We are a specialist service for children and young adults under the age of 19, run jointly by a consultant orthodontist, speech and language therapist and dental nurse.
We provide specialist advice on oral difficulties which affect your speech, eating, drinking or saliva control when your oral problem has not responded to more conventional treatment methods.
We support you to try a non-invasive approach to treating oral difficulties using removable appliances, and to improve your oral skills prior to using other treatment methods.
Appointments take place in the dental clinic at Chailey Clinical Services. When you arrive, our receptionist will check that we have your correct details and show you where to wait for your appointment. The clinic nurse will meet you and take you to the clinic room.
Appointments vary from 30 minutes for your first appointment, to 15 minutes for any follow-up appointments.
During your first appointment, your relevant medical and dental history will be taken, and a routine assessment of your teeth will be made. We may also take an impression of your top teeth to assess your dental state and/or to design a dental appliance.
There will be opportunities to ask any questions and discuss the outcome as well as any concerns you may have.
We will ask your permission for consent to any treatment and also consent for any photographs or video recordings that may be needed to monitor your progress.
During your appointment, you’ll meet a consultant in paediatric dentistry, a specialist speech and language therapist and a dental nurse.
If treatment has been agreed and an impression of your teeth has been taken, you will be offered an appointment the following month to fit the appliance. Additional appointments will be made as needed, to make any adjustments and to monitor your progress. You will be shown how to put your appliance in your mouth and how to remove it as well as being given a recommended programme of wear and a leaflet on how to look after your appliance.
A letter will also be sent to the person who referred you to this service, with copies sent to you, your dentist, GP, and any other relevant healthcare professional. There will also be liaison with your local speech and language therapist throughout your treatment.
We accept referrals from your GP, speech and language therapist, or other healthcare professionals. Our service is available to children and young adults under the age of 19.
We accept referrals from any area but if your GP is located outside of Sussex we will require funding to be obtained before acceptance.
For adults over the age of 19, funding will need to be agreed.
You can also get involved by engaging with our service's social media accounts by helping with the latest fundraisers and events.
If you need advice about our services, facilities or staff, or would like to make a comment, please contact Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS).
You can contact PALS by the following:
Tell us what you think about our services, what we are good at, where we can improve, and what matters to you? All feedback will be shared anonymously wherever possible, but if you have any questions about this, please ask.
