NHS Patient Journey

NHS Patient Journey

The speciality of orthodontics is concerned with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of irregularities of the jaws and teeth. It is thought that around a third of 12-year-olds would benefit from some degree of orthodontic treatment. The effect on your child’s dental health can include crowding, missing or extra teeth, impacted teeth and teeth that do not bite together properly. In some cases, abnormal development of the teeth and jaw can affect the shape of the face.

Orthodontic treatment is aimed at providing a functional bite that improves the long-term health of the teeth as well as improving appearance. There can be significant benefits to mental and physical well-being.

To find out if your child is eligible for NHS funded treatment, we require a referral from your General Dental Practitioner with information regarding the reason for the referral as well as the oral health status.

Once this referral is accepted, we will send you a link to upload photographs of your child’s teeth which will be assessed by one of our Specialist Orthodontists using NHS guidelines measurements, the Index of Treatment Need (IOTN). The Specialist Orthodontist will email you a report to let you know if your child qualifies for NHS funding.

Treatment may involve:

Early treatment – This is indicated early in the developing dentition to aid or prevent treatment later on. These are simple corrections usually carried out using removable braces for a short period of time.

Functional braces – These are used to modify the growth of the jaws where there is an underlying discrepancy between the upper and lower jaws. These are best used in growing patients and are fitted before a course of fixed brace treatment.

Fixed braces – The majority of NHS orthodontic treatment is carried out using fixed metal braces.

If you do not qualify for NHS treatment, you may choose to have private treatment.

We can offer you private care at our practice with the added benefits of:

• Flexible appointment times which include early morning, evening and Saturday morning appointments.
• The latest technology in appliances
• Clear or invisible braces
• A different choice of retainers
• A variety of finance options, including interest free payments up to two years or low-cost interest payment plans for longer periods
• Treatment can be started immediately