NHS vs private treatment

At The Brace Place we offer both private orthodontic treatment and treatment under the NHS. Most of our patients are referred to us by their own dentist, but we are happy to treat people who contact us directly. If you’re wondering if orthodontic treatment is right for you, book a consultation with us and talk to our team of professionals. 

NHS orthodontic treatment

Orthodontic treatment is available under the NHS; however, there are strict government criteria for this.

Guidelines state patients must be under 18 years old and braces can only be fitted for health, not cosmetic, reasons. Young people with severe crowding, protruding or buried teeth may be eligible. 

These criteria is outlined in the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Needs (IOTN) which gives each patient a score as to the severity of their orthodontic problems. They must achieve a certain score to qualify for NHS treatment. 

As a specialist practice, we can only treat a certain number of NHS patients per year, which means there may be a waiting list. Other restrictions include:

• Appointments are only available at certain times of the day, usually during school or work hours
• Only metal braces can be fitted. NHS funding doesn’t cover clear, lingual or Invisalign braces. 

Private patients

If your child doesn’t meet NHS funding criteria, we are still able to treatment them here at The Brace Place as a private patient. This has a number of benefits including:

• no waiting lists
• appointment times that suit you
• a wide choice of braces such as invisible and tooth-coloured options. 

Early orthodontic treatment is essential for establishing good oral health in young children. Contact our friendly team at The Brace Place today and find out whether your child qualifies for NHS treatment.