What we do
Orthodontics is the dental specialty concerned with facial
growth, development of the teeth and bite, and the assessment,
diagnosis, interception and treatment of malocclusions (how the
teeth look and bite together) and facial irregularities. Our
orthodontic service is based at Bristol Dental Hospital with
outreach clinics at Weston General Hospital and South Bristol
Community Hospital. We have an in-house orthodontic laboratory
based at Bristol Dental Hospital who make our orthodontic
appliances. Along with providing orthodontic treatment for NHS
patients, we are also responsible for postgraduate training in
orthodontics for our registrars in addition to providing teaching
and training opportunities for undergraduate dental students,
dental therapists, student dental nurses and orthodontic
therapists.
Our specialisms
We provide orthodontic treatment and treatment planning for
patients with complex needs such as jaw deformity or developmental
anomalies including missing teeth and buried teeth.
Conditions we treat
- Jaw deformity. Orthognathic treatment is provided in
conjunction with Maxillofaical Surgery team
- Buried teeth. Treatment is provided in conjunction with Oral
Surgery team
- Missing teeth. Treatment is provided in conjunction with
Restorative team and Paediatric Dentistry team
- Dental anomolies and trauma. Treatment is provided in
conjunction with Paediatric Dentistry team
- Certain patients with complex medical issues
- Obstructive sleep apnoea. Treatment is provided in conjunction
with the Sleep Unit in the Bristol Royal Infirmary
Treatments we offer
- Removable braces
- Functional braces
- Fixed braces
- Mandibular advancement appliances (on referral from the Sleep
Unit in Bristol Royal Infirmary only)
Orthodontic referral guidance
We predominantly accept referrals from general dental
practitioners, specialist orthodontic practitioners and medical
practioners.
The following patients are appropriate for Hospital treatment by
consultants and registrars in training under supervision:
- Patients who require orthodontics and complex oral surgery
input (e.g. impacted teeth).
- Patients with significant skeletal discrepancies requiring
combined orthodontics and orthognathic surgery.
- Patients with complex restorative problems requiring secondary
care input in a multidisciplinary environment (e.g.
hypodontia).
- Patients with complex paediatric dental problems requiring
secondary care input in a multidisciplinary environment.
- Referrals where advice or a second opinion is required from a
secondary care consultant.
- Patients with complex medical issues, including psychological
concerns, which require close liaison with medical personnel
locally.
- Patients with medical, developmental or social problems who
would not be considered suitable for treatment in specialist
practice.
- Complex orthodontic cases not considered suitable for
management in specialist practice (referrals accepted from
specialist practice only).
- Patients with clefts of the lip and/ or palate or craniofacial
syndromes.
- Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (on referral from the
Sleep Unit in Bristol Royal Infirmary only).
Further information and guidance can be found in the Orthodontic
Commissioning Guide; Level 3b (
guid-comms-orthodontics.pdf (england.nhs.uk). Other patients
who may qualify for NHS orthodontic treatment but do not meet the
above referral criteria (i.e. level 3a in the Orthodontic
Commissioning Guide), should have their referrals directed to an
orthodontic specialist in practice.
All patients requiring active orthodontic treatment should have
good dental health with regard to caries, periodontal disease and
erosive diet.
Some patients not meeting the above dental health requirements -
for example children with carious/hypoplastic first molars - may
still benefit from a Consultant opinion. This is because judicious
extractions or very simple treatment may be of benefit.
Broken brace information
Sometimes breakages can occur during orthodontic treatment.
There are broken brace clinics held most days at 9am and 2pm. It is
important to ring the following number to ensure that the clinic is
being held and to book an appointment: 0117 342 9547
Some further information is provided below on commonly occurring
problems with braces.
Something on my brace is loose
We advise calling us to organise a broken brace appointment to
inspect your brace and correct any issues. If it is less than a
week until your next scheduled appointment, it would be reasonable
to wait until this appointment for it to be fixed unless it is
causing pain.
My brace is rubbing
Please use the wax you were given at the start of your treatment
or call us 0117 342 9547 and we can post you out some wax to put on
the bit that is rubbing you. If this does not solve the problem,
please contact us on to organise a broken brace appointment.
I have run out of elastics
Don't worry we can post you some more if you call on 0117 342
9547.
Patient information leaflets
Please click on the link below to access electronic versions of
the patient information leaflets we use for our patients.
Patient
Information Leaflets - British Orthodontic Society (BOS)
Orthodontic key staff
Miss Nikki Atack
Consultant in Orthodontics
Tel: 0117 342 9624
Mr Christian Day
Consultant in Orthodontics
Tel: 0117 342 9624
Dr Kate House
Consultant in Orthodontics
Tel: 0117 342 9624
Dr Timothy Jones
Consultant in Orthodontics
Tel: 0117 342 9624
Dr Julie Williams
Consultant in Orthodontics
Tel: 0117 342 9624
Helen Bladen
Orthodontic Secretary
Tel: 0117 342 9624
Jeannette Lewis-Kelly
Orthodontic Clinic Coordinator
