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NHS and Private Orthodontic Options for Teens

Exploring NHS and Private Orthodontic Options for Teens in Portishead, Bristol

For children and teenagers with misaligned teeth, the prospect of obtaining braces through the NHS can be a game-changer. Straight teeth not only enhance confidence but also simplify oral care.

Due to limited availability, in order to receive NHS orthodontic treatment a child is required to meet specific criteria. If your child does meet the criteria, then there is usually a lengthy wait which often lead to many teens outgrowing their eligibility before receiving treatment.

In response, some parents are opting for private orthodontics right from the start. This enables their child to start treatment quickly with a local orthodontist.

We’ve outlined how NHS orthodontics could benefit your teenager below.

Who Qualifies for NHS Braces?

For your teenager to receive NHS orthodontic treatment, they must meet the following requirements:

  • Age under 18 at the start of treatment.
  • Demonstrated health need for treatment, assessed by the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN).
  • Grade 4 or 5 on the IOTN, while grade 3 cases may be assessed on an individual basis.

Securing a Referral for NHS Orthodontics

Your general dentist will monitor the development of your childs teeth and assess the need for any orthodontic treatment. This typically begins around the age of 12.

If you believe your teenager might benefit from orthodontics then discuss this with your dentist, who can carry out an evaluation to determine if your teenager should be added to the NHS waiting list.

Understanding the IOTN Criteria:

  • Grade 1: Near perfection.
  • Grade 2: Minor imperfections, like slightly irregular or protruding teeth.
  • Grade 3: Moderate imperfections, typically not requiring treatment for health reasons.
  • Grade 4: Severe imperfections requiring attention for health reasons, including bite-related functionality issues.
  • Grade 5: The most severe dental problems, including crowding issues.

Teens with grade 4 and 5 issues will be referred to an orthodontist, while those with grade 3 issues will be evaluated by your dentist.

Aesthetic Component Assessment

This assessment considers the aesthetic benefits of orthodontics. Using 10 colour photographs showing varying levels of dental attractiveness, your orthodontist will match the patients current smile to these images. If they receive a rating of 6 or higher and also have grade 3 imperfections, they may qualify for free treatment.

If your teenager has grade 3 imperfections and is deemed unsuitable for NHS orthodontics, seeking private treatment is a common alternative. Grade 3 doesn’t mean that braces wouldn’t be beneficial; it simply means that they aren’t available via the NHS.

Navigating Waiting Times

The current waiting time for an assessment for NHS braces is approximately two years. With a further waiting list to start treatment ranging for 1-2 years.

Considering the extended waiting times, some parents choose private orthodontics immediately to ensure timely treatment and avoid further misalignment.

At Evolve Dentistry, we offer private orthodontic options for children starting at just £1,750.

Benefits of Private Orthodontics

We understand that your child’s oral health is of utmost importance. Opting for private orthodontics provides several advantages:

  • Treatment can commence on your schedule, bypassing referral wait times.
  • A broader range of treatment options, including fixed and removable aligners.
  • No referral requirements – if your child requires braces for health or aesthetic reasons, treatment can begin without meeting specific criteria beforehand.
  • Competitive pricing, with treatment starting at just £1,750 for teen orthodontics.

Even if your teenager is currently on the NHS waiting list for orthodontics and you’d like to find out more about treatment with Lisa our Orthodontist, get in touch with our team to book a consultation today.

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Our Macmillan Coffee Morning is in full swing at Evolve Dentistry, and we’d love to see you!

We’ve got plenty of delicious homemade cakes waiting for you, so pop in, say hello, grab a slice (or two!) and help us raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

We’ll be serving cakes right through until 5pm today, so there’s still plenty of time to come down.

📍 Evolve Dentistry, Portishead
🍰 Cakes until 5pm
💚 Everyone is welcome

Come hungry! 😋

#MacmillanCoffeeMorning #MacmillanCancerSupport #Portishead #PortisheadCommunity #EvolveDentistry
🍰☕ Today’s the day - and there’s cake! 💚

Our Macmillan Coffee Morning is happening TODAY at Evolve Dentistry and we’d love you to come and join us.

The Evolve team have been busy baking (and possibly buying… we won’t judge! 😉) and there’ll be plenty of cake and drinks available throughout the day, all in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.

And remember - you don’t need to be an Evolve patient to come along.

If you live or work in Portishead, are passing by, or just fancy an excellent excuse for cake, pop in and see us. Bring a friend, your family or your workmates too!

📍 Evolve Dentistry, Portishead
🍰 Cake and drinks throughout the day
💚 Donations for Macmillan Cancer Support
👋 Everyone welcome

No appointment needed - just pop in!

Come and help us eat an unreasonable amount of cake for a very good cause. 💚

Please share so we can get as many people through the doors as possible!
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Not necessarily.

And that's an important starting point.

What happens next depends on which tooth is missing, your mouth, how you bite, how you feel about the gap and what's happening with the teeth around it.

Yasmin explains some of the things we consider when a tooth is missing.

The important thing isn't assuming you need a particular treatment.

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Sensitive teeth are common, but there isn't just one possible cause.

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Sometimes a little sensitivity is exactly that.

But a change that persists is something we'd rather know about than have you quietly avoiding ice cream for the foreseeable future.
Having a tooth removed probably isn't an appointment anyone particularly looks forward to.

Which is precisely why feedback like this means so much:

“Made getting a tooth extracted incredibly easy and straightforward.”

Good dental care isn't only about the procedure itself.

It's about knowing what's going to happen, being able to ask questions, feeling listened to and being looked after throughout.

Thank you for trusting us with your care - and for taking the time to tell us about your experience.
☕🍰 Join us for our Macmillan Coffee Morning! 💚

On Friday 25 September, the Evolve team will be swapping dental instruments for cake slices as we take part in the Macmillan Coffee Morning!

Our team will be bringing in their best bakes and we’d love you to pop in, enjoy a slice of cake and a drink, and help us raise as much as possible for Macmillan Cancer Support.

💚 Everyone is welcome - you don’t need to be an Evolve patient.

So whether you’re a patient, friend, neighbour, local business or simply passing by, come in and say hello. Bring your friends, family or work colleagues too!

📅 Friday 25 September
📍 Evolve Dentistry, Portishead
🍰 Cakes and drinks available throughout the day
💚 Donations in support of Macmillan Cancer Support

No appointment needed - just pop in!

We’d love to see lots of familiar faces and hopefully meet plenty of new ones too. And, most importantly, eat plenty of cake while raising money for a brilliant cause.

Please share this post and help us spread the word around Portishead. 💚
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Composite bonding isn't about giving everyone the same smile.

It can be used in different ways depending on what someone would like to change.

That might mean adjusting the shape of a tooth, changing proportions, repairing an edge or making a small alteration that helps a smile feel more balanced.

And sometimes bonding isn't used on its own.

We might combine treatments - perhaps straightening teeth first, whitening them and then using composite bonding to refine particular teeth.

Yasmin explains some of the ways composite bonding can be used.

The important part is deciding what will achieve the result you're looking for without doing more treatment than is necessary.
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