The National Health Service (Personal Dental Services Agreements) Regulations 2005

Orthodontic course of treatment

5.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the contractor shall provide orthodontic services to a patient by providing to that patient an orthodontic course of treatment.

(2) The contractor may provide orthodontic services that are not provided by virtue of an orthodontic course of treatment where—

(a) it provides a repair to an orthodontic appliance of a person; and

(b) the orthodontic course of treatment in which that orthodontic appliance was provided is being provided by another contractor, hospital or relevant service provider under Part 1 of the Act.

(3) The contractor shall use its best endeavours to ensure that an orthodontic course of treatment is completed within a reasonable time from the date on which the orthodontic treatment plan was written in accordance with paragraph 6(1).

(4) If an orthodontic course of treatment is—

(a) terminated before it has been completed; or

(b) otherwise not completed within a reasonable time,

any further orthodontic services to be provided to that patient under the agreement must be provided as a new orthodontic course of treatment.

(5) An orthodontic course of treatment may only be terminated by—

(a) the contractor—

(i) when the circumstances referred to in paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 3 (violent patients) occur and notice that it will no longer provide services has been given to the Relevant Body;

(ii) where the patient has refused to pay a charge in the circumstances referred to in paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 (refusal to pay NHS Charges prior to the commencement of, or during, treatment); or

(iii) where, in the reasonable opinion of the contractor, there has been an irrevocable breakdown in the relationship between the patient and that contractor and notice of such a breakdown has been given to the patient and the Relevant Body;

(b) the patient; or

(c) a person specified in paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 3 acting on the patient’s behalf.