Waiting lists for NHS orthodontic care in England: how long are children waiting?

Background The provision of timely orthodontic care under the NHS (National Health Service) in England is critical. However, increasing waiting times for orthodontic assessments have raised concerns about equitable access and potential negative impacts on oral health outcomes.Objective This audit investigates current waiting times for NHS orthodontic assessments across England, highlighting regional disparities and compliance with established care standards.Standard set A total of 92% of patients to be seen within 18 weeks and 100% to be seen within 52 weeks of referral.Methods A prospective audit was conducted using freedom of information requests submitted to all 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) across England during 2023-2024. Data were collected from regional ICBs and local orthodontic contract holders covering 91.3% of total commissioned units of orthodontic activity (UOAs).Results Data representing 71.6% of total UOAs in England were analysed. Only one ICB met the 18-week standard and 7% of ICBs met the 52-week standard. The total number of children waiting for NHS orthodontic assessments was 351,208, with 223,710 waiting over 18 weeks and 141,487 waiting beyond 52 weeks. The longest documented waiting time was 6.6 years.Conclusion Collaborative efforts between ICBs and managed clinical networks are essential to mitigate these delays and ensure accessible, equitable orthodontic care for children and adolescents.