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ALL patients aged 18 or under are eligible for an NHS assessment. However, under the terms of the new dental contract, health service funding for treatment will be directed at those patients in whom treatment will give an improvement in their dental health and not just in the appearance of their teeth.
The way in which the orthodontist decides whether NHS funding is available is by using a complex system of measurements called the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need, (IOTN). As the name suggests, this index gives higher weighting to those cases which need treatment for an improvement in their dental health.
Dental problems which will be provided for on health grounds include:
- Increased prominence of teeth in excess of 6mm
- Significant crowding of teeth
- Abnormal bites causing trauma
- Abnormal bites causing functional problems
- Missing or impacted teeth
Cases with a possible need for treatment are also assessed on aesthetic grounds and cases with a low aesthetic score are unlikely to qualify for orthodontic treatment under the NHS.
Many milder cases will not be eligible for NHS funding. In these cases, if treatment is desired, it can be carried with one of our private treatment options.
In addition to the restrictions applied to those patients eligible for NHS funding, under the new dental contract, the amount of NHS funding provided to us will be limited in each year. This means that even patients eligible for treatment on health grounds may be subject to a waiting list.
ALL patients are eligible for private orthodontic treatment whether they qualify for NHS funding or not. There is no waiting list for private treatment and this option offers the patient a greater choice of braces and appointments that are not available under the NHS.
Private treatment also offers a number of other advantages over NHS treatment which our staff would be delighted to discuss with you.
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