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Written question asked by Fleur Anderson (Labour) on Thursday, 16 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 September 2026. It was answered by James Frith (Labour) on Monday, 7 September 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Dental Services: Side Effects

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to provide acknowledgement and redress to people who had faces damaged and developed serious side effects after retraction-extraction orthodontics during childhood.

Answer

The Department is unable to intervene in or comment on individual cases. However, information for patients who have concerns or complaints about the treatments they have received on how to raise those issues with the relevant bodies is available at the following links:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/feedback-and-complaints/complaint/

https://www.gdc-uk.org/raising-concerns/how-to-get-a-refund-or-make-a-complaint

According to orthodontic experts, dental extractions are undertaken to provide space when it is felt that attempting to correct a malocclusion would lead to harm. This is either to address crowding or correct anteroposterior, lateral, or vertical mal-relationships of the teeth or jaws. A recent systematic review published in the European Journal of Orthodontics suggests that extraction of premolars in orthodontic treatment does not negatively affect upper airway volume and minimum cross-sectional area. The review is available at the following link:

https://academic.oup.com/ejo/article/47/2/cjaf012/8068404

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
19469
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Dental services Side effects
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk