FAQs

We are registered with the Care Quality Commission which regulates providers of NHS services.We are also members of the British Orthodontic Society, The British Dental Association and their Good Practice Scheme and our Principal Mark Tobin is a member of both the World Federation of Orthodontics and American Orthodontics Society.

All our practicing staff are registered professionals, recognised by the General Dental Council. Our orthodontists progressed their qualifications further with extra years’ study in specialised fields. We regularly research new techniques to keep up to date with innovative developments in orthodontics treatments.You can see what qualifications each of our team have by looking at their profiles on the Team page.

Whether you are a private or NHS patient, your first visit is for a full clinical consultation. The orthodontist will have a look at your mouth and teeth. They will take measurements to assess the problem and you may have a cast taken of your teeth along with x-rays/photos. The orthodontist will discuss problems you are encountering with your teeth, ask about your expectations of orthodontic treatment and then talk you through the possible treatment options before agreeing on how to proceed.For NHS patients your assessment will determine whether you meet the IOTN requirements for NHS orthodontic treatment. If you qualify you will be put onto our treatment waiting list. If you do not qualify we will discuss self-funded options with you if appropriate.

The cost of your orthodontic treatment depends upon the type of appliance used to treat your individual situation. We do offer a range of payment options to suit individual circumstances. For full details of our fees take a look at our fee guide.There are no fees payables for NHS treatment.

Usually we can see private patients for a consultation within a few weeks. NHS patients (children under the age of 18) will have an initial assessment following a referral from their dentist, the waiting time for an initial assessment can vary, please contact the practice for current wait times . For NHS patients that meet the IOTN criteria, there is a waiting list before treatment can begin. Our waiting list for NHS is generally 12-18 months.

IOTN is a clinical abbreviation for Index Of Orthodontic Treatment Need. An objective and reliable way for Orthodontic Specialists to screen children to see who will benefit most from orthodontic treatment. It is also considered to be a fair way to prioritise limited NHS resources and funding. Further information about how IOTN is assessed can be found at British Orthodontic Society Website.

It is still possible to have orthodontic treatment if you do not meet the NHS criteria. We have a range of self-funded treatment options and payment plan arrangements to suit individual circumstances. You can talk to our Treatment Co-ordinator or see our child orthodontics section for more information.

There are some differences between NHS and Private Treatment although the level of care and attention you will receive is exactly the same. NHS treatment is limited to certain types of braces and appointment times are limited between 9am and 3pm. As a private patient we offer a number of schemes where you can choose between a much wider range of brace types and more flexible appointment times and include after school appointments.

Private patients can book a consultation over the telephone or by completing the quick contact form on the website. You can also e-mail us at treatmentcoordinator@teethinline.co.uk or visit our contact us pages for more information.

Before we can see you for an NHS orthodontic assessment, we will need a referral from your normal Dentist setting out your problem and the reason for your assessment. The assessment is free for anyone up to 18 years of age and we will normally see you within 8- 10 weeks of the referral.

If you are unsure about any aspect of orthodontic treatment or just want to talk to someone about whether to come in for a consultation, our Treatment Co-ordinator can talk you through the range of options available, show you video’s and example braces, discuss any concerns you have and set out treatment cost and payment options for you. You can contact our Treatment Co-ordinator by e-mail treatmentcoordinator@teethinline.co.uk

Click here to book an appointment.

There are so many benefits of having orthodontic treatment. A beautiful smile is an amazing asset and can vastly improve self-confidence and self-esteem but most importantly, straight teeth are much easier to clean and help you maintain good oral health and hygiene.

Age is not a barrier to orthodontic treatment. We have a varied age range of patients in treatment at both our practices and because we offer a comprehensive range of treatment options, we are confident we can achieve the smile you dream of, regardless of your age.

Braces fitted to the front of your teeth generally do not affect how you speak or your voice. Braces that are removable or fitted behind your teeth may affect your speech for a few days until you get used to the feel of them in your mouth.

You should definitely continue with your regular dental check-ups throughout your orthodontic treatment. Your teeth are actually at greater risk during orthodontic treatment so it is important to maintain good oral hygiene routines and see your dentist regularly.

If you have over-crowding, you may need to have some teeth removed to create space for the rest of your teeth to move into. Removing teeth is only an option when completely necessary. If you do need to have teeth removed, we will ask your dentist to do this for you.

Treatment lengths vary according to individual needs and treatment plans. Your orthodontist will be able to give an indication of treatment length but this may change according to how your treatment progresses, your commitment to your treatment plan and attend regular appointments. Your orthodontist will keep you informed of your progress at each visit.

Generally patients need to attend appointments every 6-8 weeks. This can vary according to the type of brace you are fitted with. Your orthodontist will advise the time between appointments and keep you updated on your progress.

Having your brace fitted is not painful at all – at most you will feel a little discomfort. For a few days after the brace is fitted and probably after each visit to the orthodontist, your teeth will probably ache and your gums may be a little sore. This is because your teeth will start to move almost immediately after the brace is fitted or adjusted.If you should experience discomfort, we recommend you take your usual pain relief for 24 hours to ease the pain. If your gums are sore or you feel the brackets are rubbing, we can provide orthodontic wax at the practice to help alleviate this. Our nurses will show you how to apply the wax to stop any rubbing and reduce discomfort.

Please visit our patient care section on our website for help and information and downloadable guides to help you manage the type of appliance you have had fitted. You can also find details of what to do if you are experiencing problems or your brace breaks on our emergency information leaflet.

Some foods are harmful to your brace and can cause breakages. They can also stick to the brackets and wires and if left, can cause permanent damage or result in tooth decay, cavities and staining. Particular things to avoid include toffees, boiled sweets and hard food. Things like apples and other raw vegetables should be cut up into bite size chunks. The orthodontist and our nurses will advise you what to avoid. More information is available in our treatment guides in the patient care section.

If you follow the instructions from your orthodontist it is unlikely your brace will break. However if you do experience a problem or your brace breaks, you should contact us for advice. In most circumstances a break will not cause you any pain or discomfort and we will advise if it can wait until your next appointment or if you need to come in to see us as soon as possible. An emergency orthodontic appointment is only necessary if there is un-manageable pain, laceration or bleeding. For further information on emergencies please refer the emergency guide in our patient care section.

The “colours” are tiny elastic bands which are used to hold the wire into the brackets fitted on your teeth for certain types of braces. Depending on the type of brace you have, you may be able to personalize it by choosing from a wide variety of coloured bands. You can discuss this with the orthodontist.

Appointment times are between the hours of 8:30am -5:00pm. We will try to accommodate all appointment requests, subject to availability in our diaries.

You can still do all the things you enjoy doing including most sports activities. We strongly recommend you use gum shields when you are playing sports and avoid direct contact sport like kick-boxing.

Wearing a retainer after your brace is removed is an essential part of your treatment plan. Without retainers, teeth have a tendency to move back to their original position. See our retainer guide in our patient care section for more information about retainers.

Here at Teeth-in-line we are passionate about delivering great service and we hope that you will never need to complain. However, if you are unhappy about any aspect of your visit or your treatment, we sincerely hope you will tell is and give us the opportunity to put things right for you. You can speak to any member of our team about your concerns or you can ask to speak to our practice manager who will be delighted to help. If you prefer to put things in writing or e-mail you can do this too.Please address your concerns to the practice manager and send them to the practice you are normally seen at or e-mail to practicemanager@teethinline.co.uk. Our full complaints policy and procedure is available in our Patient Information Folder at each practice and also available on request from our Reception Team.