Introducing Safe Brace – the campaign for safer orthodontics
NewsPosted by: Dental Design 14th February 2020
Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation explains why the OHF and the BOS (British Orthodontic Society) are joining forces.
Last September, it was revealed by the British Orthodontic Society that the number of adults seeking orthodontic treatment in the UK has increased significantly in recent times.
Around 75 per cent of orthodontists report an increase in adult private patients. It seems that cosmetic treatment is not only here to stay in 2020 but will continue to grow for some time.
This surge in the number of Brits who are seeking to improve their smile means it has arguably never been more important for there to be easy access to accurate information on how best to achieve a better smile.
This is why the Oral Health Foundation and the British Orthodontic Society have come together to create Safe Brace – a site dedicated to helping Brits gain a straighter smile in the safest and most effective way possible.
Through our new platform, we have created a place where adults can go to find free, impartial and reliable advice about orthodontic treatment.
When making the decision to seek a better smile through cosmetic treatment there are a multitude of options to take into consideration.
Aside from the price and duration of treatment, it’s important for potential patients to consider which type of orthodontics is best suited to get the result they desire.
Even before embarking on a course of orthodontics, it’s absolutely essential that patients are examined to make sure they are even suitable for it and their oral health is in good condition so that the risks are minimized as much as possible.
Safe Brace encourages patients to, in all circumstances, visit an appropriately-trained clinician if they are seeking any form of orthodontic treatment.
Although the number of adult patients seeking treatment through their local orthodontist is rising, so are those who are seeking all manner of cosmetic treatment through other avenues.
The launch of our new campaign is an opportunity to stress that the safest and most effective way to get straighter teeth and a better smile is through a qualified clinician. The alternative means that the door is left open to potentially life-threatening conditions, as well as inappropriate and dangerous treatment.
DIY orthodontics may seem like a consumer-savvy choice due to the low-cost and speed of delivery but many who go down this route will find a hefty price to pay further down the line. This growing trend must be put to a halt urgently so we can prevent more people being put at serious risk.
Through Safe Brace, we aim to help consumers make safe choices about where and how they get orthodontic treatment. The site provides a trustworthy source of accurate information that gives people the tools they need to make informed decisions.
If you know of adult patients who are considering orthodontic treatment, signpost them to the Safe Brace website, www.safebrace.org and encourage them to do their research before making any decisions on which route to take.
Through this, we can begin to bring down the number of people in the UK who seek dental treatment outside of the practice.
Whether it’s orthodontic treatment, or other types of treatment like teeth whitening, seeking them from unqualified persons is a decision that is likely to put patients in harms way.
As the adage goes, if you buy cheap, you will end up paying twice. For many people, they will be paying in more ways than just financially. Let’s stop this from happening.
