Children Facing Lengthy Wait For Orthodontic Treatment In Jersey
Children are facing a long wait for braces in Jersey due to a shortage of orthodontists.
According to Dr Michael Cassidy, from the dental department at Jersey Royal Hospital, a post left vacant three years ago has not been filled and this has contributed to waiting times of up to two years.
Dr Cassidy confirmed that an orthodontist had not been recruited to fill the position; however, there were measures in place to reduce waiting times. He explained that a dentist would be visiting five year old children around the island to record information about their dental health, including the number of missing, decayed and filled teeth.
Dr Cassidy said that the information obtained by visiting dentists would be used to compare Jersey to other parts of the UK and design care plans to benefit children in the future and address areas of concern highlighted by the statistics.
At the moment, more than three hundred children are on a waiting list for orthodontic treatment, with many facing a wait of up to two years.
News of the waiting times is likely to cause concern among parents on the island, with many orthodontists recommending early intervention for children with orthodontic issues. Private treatment is available, but the cost of braces often extends into the thousands and this is unaffordable for many families.
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