Our orthodontic service
Our orthodontic service provides specific care to patients who wish to improve the appearance and function of their teeth, but they are unable to be cared for in a primary care setting because of care complications.
We work in collaboration with our other specialist services including paediatric dentistry, restorative dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery to enable us to provide appropriate care when treatment needs are too complex for braces alone.
Our team:
- Provides diagnostic skills and care of the highest standards for all patients appropriately referred to us.
- Delivers world-leading, compassionate and innovative training at postgraduate and undergraduate levels.
- Provides contemporary, specialised treatment at a secondary and tertiary level.
- Offers a comprehensive treatment planning and diagnostic service to our colleagues in primary care settings for appropriate referrals.
Orthodontic emergencies
If you are a patient at The Royal London Hospital please call 020 7767 3203
If you are a patient at Whipps Cross Hospital please call 020 8535 6437
Refer to our service
For clinicians
We accept patients for orthodontic treatment depending on the complexity of the treatment needed.
Patients must be under the age of 18 years with Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) Dental Health Component 4 and 5.
This includes patients having ‘great’ or ‘very great’ need for treatment. Patients will not automatically be accepted by IOTN score and the complexity will first be assessed. For example, with severe crowding only, or hypodontia with only one missing tooth per quadrant, we may discharge them for onward referral to a specialist orthodontic practice. These patients will most likely be eligible for NHS treatment but not in the hospital setting.
Other conditions that we often manage include:
- Significant jaw discrepancy eligible for combined orthodontic-surgical (orthognathic) care.
- Developmental absence of teeth (hypodontia) meeting specific acceptance criteria regarding the complexity of the proposed treatment.
- Cleft lip and palate according to our eligibility criteria.
Our acceptance criteria provides more information on referring to the orthodontic service.
Information for patients
Our orthodontic service is mostly for patients under the age of 18 who require complex orthodontic treatment. We treat some adult patients in our department who:
- Require corrective jaw surgery in conjunction with brace treatment.
- Suffer obstructive sleep apnoea.
No other patients over 18 can be treated for orthodontic problems.
In order to be considered for treatment you will need to be referred. The referral may come from your dentist or from a specialist orthodontist who feels your treatment may need to be carried out in the Dental Hospital.
Orthodontic treatment at Barts Health NHS Trust is offered at The Royal London Dental Hospital and also at Whipps Cross University Hospital.
Find out more on the British Orthodontic Society Website
What are the risks?
Looking after your teeth and brace
Advice about your twin block
Your orthodontic retainers
Where to go
Your appointment letter or appointment card should tell you where to go when you arrive.
If not, please call the number on your appointment letter or appointment card to find out where you should go. If you misplace your appointment letter or card, please contact central appointments.
Please arrive 10 minutes before your appointment. Every missed appointment costs the NHS £160. If you are 20 mins late for your appointment we may not be able to accommodate you and your appointment may need to be re-booked.
When you arrive at the clinic
On arrival, please speak to the clinic receptionist, who will explain what you need to do next.
Most orthodontic patients are seen on the 1st floor of The Royal London Dental Hospital or in Junction 2 of Whipps Cross Hospital.