Orthodontic Services
Referral guidelines
Referrals are accepted via the DERS electronic referral management service. This was introduced in February 2020. Only patients falling into the Category 3b will be accepted for consultation, as laid down in the National Commissioning Guidelines for Orthodontic Services.
It is important to discuss the patient’s perceived problem to ascertain their views and likely compliance with orthodontic treatment and to ensure that the desire for treatment and their oral hygiene is of a satisfactory standard prior to referral.
The hospital Orthodontic Services provides:
- Advice
- iSecond opinions
- Treatment of severe malocclusion:
The management of impacted teeth or other eruption problems
Gross skeletal problems requiring orthognathic surgery
Cleft lip and palate, and other congenital anomalies
Hypodontia with MULTIPLE missing teeth.
- Treatment of medically compromised patients, and those with neurodiversity or learning disabilities who are unable to accept care in specialist practice
- Advice for children undergoing extraction of permanent teeth under general anaesthetic.
Adult treatment
Adult patients (over 18’s) cannot be assessed unless approval has been obtained from NHSE’s IFR team.
Treatment of adults is limited to:
- Those possessing severe skeletal problems requiring multi-disciplinary treatment including orthognathic surgery
- Adults with impacted teeth or multiple congenitally missing teeth who have not had the opportunity for treatment as a child
- Adults with congenital deformities, including cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial anomalies
- Adults who have suffered acute dental trauma and require a joint approach to dental rehabilitation.
Follow-up and discharge arrangements
A letter is sent to the referring Practitioner after the first consultation visit and if appropriate, when patients are seen for review and also when discharged from the department. All letters will be copied to the patient/parent/guardian.
Referral route
Referrals are only accepted via the DERS electronic referral system, exceptions to this would include referrals from specialist orthodontists, general medical practitioners and hospital consultants.
New patient clinics are held on Mondays and Fridays at Dorset County Hospital and bi-weekly on Wednesday at University Hospital Dorset.
Relevant radiographs should be included in the referral if available.
Consultant staff working at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust:
Mrs P E Ellis
Consultant Orthodontist – Clinical Lead
Orthodontic Department
Dorset County Hospital
Williams Avenue
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 2JY
Mrs R Bradley
Consultant Orthodontist
Orthodontic Department
Dorset County Hospital
Williams Avenue
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 2JY