Virtual Consultant Online on YouTube

What the YouTube channel is for

Video is the best format for the parts of orthodontics that are hard to explain in words: how a photo assessment is taken, what a braces appointment feels like, how clear aligners are put in and taken out, and how to clean around appliances. The Virtual Consultant Online channel collects longer explainers in one place so you can watch at your own pace and come back to a topic later. Each video is meant to sit alongside the written guides on this site rather than replace them.

A sensible watching order

If you are new to the subject, start with the basics of braces and clear aligners, then move to eligibility and cost, then to what happens at a first appointment, and finally to aftercare and retainers. That follows the order most patients meet these questions. The treatment hub, eligibility hub and cost hub mirror the same journey in writing, so you can switch between watching and reading whenever a detail needs checking.

Videos for parents and teenagers

Parents usually want to know how orthodontic need is assessed, when treatment commonly starts and how NHS funding works for children. Teenagers tend to ask about pain, food, school and appearance. Watching together can make a first appointment less daunting because the young person has seen what to expect. The children's orthodontics and teenage braces guides cover the same ground in text and are a good place to check a figure or a term from a video.

Videos for adults

Adults often want to know whether they are too old, how visible treatment will be at work, how it fits around a busy week and how results are kept afterwards. Explainers on adult braces, clear aligners and retainers address those concerns directly. The adult guides add comparison tables and sources, which are easier to scan than a video when you are weighing options side by side.

What a video cannot tell you

A video can describe how treatment generally works, but it cannot examine your mouth. Whether you need treatment, which type would suit you, how long it would take and what it would cost all depend on your teeth, gums, bite and priorities. Be cautious of any video, including ours, that seems to promise a specific result for a stranger. The guided photo assessment is where a clinician looks at your own photos and gives an individual view.

Checking the information you watch

Good habits help with any health video. Check who is speaking and whether they are on the General Dental Council register, look for sources such as the NHS and the British Orthodontic Society, notice whether the video is sponsored, and compare what you hear with a second source. Our guides cite the sources they rely on, and the methodology page explains how information on this site is compiled and kept up to date.

Making the most of video alongside professional advice

Videos work best as preparation rather than as a decision. Watch to understand the vocabulary, the stages and the day-to-day reality, then take what you have learned into a conversation with a registered clinician who can see your mouth. If a video raises a worry, such as pain, a loose bracket or a change in your bite, do not wait for the next upload. Contact your dentist or orthodontist, and use NHS 111 or an urgent dental service if you have swelling, injury or severe pain.

Preparing for your first appointment

Watching a few videos before an appointment helps you ask better questions. Write down what you want to change, any previous dental work, how much time you can commit to appointments and your budget. Ask what the options are, what each involves day to day, what retainers will be needed afterwards and what the total cost covers. The first appointment guide includes a checklist you can take with you.

From watching to a quote

When you are ready, the photo assessment takes only a few minutes: follow the on-screen guidance to take a set of photos, tell us what you would like to change, and a clinician reviews them and replies with suitable options and cost guidance. You do not need a YouTube account to do this, and starting an assessment does not commit you to treatment.

Useful related pages

This guide is for general information only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or substitute for advice from a registered dentist or orthodontist.