Orthodontics – British Teeth Get Worse
More Brits may have to turn to orthodontics to fix major problems as NHS dentists dry up.
Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that delivers the treatment of major dental problems – problems such as improper bites (malocclusions) and disproportionate jaws. Orthodontics can therefore treat specific problems, often manifested in childhood using a wide variety of techniques, including oral surgery, to fix the problems. Left untreated, like any problem, it won't go away and could in all likelihood get worse. Orthodontics then is a crucial branch of dentistry. But it's increasingly hard to receive orthodontic treatments on the NHS, because of one simple fact – there are far fewer NHS dentists to be found. In fact, a whopping 1.2million people fewer people saw an NHS dentist last year due to the fact more have gone private. For those that need orthodontics – it can be a costly affair.
Orthodontics – Private Dentist Care
However, orthodontics can also be purely cosmetic – straightening teeth in adulthood for example – which has to be done privately. Cosmetic dentistry is one of the fastest growing cosmetic sectors. And perhaps, even as cosmetic surgery is fast becoming normalized and more routine, from tummy tucks to breast augmentations, cosmetic dentistry is still the most accepted form of cosmetics. Like any major cosmetic reconstruction, orthodontics could in extreme cases involve oral surgery to change the shape of the jaw and face.
Orthodontics and Cosmetic Dentistry
But it isn't just those seeking orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry that have to go private, even going for a regular check up at a dentist is proving difficult for many people. Orthodontics and dentistry has become something of a luxury due to its exclusivity. So much so, that the health secretary Alan Johnson has put Jimmy Steele, the chair in oral health services research at Newcastle University in charge of a national review on the state of NHS dentistry. The number of complex dental treatments, such as orthodontics, performed by the NHS fell by 50% in 2006, as more people seek out private orthodontists. But for those who can't afford to go private, it's a bleak affair. It's been estimated 7.4m people have been unable to find dental treatment because they could not find an NHS doctor – around 4.7m of these people ended up going to a private dentist or orthodontist.
Speak to the Harley Street Dental Studio
At the Harley Street Dental Studio in Central London, renowned dentist Dr Mark Hughes and his team of highly trained clinicians offer outstanding care and attention to their patients. Favoured by celebrities of the sporting and entertainment worlds, the clinic offers treatments including dental veneers, tooth whitening, porcelain crowns, amalgam-free fillings and clear braces. To discuss your dental needs or make an appointment, contact the studio on 020 7636 5981 or fill out the online contact form.
