NHS Treatment in Wormwood Scrubs at a Glance
| NHS dental services | NHS West and North London 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 | 10.4% (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 2.9% of 1,695 residents, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Nearest practice listing NHS | SOUTHWEST ORTHODONTISTS LIMITED (SHEPHERDS BUSH), London — under a mile; 16 within 10 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Ark Burlington Danes Academy — 0.1 miles Phoenix Academy — 0.6 miles |
| Nearest university dental hospital | UCL Eastman Dental Hospital, London — about 5 miles |
| Area type (ONS) | Urban: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Daily activities limited by health | 12.7% 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 Wormwood Scrubs
On our practice register: 77 practices within 5 miles of Wormwood Scrubs, 183 practices within 10 and 386 practices within 20. The closest is SOUTHWEST ORTHODONTISTS LIMITED (SHEPHERDS BUSH) in London, 0.9 miles south-west. The nearest listing NHS orthodontics is SOUTHWEST ORTHODONTISTS LIMITED (SHEPHERDS BUSH), 0.9 miles south-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTHWEST ORTHODONTISTS LIMITED (SHEPHERDS BUSH)London | 0.9 miles south-west | ✓ | – | – |
| The Bush Dental ClinicShepherds Bush | 0.9 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (334 reviews) |
| Dr Chaw-Su Kyi | West London Orthodontist Cosmetic Dental StudiosShepherds Bush | 1.6 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 (218 reviews) |
| SOHO ORTHODONTICSLondon | 1.6 miles north | ✓ | – | – |
| Artiste Studios - L'OrthodontisteShepherds Bush | 1.9 miles south | ✓ | ✓ | 4.9 (69 reviews) |
| ARTISTE STUDIOS - L'ORTHODONTISTELondon | 1.9 miles south | ✓ | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Wormwood Scrubs with practices listing NHS orthodontics
The closest town with practices listing NHS orthodontics is London, 0.9 miles south-west; the next are Shepherds Bush (0.9 miles south) and Kilburn (2.0 miles north-east).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| London | 7 | 0.9 miles south-west |
| Shepherds Bush | 3 | 0.9 miles south |
| Kilburn | 2 | 2.0 miles north-east |
| Acton | 1 | 2.2 miles west |
| Chiswick | 1 | 2.4 miles south-west |
| Battersea | 1 | 2.8 miles south-east |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Wormwood Scrubs
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is [le] dental in Kilburn (5.0 from 238 reviews), 2.7 miles north-east.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| [le] dentalKilburn | 5.0 (238 reviews) | 2.7 miles north-east |
| Dr Chaw-Su Kyi | West London Orthodontist Cosmetic Dental StudiosShepherds Bush | 5.0 (218 reviews) | 1.6 miles south |
| Acton Dental CareActon | 5.0 (113 reviews) | 2.2 miles west |
| West London Dental CentresChiswick | 4.9 (725 reviews) | 2.4 miles south-west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
The NHS route from Wormwood Scrubs, step by step
| Step | Where it is from here |
|---|---|
| 1. Your dentist screens | The nearest general dentist on our register is Blythe Road Dental Practice, 1.5 miles away. They check the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need and refer. |
| 2. The NHS orthodontic practice | The nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is SOUTHWEST ORTHODONTISTS LIMITED (SHEPHERDS BUSH), London, under a mile away. Referrals go to a practice with an NHS contract. |
| 3. The hospital for complex cases | The nearest university dental hospital is UCL Eastman Dental Hospital in London, about 5 miles away. |
| 4. Who commissions it | NHS dental services around Wormwood Scrubs are commissioned by NHS West and North London Integrated Care Board. |
NHS orthodontics is free for eligible under-18s and is reached by referral. Distances are straight-line.
For families in Wormwood Scrubs, the NHS pathway offers a subsidised route to fixed braces for eligible children. The process starts with your dentist, includes a formal eligibility assessment, and places you on a waiting list. The main limitation is waiting time, which can be substantial across Greater London.
NHS Orthodontic Access in Wormwood Scrubs
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 Greater London vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Practices serving Wormwood Scrubs differ in what they offer, from brace type to appointment availability. National deprivation data puts Wormwood Scrubs close to the England median. Most NHS orthodontic treatment begins between ages 10 and 15, and that band makes up 2.9% of the 1,695 residents in Wormwood Scrubs's census neighbourhood, below the 6.8% average across Greater London. The nearest university dental hospital to Wormwood Scrubs is UCL Eastman Dental Hospital, London, about 5 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. For NHS dental services, Wormwood Scrubs falls under NHS West and North London Integrated Care Board. Wormwood Scrubs is classified as urban: Nearer to a major town or city. Wormwood Scrubs has a smaller share of children than most areas — 10.4% of residents are under 16. Secondary-age pupils near Wormwood Scrubs attend schools such as Ark Burlington Danes Academy (0.1 miles) and Phoenix Academy (0.6 miles). 33 secondary schools are within three miles. Wormwood Scrubs's Local Authority has 79 schools educating 25,980 pupils (DfE data). Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (76), Wormwood Scrubs has more choice than 99% of towns in England. We hold no orthodontic practice records in Wormwood Scrubs itself. The nearest we do hold are SOUTHWEST ORTHODONTISTS LIMITED (SHEPHERDS BUSH) in London, under a mile away; The Bush Dental Clinic in Shepherds Bush, under a mile away; and The Diamond Smile Studio in Willesden, about a mile 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 vs Private Fees in Wormwood Scrubs
An NHS course covers the entire treatment: appointments, the brace, adjustments, de-bonding and retainers.
Going private for the same metal braces in Wormwood Scrubs costs roughly £1,500–£3,500; you're paying for immediate access and appliance choice rather than a better clinical result.
How Long Is the NHS Wait in Wormwood Scrubs?
Many patients in Greater London 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.
Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children in Wormwood Scrubs
For many families in Wormwood Scrubs, the question isn't whether their child needs treatment — it's when to start. Understanding the difference between monitoring, interceptive and definitive treatment helps parents navigate it. A photo assessment is a gentle way to get an early steer before booking anything.
The Age-7 Assessment
British Orthodontic Society guidance points to age 7 for an assessment where there's a noticeable concern — by then most children have their first permanent molars and incisors through, which is enough for an orthodontist to judge jaw relationships, arch development, bite and likely future crowding.
NHS Brace Eligibility in Wormwood Scrubs
NHS orthodontic treatment is not available to everyone. Even visibly crooked teeth may score below the threshold, which is why understanding IOTN matters. If NHS funding isn't available, private treatment has no eligibility threshold and no waiting list.
Eligibility in Wormwood Scrubs — Local Context
NHS orthodontic waiting times in Greater London vary significantly by practice and by how the referral was made.
Frequently Asked Questions — NHS Treatment in Wormwood Scrubs
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Wormwood Scrubs?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Wormwood Scrubs is SOUTHWEST ORTHODONTISTS LIMITED (SHEPHERDS BUSH) in London, about 0.9 miles to the south-west. The next closest are The Bush Dental Clinic (0.9 miles) and Hammersmith Orthodontics (1.0 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Wormwood Scrubs?
Our register has 77 practices within 5 miles of Wormwood Scrubs, 183 practices within 10 miles and 386 practices within 20 miles.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near Wormwood Scrubs?
The nearest practice to Wormwood Scrubs that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is SOUTHWEST ORTHODONTISTS LIMITED (SHEPHERDS BUSH) in London, about 0.9 miles to the south-west. Others nearby include The Bush Dental Clinic (0.9 miles) and Dr Chaw-Su Kyi | West London Orthodontist Cosmetic Dental Studios (1.6 miles).
Who commissions NHS dentistry in Wormwood Scrubs?
NHS dentistry here is commissioned by NHS West and North London Integrated Care Board.
How deprived is Wormwood Scrubs compared with the rest of England?
By the national deprivation index, Wormwood Scrubs is close to the England average for deprivation. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
Which county covers Wormwood Scrubs?
Wormwood Scrubs is in Greater London.
What kind of area is Wormwood Scrubs?
By ONS classification, Wormwood Scrubs falls under urban: Nearer to a major town or city.
Are NHS orthodontic charges the same across the UK?
No — NHS dental charges are set separately in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. What stays the same everywhere is that eligible under-18s pay nothing. Adults who do qualify pay the NHS Band 3 charge, £332.10 in England from April 2026, which covers the whole course.
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 Greater London
Explore nhs treatment information for other towns and cities in Greater London — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: