Orthodontist referral needed but not registered locally with NHS Dentist

babiesmummy

Back in 2018 my daughter had a tooth out in hospital & the hostital dentist suggested she may need referring to an orthodontist to realign her jaw, so sent a request to our NHS Dentist to refer her. Fast forward to Aug19 and she was seen by an orthodontist on the NHS & treatment was to begin Aug20. Obviously due to covid this was pushed back & was changed to Jan21. As we were in the process of relocating this never went ahead.
We are now in the situation where we can't get an NHS dentist & the wait could be upto 5yrs (Cornwall) We have today been added to the waitlist & I asked about orthodontists & was just told I would need a dentist/orthodontist referral but it can be from anywhere in the country as dentists dont have catchment areas like Doctors. I have spoken to our old dentist and was told as we are out the the area the won't send a referral to Cornwall, I have asked them to double check as I was informed otherwise. 
Does anybody know where I stand or have any suggestions about what I could do. Im not in a position to go private & if I have to wait for an NHS dentist for a referral my (now) 15yr old would be too old for free treatment anyway.

Thanks

Kelly

Undervalued

In England there is no such thing as being "registered with an NHS dentist". 

You can see any NHS dentist who has capacity to take you on. Once they start a course of treatment they are obliged to complete it (assuming you want them to!) but after that they are not obliged to see you again.

Some may choose to maintain a list and will only see regular patients, which they a quite entitled to do, if they so wish.

If you can't find a NHS dentist with capacity then I'm afraid apart from emergencies your only options are to travel further or go private. Not great but that is how it is in some areas. In other parts of the country there are plenty looking for patients.  

sheramber

have you read

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist/

babiesmummy

sheramber said:

have you read

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist/

Yes I have, thank you.

As I said I am on a waiting list which could be 5yrs plus.

I suppose an alternative is to stay with my current dentist/orthodontist and travel the 12hr round trip journey

MalMonroe

Hi

Is there any chance that the dentist at the hospital could send a referral to an orthodontist for you, given that nobody else seems to be able to do so? The problem with having to wait for orthodontic treatment is that teeth move as you grow (especially adolescents) so your daughter would benefit from being seen as soon as possible. Have you tried googling orthodontists and dentists? 

Have you looked at info in this link? https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist/

There's also this https://www.accesshealthanddental.co.uk/access-dental/finding-nhs-dentist

And this :  https://www.nhs.uk/services/hospitals/services/service/defaultview.aspx?id=6109

If she has to wait for five years, your daughter's teeth will have 'set' so not only will she have to pay for treatment but it will be a lengthier treatment. 

I'd really be pushing and annoying people to get the orthodontic treatment she needs now. 

brook2jack2

The problem is that most referral systems are now automated, a dentist cannot just write a letter. 

Most referral systems will now not take a referral "out of area" as a dentist has to registered on the system and the system will vary from area to area. 

It is a source of intense frustration because if you see a dentist out of the area 9 times out of 10 they cannot refer you for NHS services in another area and there is no way around it. 

This sounds like what is happening in your case. 

The only way to get on the orthodontic waiting list , which in itself may be very many years long, is to see a dentist in the local area. The only way around it may be to see a dentist privately for a check up and get them to do the referral then. A dentist cannot refer without having done a check up and x rays etc. Make sure you check with the dentist before you go they have access to NHS orthodontic referral service. 

A private check up plus x rays will cost £40 to £100 . 

Toothsmith

There is a new online ortho referral system now - and one of the options in there is for a dentist in one part of the country to refer to another part.

https://www.dental-referrals.org/

This link is not for you to use - but you could forward it to your dentist. Another option might be to try and get the orthodontist to refer you via this into the Cornwall area.

Just to say though - Cornwall has a notorious shortage of NHS dental services. 

brook2jack2

Just to say TS that system is not in use in all parts of the country , as hasn't been rolled out country wide. In fact looking Cornwall is not on the system at all. 

babiesmummy

MalMonroe said:

Hi

Is there any chance that the dentist at the hospital could send a referral to an orthodontist for you, given that nobody else seems to be able to do so? The problem with having to wait for orthodontic treatment is that teeth move as you grow (especially adolescents) so your daughter would benefit from being seen as soon as possible. Have you tried googling orthodontists and dentists? 

Have you looked at info in this link? https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist/

There's also this https://www.accesshealthanddental.co.uk/access-dental/finding-nhs-dentist

And this :  https://www.nhs.uk/services/hospitals/services/service/defaultview.aspx?id=6109

If she has to wait for five years, your daughter's teeth will have 'set' so not only will she have to pay for treatment but it will be a lengthier treatment. 

I'd really be pushing and annoying people to get the orthodontic treatment she needs now. 

Yes, done all this. Thank you

babiesmummy

brook2jack2 said:

The problem is that most referral systems are now automated, a dentist cannot just write a letter. 

Most referral systems will now not take a referral "out of area" as a dentist has to registered on the system and the system will vary from area to area. 

It is a source of intense frustration because if you see a dentist out of the area 9 times out of 10 they cannot refer you for NHS services in another area and there is no way around it. 

This sounds like what is happening in your case. 

The only way to get on the orthodontic waiting list , which in itself may be very many years long, is to see a dentist in the local area. The only way around it may be to see a dentist privately for a check up and get them to do the referral then. A dentist cannot refer without having done a check up and x rays etc. Make sure you check with the dentist before you go they have access to NHS orthodontic referral service. 

A private check up plus x rays will cost £40 to £100 . 

Yes it sounds like it could be that they are "out if area"
I have spoken to a local orthodontic surgery & the waiting list is about 9mths.

I have spoken to our dental surgery again & they have contacted the orthodontist surgery. As we had already had an initial assessment Aug 19 we are still on their list for treatment, they have said they should be able to refer to another orthodontist but they need to check with the actual orthodontist on Weds but my daughter would need to initially go back for an assessment/consultation.

The private referral is also an option