What happens at an orthodontic consultation
The clinician will review your dental and medical history, examine your teeth, bite, and gum health, assess any photos or scans provided, and discuss your treatment goals and concerns. A basic consultation may involve a visual examination and a conversation about options and costs. A records consultation goes further: digital scans (iTero or similar), intraoral photos, facial photos, and X-rays. Full records enable a precise treatment plan with accurate pricing. Some practices include records in the consultation fee; others charge separately.
What you should leave with after a consultation
You should leave with: a clear understanding of which treatment options are suitable for your case and why; indicative or confirmed pricing and what is included in the fee; a realistic timeline; clarity on whether further records are needed before treatment can be confirmed; and specific next steps. If you feel you received a sales pitch rather than a clinical explanation, or if no examination took place, those are flags to consider a second opinion.
How to prepare for an orthodontic consultation
Prepare a list of questions covering: which appliances are suitable and why; whether NHS eligibility applies; cost, inclusions, and payment plan options; timeline; what happens if treatment takes longer than planned; how retainers work at the end and whether they are included; how broken or lost appliances are handled; and who supervises each appointment. Having these written down ensures you get consistent answers you can compare across providers.
The difference between a consultation and clinical records
Many patients confuse these two stages. A consultation is the meeting where suitability, options, and costs are discussed. Clinical records are the diagnostic data (scans, X-rays, photos, bite measurements) needed to create a precise treatment plan. These may happen at the same appointment or separately. Treatment cannot be properly planned — or fairly quoted — without full records. If a practice quotes a firm price before taking records, that quote is likely to change when records reveal a more complex case than expected.
What orthodontic consultations cost in the UK
Private orthodontic consultation fees in the UK range from free (some practices offer free initial consultations to attract patients) to £100–£150 for a comprehensive assessment. Records appointments, if separate, typically add £100–£300 covering digital scans, X-rays, and a treatment plan document. NHS orthodontic assessments are free for eligible patients but require a referral and often involve a waiting list. If you attend multiple paid consultations, a prior online photo assessment can help narrow your shortlist and make each consultation more productive.
Free orthodontic consultations: what's included and the catches
Many private practices offer a free first consultation. A genuine one is a clinical appointment with a GDC-registered clinician: an examination of your teeth, jaws and bite, a discussion of suitable options, an approximate treatment length and a rough cost range for each appliance type. What it usually does not include is records. X-rays such as an OPG or cephalometric radiograph, clinical photos, and digital scans or impressions are normally taken at a separate records appointment, typically £100 to £300. Ask beforehand what the free appointment covers, what records cost, and whether that fee is deducted if you go ahead.
Red flags: a sales pitch rather than a clinical consultation
Some free consultations are primarily sales appointments. Warning signs include no examination of your mouth at all, pressure to sign a contract or pay a deposit on the day, same-day discounts that expire if you leave to think, every patient being found suitable for the one treatment the practice promotes, and a very short appointment with a price presented within minutes. A genuine assessment and discussion of options takes at least 20 to 30 minutes, and a reputable practice will expect you to take the information away and compare.
NHS patients: referral instead of a free consultation
NHS orthodontic treatment is not accessed by booking a free consultation. Your dentist assesses your IOTN (Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need) and refers you if you meet the threshold: a Dental Health Component of grade 4 or 5, or grade 3 with an Aesthetic Component of 6 or more. The NHS orthodontic assessment is then part of the treatment pathway, and treatment is free for eligible under-18s. If you are on an NHS waiting list and also attend a private free consultation, tell the practice so the advice you receive stays impartial.
Online consultation vs in-person consultation
An online orthodontic consultation — where a clinician reviews guided dental photos — can provide indicative treatment options, case complexity assessment, and price ranges before you attend in-person appointments. This is useful for research and shortlisting but cannot replace clinical records. An in-person consultation with X-rays is required before treatment is confirmed and starts. The two approaches are complementary: the online assessment informs which providers to visit; the in-person consultation confirms what the treatment will involve.
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.
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