To Make a Complaint

Orthodox Train Tracks are accepted as the best way to straighten the teeth but they do have some unfortunate side effects. They can damage the enamel and roots of the teeth and the appearance of the face. Worse still the teeth tend to go crooked again unless the patient wears a brace for the rest of their life. Treatment is usually delayed until children have stopped growing, by when it is too late to change the growth of the jaws and this makes it more likely that four or even eight permanent teeth will have to be extracted.

Many patients are not warned how frequent or serious these side effects can be or told about non-orthodox alternatives such as Dental Orthopaedics, Growth Guidance or Orthotropics. This leaves them unaware that some one else might offer them a non-extraction solution. In effect the orthodontists are making this decision on the patient’s behalf, denying them “Fully Informed Consent”.

This situation will not change until enough parents make formal complaints to the General Dental Council (GDC) naming the dentist or orthodontist that failed to give them ‘Fully Informed Consent’. Past experience has taught us that the GDC tends to side with Orthodox orthodontists and they are not cautioned or reprimanded. As a result the problem continues.

You do have the right to sue your dentist or orthodontist if you suffer as a result of not being given “fully Informed Consent” but most of you would probably be satisfied if they were reprimanded by the GDC. To help this happen we suggest that you ask your solicitor to send the accompanying letter to the GDC.

Below you will find a sample letter that could be sent by your solicitor to The Chief Executive, The General Dental Council, 37 Wimpole Street, London W1G 8DQ. Adjust the wording so that your solicitor knows which aspects concern you most. If you wish to know of a solicitor with experience in this field, you might contact Mr Alex Bodza alexbodza@hotmail.com, who has offered to help free of charge.

Dear Sir,
I represent ……………………………………….. who attended …….……. (dentist / orthodontist, name and address) on …………. (date) for an orthodontic consultation for their son/daughter ……. (name). My client tells me that during the consultation only one form of treatment was proposed involving ….. extractions??? ….. Fixed braces??? …….. Appliances??? ……. Etc, they were not told about alternative treatment without extractions ……. OR about the advantages or disadvantages of early treatment / Dental Orthopaedics / growth guidance / or Orthotropics . ….. which might have avoided having some teeth extracted OR that might have avoided the damage to my child’s face.

My client asked him/her if there were other methods that might avoid extractions or train tracks but were told that “this is the only way” OR “the others ways don’t work”. OR “treatment should be delayed until their child’s permanent teeth had erupted” OR failed to warn them “surgery to the jaws may be necessary”.

Yours Faithfully etc.