Orthodontists in Jersey (FOI)

​​​Request

A

Please advise how many orthodontists Jersey employed in 2010 to 2020 and how many are currently employed?

B

Please advise how many qualified practitioners who are qualified to carry out fitting braces to patients in the hospital dental deptarment were employed through the same two time periods.

C

Please confirm what the stated waiting time is from first appointment to receiving braces is currently.

Response

A and B

Over the period 2010 to 2019, two substantive Consultant Orthodontists were employed by Health and Community Services (HCS). From 2019 to 2023, two Locum Consultant Orthodontists were engaged.

There is currently one substantive Consultant Orthodontist, with one vacancy.

In addition to the above, one Orthodontic Therapist was employed on a substantive basis until 2020. They continue to provide Bank (Ad-Hoc) support to the service.

C

Patients are not added to the treatment waiting list until they are in full adult dentition and, consequently, may be under review for several months or years after initial consultation with HCS’ Dental Department. Readiness for treatment will be individual, according to the stage of tooth development at referral and the rate at which that individual progresses to full adult dentition. As such, it is not possible to state a waiting time from first appointment to fitting of braces.

Currently, the longest wait on the treatment waiting list is 2 years and 7 months, from the date the patient was listed for treatment.​