NHS Patients (Children under 18 years only)
Following a referral from your Dentist you will contacted, usually within 2-3 weeks, to arrange a suitable day and time for the initial consultation. All New Patient appointments will be booked with one of our Specialist Orthodontists. Following this appointment, if you qualify for NHS treatment, and are ready to start, you will be offered an immediate appointment to begin your treatment.
Forms
An NHS consent form, to be signed by a parent or guardian
Detailed medical history form
Consent form for an x-ray/photographs and impressions if needed during treatment
Private Patients
It is desirable, but not necessary, for you to have a referral letter as any relevant information from your dentist is always of benefit to your orthodontic assessment. If you have had a recent large x-ray, called an OPG, it is good to bring this with you and tell reception, so the orthodontic team can be made aware. To make an appointment, please contact the Practice to arrange a suitable day and time for you. There is a private consultation charge of £90.
Your First Appointment
It is essential that any patient under the age of 16 has a parent/guardian attending this appointment so that treatment options and plans can be discussed as relevant.
For both private and NHS patients it is likely that your consultation appointment will involve you having a large x-ray taken, known as an OPG, of your teeth and jaws prior to seeing the orthodontist.
The new patient appointment will entail a look at the mouth and teeth using a small mouth mirror and a ruler. The x-ray will be assessed with photographs and impressions often also taken at this appointment. All the measurements and records taken will help the orthodontist decide if you're suitable for orthondontic treament and what would be the very best treatment plan for you.
If you are an NHS patient, an assessment will be undertaken to see if you qualify for treatment under the NHS IOTN (index of treatment needs). Sometimes a review appointment will be booked for when a child is a little more developed. If the child does not fall within the recommended NHS guidelines, the child will then be discharged back into the care of their general dental practice. Families are welcome to ask at this stage about possible options of private orthodontic treatment at this stage.
Your Treatment Plan
All new patients will have a full assessment and discussion regarding their suitablity for orthodontic treatment and what the possible options are. Sometimes treatment can be more than one stage, but the Orthodontist will discuss this with the patient and their parent/legal guardian. Patients accepted for NHS treatment will be given an NHS contract and treatment plan to read and sign, a practice infomation leaflet and a British Orthodontic Society leaflet explaining the risks of orthodontic treatment.
Following discussion, private patients will be sent a written quotation and treatment plan. This is often actioned with the help of the Practice Manager who will chat everything through and any possible suggested payment plan to ensure all information is obtained and understood and then follow up if requested by email.