Dentists
Thames Orthodontics
Walpole House,15 St. Leonards Road,Thames Ditton, Thames Ditton KT7 0RJ
Overview
Thames Orthodontics is an orthodontic practice located in Thames Ditton, a affluent area in Surrey near the River Thames. Based at Walpole House on St. Leonards Road, the practice specializes in orthodontic treatment and teeth straightening services for patients of all ages. The practice provides a range of orthodontic solutions including traditional braces, clear aligners, and other corrective appliances designed to improve dental alignment and bite correction.
The practice serves the local Thames Ditton community and surrounding areas of Surrey, offering personalized orthodontic care to both adult and young patients. Thames Orthodontics focuses on delivering professional orthodontic treatment in a modern dental setting, helping patients achieve straighter teeth and improved oral function. The practice typically offers initial consultations to assess treatment needs and discuss available options with patients.
For anyone seeking orthodontic treatment in the Thames Ditton area, Thames Orthodontics provides convenient local access to specialist services. Patients interested in treatment should contact the practice directly at their St. Leonards Road location to arrange a consultation and learn more about available options.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can register at Thames Orthodontics in Thames Ditton by calling 020 8191 7732, visiting the practice in person, or completing a registration form on their website. Unlike GP registration, you do not need to live within a catchment area to join an NHS dentist — you can register with any practice that is accepting NHS patients. You will be asked for your name, date of birth, address, medical history, and details of any medications you take. Your first appointment will usually include a full dental examination.
NHS dental places can be limited and availability changes frequently. Contact Thames Orthodontics directly on 020 8191 7732 to check whether they are currently accepting new NHS patients. If Thames Orthodontics is full, you can call NHS 111 or use the NHS website (nhs.uk) to find other NHS dentists near Thames Ditton accepting new patients. You do not need a referral — simply contact the practice.
If you are registered at Thames Orthodontics, call 020 8191 7732 during opening hours for an emergency appointment. Outside surgery hours, call NHS 111 for advice — they can direct you to the nearest emergency dental service. Go to A&E only if you have uncontrolled bleeding, facial swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, or trauma to the face or jaw. For dental pain at home, take over-the-counter painkillers (ibuprofen or paracetamol), rinse with warm salt water, and apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek.
NHS dental charges in England are set nationally and apply at Thames Orthodontics. As of 2024, Band 1 (check-up, diagnosis, X-rays, scale and polish if needed, preventive advice) costs £26.80. Band 2 (fillings, root canal treatment, extractions) costs £73.50. Band 3 (crowns, dentures, bridges) costs £319.10. An urgent dental treatment charge is £26.80. If you need more than one treatment in the same course, you only pay the highest band. You may be entitled to free NHS dental care if you are under 18, under 19 and in full-time education, pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, receiving certain benefits, or hold an HC2 certificate.
Yes, Thames Orthodontics treats adult patients of all ages. There is no upper age limit for orthodontic treatment — healthy teeth can be moved at any age. Popular adult options include ceramic braces (less visible), lingual braces (behind the teeth), and Invisalign (clear aligners). Adult treatment may take slightly longer than for younger patients. NHS orthodontics is generally only available for under-18s; adults would need private treatment.
Your general dentist can refer you to Thames Orthodontics for orthodontic assessment. For NHS orthodontic treatment (free for under-18s who meet clinical criteria), a referral from your dentist is required. The orthodontist will assess using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) — treatment is provided on the NHS for patients with a clear clinical need. For private orthodontics, some practices accept self-referrals — contact Thames Orthodontics on 020 8191 7732 to check.
Yes, Thames Orthodontics offers Invisalign clear aligners as a discreet alternative to traditional braces. Invisalign uses a series of custom-made, removable, virtually invisible aligners that gradually move your teeth. Advantages include near-invisibility, removability for eating and brushing, fewer clinic visits, and no food restrictions. Invisalign is suitable for many orthodontic cases including crowding, spacing, overbite, underbite, and crossbite. Your orthodontist at Thames Orthodontics will assess your suitability at a consultation.
Treatment duration at Thames Orthodontics depends on the complexity of your case. As a general guide: simple alignment cases may take 6-12 months, moderate cases 12-18 months, and complex cases 18-30 months. Clear aligners for mild to moderate cases typically take 6-18 months. Your orthodontist will give you a personalised estimate at your consultation. Regular appointments (usually every 4-8 weeks) are needed for adjustments and monitoring progress.
Thames Orthodontics in Thames Ditton offers a comprehensive range of orthodontic treatments including fixed metal braces, fixed ceramic (tooth-coloured) braces, lingual braces (behind the teeth), clear aligners (such as Invisalign), removable appliances, functional appliances for jaw growth modification in children, and retainers. Your orthodontist will recommend the most suitable treatment after a thorough assessment including clinical examination, photographs, X-rays, and digital impressions or moulds.
If a bracket or wire breaks or becomes loose, contact Thames Orthodontics on 020 8191 7732 for a repair appointment. In the meantime, use orthodontic wax (provided in your starter kit) to cover any sharp edges irritating your cheek or tongue. If a wire is poking, you can gently push it back with a pencil eraser or clip the end carefully with clean nail clippers. Do not try to remove fixed braces yourself. A broken bracket is not usually an emergency but should be repaired within a week to avoid treatment delays.
With fixed braces from Thames Orthodontics, avoid hard foods (nuts, hard sweets, ice, popcorn kernels, crusty bread), sticky foods (toffee, chewing gum, caramel), biting directly into hard fruits and vegetables (cut them into pieces first), and fizzy and sugary drinks. These can break brackets, bend wires, or increase the risk of decay. Soft foods, cooked vegetables, and cut-up fruit are fine. With Invisalign, there are no food restrictions — simply remove your aligners before eating and brush before reinserting.
Orthodontic treatment at Thames Orthodontics is not painful, but you will experience some discomfort. After braces are fitted or adjusted, teeth typically feel sore and tender for 3-5 days. Over-the-counter painkillers (ibuprofen or paracetamol) and a soft diet help during this period. Orthodontic wax can relieve irritation from brackets rubbing against cheeks. With clear aligners, mild pressure is felt when switching to a new set. The discomfort is temporary and a sign that teeth are moving as planned.
The British Orthodontic Society recommends children be assessed by age 7-9, or whenever your general dentist identifies a potential orthodontic issue. Early assessment allows the orthodontist at Thames Orthodontics to monitor jaw growth and dental development, identify problems early (crossbites, severe crowding, protruding front teeth), start interceptive treatment if needed to guide jaw growth, and plan the optimal timing for comprehensive treatment. Most fixed brace treatment begins between ages 11-14 when the permanent teeth have erupted.
Yes, retainers are essential after orthodontic treatment to prevent teeth from moving back to their original positions. Thames Orthodontics provides both fixed retainers (a thin wire bonded behind your front teeth, worn permanently) and removable retainers (clear plastic trays or Hawley retainers, worn nightly). You will need to wear removable retainers every night for at least the first year, then nightly or as directed long-term. Retention is a lifelong commitment — without retainers, teeth will gradually shift.