The NHS currently funds (at no cost to the patient) orthodontic treatment for patients under the age of 18 that meet certain NHS criteria, the “Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need” (IOTN). This system means that funding is fairly directed towards the most severe cases and those children who will benefit from treatment most.

While NHS assessments are available to all patients (aged 18 and under), treatment is not available if the problem is too mild according to the IOTN score. NHS treatment is also unavailable to patients who have already undertaken a previous course of NHS treatment. There are some restrictions on NHS treatments, for example, the NHS will only cover the cost of traditional treatments such as fixed metal braces, clear aligner treatments such as Invisalign® are not covered in the scope of funding.

We know that waiting for your new smile can be an anxious time, particularly for children. NHS waiting times vary from 12 to 24 months, but NHS treatment is not the only option. If you’re keen to get started sooner, we can tell you about our self-funded options, for which treatment can usually begin immediately.

An in-house referral from one of our dentists is needed to be added to our NHS Orthodontic waiting list for an Orthodontic assessment.

For everything you need to know about orthodontics and the NHS, including IOTN, please click here to visit the British Orthodontic Society website.