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

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.

Media browser

Total results: 17
Status Title Format Description Size Download
Current Cleft lip and palate patients - alveolar bone grafting for adult pdf
Alveolar bone grafting for adult
225KB
Current Cleft lip and palate patients - genioplasty (chin) surgery pdf
Genioplasty (chin) surgery
116KB
Current Cleft lip and palate patients - orthognathic surgery pdf
Cleft lip and palate patients
182KB
Current Cleft lip and palate patients - septorhinoplasty (nose) surgery pdf
Septorhinoplasty (nose) surgery
144KB
Current How to keep your teeth and gums healthy whilst wearing braces pdf
How to keep your teeth and gums healthy whilst wearing braces
210KB
Current Managing your brace in an emergency pdf
Managing your brace in an emergency
1018KB
Current NHS England commissioning guidelines for orthodontics pdf
NHS England commissioning guidelines
201KB
Current Oral appliances for sleep apnoea pdf
Oral appliances for sleep apnoea
134KB
Current Ortho treatment with fixed appliances pdf
Ortho treatment with fixed appliances
149KB
Current Orthodontic management of impacted canine teeth pdf
Orthodontic management of impacted canine teeth
206KB
Current Orthodontic treatment - functional appliances pdf
Functional appliances
148KB
Current Orthodontic treatment - information about headgear pdf
Headgear
154KB
Current Orthodontic treatment - risks and benefits things to consider before you start treatment pdf
Risks and benefits things to consider before you start treatment
130KB
Current Orthodontic treatment for hypodontia (missing teeth) pdf
Orthodontic treatment for hypodontia
175KB
Current Orthodontics - mini implant pdf
Orthodontic mini implant
100KB
Current Orthognathic (jaw) surgery pdf
Orthognathic (jaw) surgery
107KB
Current Retainer discharge advice for all patients.pdf pdf
Retainer discharge advice for all patients
171KB
Total results: 17