NHS Introduction

Getting a referral

When you are concerned about your bite or smile goals, you can ask your regular dentist to assess and refer you to see a specialist orthodontist in the NHS via the Dental Referral Portal. They will give you a unique reference number which will help you to track your referral status.

The referral is then triaged and maintained on a central waiting list and not directly sent to the requested orthodontist. Once you are on top of the waiting list, your details will then be transferred to the orthodontic practice.

Summary

1. Speak to your dentist
2. Obtain a URN (Unique Reference Number)
3. Track your referral

Qualifying for NHS Treatment

It’s important to understand that the NHS provides orthodontic treatment only in more severe cases according to an IOTN (Index of Treatment Need) score. You will always have a free NHS consultation to assess your IOTN with one of our specialist orthodontists. If your case is not severe enough to qualify for NHS treatment, we will guide you through options including private treatment alternatives.

During your consultation we will also assess suitability for treatment in terms of oral hygiene, underlying health conditions, motivation, and how cooperative you/your child will be to have treatment. Orthodontic treatment is a long-term commitment, and we want you to be sure you are motivated and committed with all it entails.

IOTN

IOTN is an objective and reliable way to select those children who will benefit most from treatment and is considered as a fair way to prioritise limited NHS funding.

Scored from 1-5 in treatment need, the IOTN considers:

• Missing Teeth
• Impacted Teeth
• Overjet
• Crossbites
• Displacement of contact points
• Overbites

Our specialist orthodontics will assess each of these factors to determine your IOTN score. NHS treatment requires a score of 3.6 or higher. IOTN does not include/assess any psychological aspects.

What happens if you do not qualify for NHS orthodontic treatment?

A good percentage of Under 17’s referred are eligible for NHS treatment. Sadly, there are a few who don’t meet the IOTN score.

We understand that this can be disappointing for some patients and parents alike, and if you are keen, we can offer alternatives including affordable private orthodontic options and how to spread the cost of treatment.