Private
treatment options
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What is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is a
specialist type of dental treatment that can be used to improve
the appearance, position and function of teeth that are not
straight.
Orthodontic treatment can help with the
following areas:
Smiles and teeth can be
improved at any age. Orthodontic treatment can be carried out on
adults and children.
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Types of Orthodontic
treatment available
Orthodontic treatment
uses appliances to correct the position of the teeth. Outlined
below are the three main types of appliance used in orthodontic
treatment:
-
A removable
appliance - this is used to make
minor corrections to the alignment of teeth. It is a plate
that fits on the roof of the mouth and can be taken out and
cleaned.
-
Functional
appliances – are used to treat
moderately misaligned teeth which do not bite together
correctly and are removable plates that are fixed to
both the upper and lower teeth.
-
A fixed appliance -
is used when several teeth need
to be corrected during the treatment. A wire is fixed to
each tooth using brackets. The brackets for NHS treatment
are metal, although ceramic tooth coloured brackets are
available privately.
Other treatments
Retainers –
are used to hold teeth that have been newly
positioned through orthodontic treatment while the
surrounding gum and bone adjusts to the new position of the
teeth. Retainers can be removable or fixed.
Tooth removal –
the removal of teeth is sometimes necessary
to help improve the appearance of nearby teeth as part of
orthodontic treatment.
Treatment times
Treatment times vary
depending on the treatment required. The position of teeth is
corrected over a period of time, usually around 18 months to two
years, but can sometimes be much quicker than that.
NHS Treatment –
click here
Private Treatment –
click
here
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How do I book an
appointment?
An orthodontic
assessment appointment is carried out to see if treatment is
either required or desirable. This
usually involves taking a series of X-rays and taking
impressions of the teeth to make plaster models.
Orthodontic assessment
appointments are free for young people under the age of 18
years, regardless of whether any subsequent treatment is carried
out under the NHS.
If your child is under
the age of 18 years at the time of an initial orthodontic
assessment then they may be eligible for free NHS orthodontic
treatment.
Ask your dentist if you
would be interested in having an orthodontic assessment
appointment, or ask our receptionists for further details.
If you already have a
dentist you can still come to our practice for orthodontic
treatment. Either ask your current dentist to refer you to our
practice for an orthodontic assessment or ring and book one
directly with our reception.
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Our Specialist
Orthodontists
Christopher Baillie
Adrian King
Dean Road Dental Practice
is a child friendly practice. We also have the latest
facilities, including digital orthodontic x-ray equipment.
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Orthodontic
treatment for young people (under 18s)
Criteria for NHS
Treatment
Orthodontic assessment
appointments for under 18s are free, regardless of whether any
subsequent treatment is carried out under the NHS. Assessment
appointments are carried out to see if treatment is either
required or desirable.
Orthodontic treatment
on the NHS
Orthodontic treatment is
only available free of charge on the NHS for young people who
are under the age of 18 years AND have a clear clinical need for
treatment.
We are only allowed to
offer NHS treatment if your child’s teeth are badly enough
aligned based on a rating system known as the Index of
Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) which has 5 grades.
NHS treatment is available
for those cases which are rated an IOTN of 4 or 5 on the scale.
If an individual is rated as IOTN 3 then there are certain
situations whereby they may still be eligible for NHS treatment
and your orthodontist will explain all of this to you.
If your child does not
qualify for NHS funded orthodontic treatment, it is possible to
have treatment carried out privately. Further information about
private options is available on this website –
click here
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At What Age Can My Child
Have an Orthodontic Appointment?
Usually a child will be
referred by their dentist for an orthodontic assessment
appointment once the child’s permanent teeth have developed.
For most children, this will be when they are around 11 - 13
years old.
However, in some
circumstances an orthodontist will recommend that treatment
begins at an earlier age.
At your child’s next
check-up or treatment appointment with their dentist ask about
orthodontic treatment if you want to find out more.
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Orthodontic
treatment for adults (over 18s)
Orthodontic
treatment for adults can begin at any age
If you already have a
dentist you can still come to our practice for orthodontic
treatment. Either ask you current dentist to refer you to our
practice for an orthodontic assessment or ring and book one
directly with our reception.
Private Treatment
Options:
Most adults will require
a fixed appliance, and this treatment will be provided privately
to them. If your child does not qualify for NHS orthodontic
treatment then private treatment is often a possibility.
One of the most popular
types of private orthodontic treatment is the use of braces
which look more attractive. The use of ceramic white brackets to
attach a fixed appliance to the teeth instead of metal brackets
can make the brace much less noticeable.
Invisalign is another
option, making use of a series of clear removable aligners with
no wires, which are able to correct relatively minor
irregularities in tooth alignment.
Costs:
The cost of private
treatment depends on the type and duration of the treatment
required. The average cost for a course of treatment is around
£2,000 - £2,500.
