is to monitor development and intervene at the right time, not to begin treatment immediately. 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.
Am I Eligible for NHS Orthodontics in Woods Eaves?
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. NHS-contracted orthodontists in Herefordshire apply the same national criteria consistently. This guide explains how IOTN works, who qualifies, and what private options exist if you don't.
What Is IOTN?
The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) is the two-part scoring system orthodontists across Herefordshire use to decide whether a patient qualifies for NHS treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Woods Eaves
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Woods Eaves?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Woods Eaves is St.Owen Dental Studio in Hereford, about 14.9 miles to the south-east. The next closest are Evans Morton & Evans Orthodontics (15.0 miles) and St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic (15.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Woods Eaves?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of Woods Eaves, 0 practices within 10 miles and 9 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Hereford, 14.9 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Woods Eaves?
The nearest practice to Woods Eaves that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic in Hereford, about 15.0 miles to the south-east. Others nearby include Willows Dentistry (15.0 miles) and Tupsley Dental Practice and Implant Centre (15.4 miles).
How many schools are in Woods Eaves's area?
DfE figures put 110 schools and 24,851 pupils across Woods Eaves's Local Authority.
Which county covers Woods Eaves?
Woods Eaves falls within Herefordshire.
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Woods Eaves?
Woods Eaves sits within NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board for NHS dental commissioning.
How deprived is Woods Eaves compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Woods Eaves is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Will I lose NHS eligibility if I turn 18 while waiting?
It's a genuine risk on a long waiting list — NHS funding is age-sensitive, so a case eligible at 16 might be assessed differently at 18. If you're close to that age and eligible now, ask about timescales; it can tip the decision toward going private.
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 Herefordshire
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Herefordshire — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: