At Precision Smiles, we currently provide orthodontic treatment funded by the NHS. Patients must meet certain criteria to be eligible for this.
What is NHS treatment?
- Free NHS orthodontic treatment is available for children under 18 years old with more severe orthodontic problems as graded by the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN).
- The IOTN is a two part assessment which takes into consideration both dental health and aesthetics:
– IOTN Dental Health – A five-grade scale for assessing overall dental health.
– IOTN Aesthetics– A ten-grade scale using photos to assess dental aesthetics.
- Orthodontic treatment is provided on the NHS for all children scoring 3.6 or higher which includes one full set of removable retainers supplied at the end of treatment free of charge.
- Within the first year after treatment has finished, replacement retainers are charged at £80.70 each or £161.40 for a full set, in line with NHS regulations.
- One year after completion of treatment, any further appointments or treatment will not be covered by the NHS and will be charged for.
NHS eligibility
To determine if a patient is eligible for NHS funded orthodontic treatment, our orthodontists at Precision Smiles, will need to conduct an assessment. This assessment is free and is usually carried out after your dentist has referred you to us.
There are some restrictions to NHS-funded treatment. Only the cost of traditional metal braces is covered, so other treatment options, such as Invisalign, are not funded. Upon completion of this assessment a patient will be categorised in one of the following groups:
- Waiting list – patients in this group have been accepted for NHS-funded treatment under the IOTN but must now wait for treatment to begin.
- Review – patients in this group are not yet ready to start treatment and will need to be reassessed to determine eligibility for NHS-funded treatment under the IOTN.
- Discharged – patients in this group are either ineligible for NHS-funded treatment or have decided they do not wish to proceed with treatment.
- Referral – patients in this group need to be referred to a hospital orthodontic service.
Independent treatment
If you do not score high enough on the IOTN and are therefore ineligible for NHS-funded orthodontic treatment, we are still able to offer options outside of NHS arrangements so you can achieve the smile you’ve always wanted. Although this does require payment, a wider range of treatment options are available, and we have payment plans to help make the cost of treatment more affordable.
For more information, please contact us at Precision Smiles on 01923 820509 or [email protected]
