New figures released by The British Orthodontic Society (BOS) to coincide with National Smile Month, which starts on 14th May 2018, reveals the number of adults seeking orthodontic treatment in the UK continues to rise. The survey, conducted in March 2018 among BOS members, was designed to gather new data about orthodontics and patient choices in the UK compared to two years ago.
Asked if they were seeing an increase in private adult treatment, 80% said yes. This figure compares to 75% in 2016. When asked what kind of braces they provide to their patients, orthodontists revealed a cross section of approaches: over 75% supply fixed braces with clear aesthetic brackets, over 35% supply lingual braces (fixed behind the teeth) and over 75% supply clear aligners.
Two other interesting points in the survey were that more men appear to be seeking treatment and that more than 10% of orthodontists say their adult patients are influenced by celebrities and bloggers. The survey showed that adult patients are most likely to be female and in the 26 to 40 age bracket. However, the number of men seeking treatment appears to be on the rise. 19% of the respondents to the survey estimate that half of their adult patients are male. This compares to 13% in 2016.
Richard George, BOS Director of External Relations, commented: “It’s gratifying to see the number of adults interested in orthodontic treatment continuing to rise. If you are interested in treatment for yourself, it’s important to seek an opinion from a professional who has the training and skill to diagnose and treat a variety of orthodontic issues. Our members, specialists and dentists with a special interest, offer a range of options for adults, enabling them to provide a solution to any kind of orthodontic problem. The value of choice cannot be over-estimated.”
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