Dental Services
(asked on 16th July 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason extraction-based orthodontic treatment is the predominant model of care within NHS orthodontic services, in the context of airway-focused and growth-guidance approaches.
The Department is unable to intervene in or comment on individual cases. However, information for patients who have concerns or complaints about the treatments they have received on how to raise those issues with the relevant bodies is available at the following links:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/feedback-and-complaints/complaint/
https://www.gdc-uk.org/raising-concerns/how-to-get-a-refund-or-make-a-complaint
According to orthodontic experts, dental extractions are undertaken to provide space when it is felt that attempting to correct a malocclusion would lead to harm. This is either to address crowding or correct anteroposterior, lateral, or vertical mal-relationships of the teeth or jaws. A recent systematic review published in the European Journal of Orthodontics suggests that extraction of premolars in orthodontic treatment does not negatively affect upper airway volume and minimum cross-sectional area. The review is available at the following link: