NHS treatment is available for children and young people under the age of 18. Recent central government changes to the provision of free orthodontic treatment to minors now means that your child may not necessarily qualify for free treatment. Your general dentist will be able to advise you in the first instance but in most cases will refer your child to a specialist orthodontist. NHS funding is targeted at those who most need orthodontic treatment on the grounds of dental health or aesthetic need.

The severity of a patients malocclusion (imperfect alignment and bite) is assessed using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). dental health and aesthetic appearance are scored using the IOTN. The total score determines whether the NHS will fund treatment. NHS treatment is not available where the IOTN score is below 4. Please refer to “Who Qualifies” for more information

See details of Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need

Please also refer to Patient Information