NHS Treatment
Initial examination and assessment is available on the NHS for all child patients. There is a waiting list ( usually 12 months) for NHS consultations and treatment is provided to secure "dental health" - full cosmetic excellence may not be achieved.
Orthodontic treatment for patients over 18 years of age is only provided under private contract
Limits on NHS orthodontic treatment
The new dental contract came into force on the 1st of April 2006
All dentist and orthodontic specialists must now have a contract with their local Health Board in order to be able to provide an NHS service to their patients.
The local Health Board is responsible for deciding what NHS treatment should be available in their area and for funding. However every patient has the right to an orthodontic assessement by a specialist.
In the past, orthodontists were able to see as many patients as they wanted. What the government is attempting to do is target limited NHS resourses to those children with the greatest oral health need rather than cosmetic need.
The introduction of the new contract means that only a fixed number of treatments can be carried out which means that waiting lists to see an orthdontist on the NHS will lengthen. It is of concern to the British Orthodontic Society as it is normally best for patients to receive treatment when they are teenagers. The British Orthodontic Society is putting pressure on the government to ensure that children that are not eligible for treatment do not have a long wait but in the end it is a political decision.
An additional restriction has also been placed on orthodontic services by the new dental contract. Orthodontists are required to assess a patients need for treatment before accepting them as an NHS patient. The system which has been introduced, the index of treatment need (IOTN) measures the patients dental health need on a scale of 1 to 5. Only patients who score above 3.6 on this scale would be eligible for NHS funding