The British Orthodontic Society has announced the release of the latest orthodontic therapist guidelines. These follow on from the General Dental Council Scope of Practice guidelines from November 2025.

The safe supervision of orthodontic therapists requires a clear understanding of the roles and competencies of both the supervising dentist and the orthodontic therapist. Key points from the document include:

• The orthodontic therapist and supervising dentist should work together at all times to put patients’ interests first and act to protect them, to ensure safe patient care
• Both the orthodontic therapist and supervising dentist should work within their competencies, training and scope of practice and be aware of the roles and responsibilities of other members of the dental team
• The supervising dentist should see the patient in-person at least every other visit
• If the supervising dentist is not present, a comprehensive written prescription for the visit should be provided for the orthodontic therapist
• It is recognised that there may be specific clinical situations that require a different approach. Any deviation from this practice should be justified and documented
• When using technology for remote monitoring, the supervising dentist is ultimately responsible for the treatment and is accountable for the patient’s overall care, including the safe progress of the orthodontic treatment, ensuring the patient’s oral health has not deteriorated and there are no additional treatment needs. Remote monitoring should be considered an adjunct to the delivery of patient care. When using remote monitoring the treatment must be as safe and reliable as in-person appointments

Simon Littlewood, Consultant Orthodontist and Chair of the Working Party on the guidelines said, “a working party representing all areas of the British Orthodontic Society was put together to update the supervision guidelines. These guidelines now include a whole new section on the use of technology for remote monitoring and how this can be used safely and effectively as an adjunct to the supervision of orthodontic therapists”.

It should be noted that the revised guidelines do not change the scope of practice for orthodontic therapists. Rather, this new guidance is designed to be used alongside the scope of practice, providing greater clarity on safe teamworking, utilising the different skill mix within the orthodontic team for the benefit of patients.