National Orthodontic week

At the end of the national orthodontic week there has been much talk about how the UK is starting to fall behind the rest of Europe in public orthodontic options and how well patients are catered for with dental treatments. There has been a decline in funding and this has opened up gaps in the market which are being competently filled by inexpensive surgeries in Hungary and other European countries.

BOS Chairman, Nigel Harradine, speaking at the opening, said: ‘There is not enough knowledge about orthodontics and healthcare has an increasing need to be properly understood.

'There have been great advances in orthodontic technology. We have top-quality research and clinicians in the UK, however, there is a shortage of orthodontists. This is less than Hungary, Poland, Ireland and Italy. There are waiting lists of up to three years for those with a quantified significant need for treatment.'