Orthodontic practices near DL17
On our practice register: None within 5 miles of DL17; 9 practices within 10 and 53 practices within 20. The closest is Queensway Dental - Bishop Auckland, 5.4 miles west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Braces | Aligners | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queensway Dental - Bishop AucklandBishop Auckland | 5.4 miles west | ✓ | – | ✓ | 5.0 (28 reviews) |
| QUEENSWAY ORTHODONTICS (EAST) LIMITEDBishop Auckland | 5.5 miles west | ✓ | – | – | – |
| Smmmile - Invisalign DurhamDurham | 6.6 miles north | – | – | – | – |
| Durham Smile ClinicDurham | 6.8 miles north | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4.1 (113 reviews) |
| FALCHION ORTHODONTICS LIMITEDDurham | 6.8 miles north | ✓ | – | – | – |
| DUNELM ORTHODONTICSDurham | 6.9 miles north | ✓ | – | – | – |
| West Auckland Dental CareHigh Etherley | 7.9 miles south-west | ✓ | – | ✓ | 3.4 (54 reviews) |
| Harrowgate Hill Dental PracticeDarlington | 9.3 miles south | ✓ | – | ✓ | 4.2 (50 reviews) |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to DL17 with orthodontic practices
The closest town with orthodontic practices is Bishop Auckland, 5.4 miles west; the next are Durham (6.6 miles north) and High Etherley (7.9 miles south-west).
| Place | Practices | Nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop Auckland | 2 | 5.4 miles west |
| Durham | 4 | 6.6 miles north |
| High Etherley | 1 | 7.9 miles south-west |
| Darlington | 1 | 9.3 miles south |
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of DL17
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Queensway Dental - Bishop Auckland (5.0 from 28 reviews), 5.4 miles west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Queensway Dental - Bishop AucklandBishop Auckland | 5.0 (28 reviews) | 5.4 miles west |
| Harrowgate Hill Dental PracticeDarlington | 4.2 (50 reviews) | 9.3 miles south |
| Durham Smile ClinicDurham | 4.1 (113 reviews) | 6.8 miles north |
| West Auckland Dental CareHigh Etherley | 3.4 (54 reviews) | 7.9 miles south-west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
Getting orthodontic treatment from DL17
From DL17 the nearest practice is Queensway Dental - Bishop Auckland, 5.4 miles away. A course of braces or aligners involves many appointments, so the length of that journey matters when comparing it with practices further afield. Within 10 miles there are 9 practices, and within 20 there are 53.
To make the first step cheaper or shorter: Queensway Dental - Bishop Auckland (5.4 miles) mentions both a free consultation and remote consultations, and 4 of the practices around DL17 list clear aligners, the nearest 5.4 miles away.
For NHS treatment, which is free for eligible under-18s and reached by dentist referral rather than by contacting a practice: NHS dental services around DL17 are commissioned by NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board; the nearest practice listing NHS orthodontics is Queensway Dental - Bishop Auckland, 5.4 miles away; and complex cases are referred to hospital orthodontic departments such as Newcastle Dental Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, about 21 miles away.
Allowing for roads about 30% longer than the straight line and an average of 35 mph, the drive from DL17 to Queensway Dental - Bishop Auckland is roughly 10 minutes each way. A course of fixed braces typically means 10 to 20 visits (a consultation, the fitting, 7 to 17 adjustments and the removal), which from here comes to about 140 to 280 miles and 3 to 7 hours on the road. At the 45p a mile HMRC uses for business driving, that is roughly £65 to £125 in running costs. Clear aligners usually need fewer visits, perhaps 6 to 10 (about 80 to 140 miles), so ask any practice how many a plan for your case would involve before you commit to the journey. About 31.1% of households in the surrounding census area have no car, for whom the journey means public transport or a lift.
DL17 at a Glance
| Nation | England |
|---|---|
| Council area | County Durham |
| NHS dental services | NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board |
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free for eligible under-18s; adults pay Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Area type (ONS) | Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city |
| Deprivation | More deprived than most of England |
| Residents under 16 | 17.4% (Census 2021) |
| Neighbourhood residents | 7,003 in the surrounding census area (Census 2021) |
| Aged 10 to 15 locally | 6.3% of residents in that area, the main age band for NHS orthodontic treatment |
| Adults locally | 9.8% aged 16 to 24 and 26.8% aged 25 to 49 |
| Households without a car | 31.1% in that area, which makes the distance to a practice matter more |
| Residents per square kilometre | 822 in that area (Census 2021) |
| Daily activities limited by health | 25.6% of residents in that area, relevant to practice accessibility |
| Nearest university dental hospital | Newcastle Dental Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne — 21 miles |
| Nearest secondary schools | Ferryhill School — 1.4 miles Whitworth Park Academy — 3.1 miles Woodham Academy — 3.8 miles |
| Secondary schools within 3 miles | 1 school, about 727 pupils (DfE) |
| Schools in council area | 273 schools, 74,080 pupils (DfE) |
| 5-year-olds with visible decay | 22.3% across the local ICB (OHID) |
| Nearest orthodontic practices | Queensway Dental - Bishop Auckland, Bishop Auckland — 5 miles Smmmile - Invisalign Durham, Durham — 7 miles West Auckland Dental Care, High Etherley — 8 miles |
| Estimated drive to the nearest practice | about 10 minutes each way (straight-line distance plus 30%, at 35 mph) |
| Practices within 10 and 20 miles | 9 within 10 miles, 53 within 20 miles |
| Neighbouring districts | DL16, DL5, DH1, DH6, DH99, DH97, DL4, TS29 |
Sources: ONS geography via postcodes.io, Census 2021 (NOMIS), DfE school statistics and Get Information About Schools, OHID Fingertips, UK NHS dental charge schedules and our orthodontic practice register. Distances are straight-line.
Orthodontic research around DL17
Patients in the DL17 area tend to weigh up braces versus aligners, cost, and whether a clinic visit is needed first. It bridges a general search and a specific decision about where and how to start.
Local links for this postcode area
The nearest town page for DL17 is Ferryhill.
Frequently Asked Questions — Orthodontics near DL17
Where is the nearest orthodontist to DL17?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to DL17 is Queensway Dental - Bishop Auckland, about 5.4 miles to the west. The next closest are QUEENSWAY ORTHODONTICS (EAST) LIMITED (5.5 miles) and Smmmile - Invisalign Durham (6.6 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near DL17?
Our register has 0 practices within 5 miles of DL17, 9 practices within 10 miles and 53 practices within 20 miles. None is inside 5 miles; the closest is in Bishop Auckland, 5.4 miles away.
Is there an NHS orthodontist near DL17?
The nearest practice to DL17 that lists NHS orthodontic treatment is Queensway Dental - Bishop Auckland, about 5.4 miles to the west. Others nearby include QUEENSWAY ORTHODONTICS (EAST) LIMITED (5.5 miles) and Durham Smile Clinic (6.8 miles).
Which places are in or near the DL17 postcode district?
Places in or next to DL17 include Ferryhill, Chilton Lane, East Howle, Cornforth, Mainsforth, Tursdale, West Cornforth and Thinford.
How do I find an orthodontist near the DL17 postcode area?
Look first at the linked location pages for Ferryhill, County Durham, then use a guided photo assessment to see whether braces or clear aligners may suit your case.
Should I choose braces or clear aligners?
The right choice is case-led. Clear aligners suit discreet, moderate cases; fixed braces give more control for complex bites.
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.