Can You Transfer Orthodontic Treatment To Another Orthodontist?

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Starting orthodontic treatment with one provider does not necessarily mean you have to finish it there.

People sometimes need to transfer their orthodontic care because they have moved house, changed jobs, relocated abroad or simply want treatment closer to home. Others may be looking for a second opinion or a different approach to managing their braces or Invisalign treatment.

In many cases, orthodontic treatment can be transferred to another orthodontist. However, whether the new clinician can continue your existing treatment depends on several factors, including your current stage of treatment, the type of appliance you are wearing and the information available from your previous provider.

This guide explains how orthodontic treatment transfers work and what you should expect if you’re considering moving your care to another orthodontist.

Quick Answer: Yes, orthodontic treatment can often be transferred to another orthodontist. Whether the new orthodontist continues your existing treatment plan or recommends a revised approach depends on your current treatment stage, your records, your appliance and their clinical assessment.

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🔑 Key Takeaways

  • Orthodontic treatment can often be transferred to another orthodontist.
  • The new orthodontist will usually carry out their own assessment before accepting your case.
  • Some patients continue their existing treatment, while others require a revised treatment plan.
  • Having copies of your records can make the transfer process easier.
  • Never stop wearing your braces or aligners while arranging a transfer unless advised to do so.


Orthodontic treatment in London at Whites Dental

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Can You Transfer?
Why Transfer?
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Braces & Invisalign
Will Treatment Restart?
FAQs

Can You Transfer Orthodontic Treatment To Another Orthodontist?

Yes, in many cases you can.

Changing orthodontists does not automatically mean your treatment has to begin again.

However, every orthodontist is professionally responsible for the treatment they provide. Before agreeing to continue your care, they will usually carry out their own assessment to ensure they are happy with the existing treatment and that it remains appropriate for your teeth and bite.

The outcome depends on factors such as:

  • Your stage of treatment.
  • The type of braces or aligners you are wearing.
  • The records available from your previous provider.
  • The orthodontist’s clinical judgement.

Why Do People Transfer Orthodontic Treatment?

There are many reasons why patients decide to move their orthodontic care.

Common examples include:

  • Moving to a different part of the country.
  • Relocating overseas.
  • Changing jobs.
  • Moving closer to family.
  • Finding appointments difficult to attend.
  • Wanting treatment closer to home or work.
  • Seeking a second opinion.
  • The original practice closing.

The reason for transferring does not necessarily affect whether treatment can continue, but it may influence the best way to manage the handover.

What Information Will The New Orthodontist Need?

The more information available, the easier the transfer process is likely to be.

Helpful records may include:

  • Digital scans or impressions.
  • X-rays.
  • Clinical photographs.
  • Treatment notes.
  • Your original treatment plan.
  • Details of your current braces or aligners.

Even if these records are unavailable, the new orthodontist can usually perform a fresh assessment and advise on the most appropriate next steps.

Can Both Braces And Invisalign Be Transferred?

In many cases, yes.

The process differs slightly depending on the appliance.

Transferring Fixed Braces

With fixed braces, the orthodontist will assess:

  • Your current stage of treatment.
  • The type of bracket system being used.
  • How your teeth are responding.
  • The condition of the appliance.

They will then decide whether to continue with the existing braces or recommend another approach.

Transferring Invisalign Treatment

For Invisalign, the orthodontist may review:

  • Your current aligner stage.
  • Your digital treatment records where available.
  • Whether the teeth are tracking as expected.
  • Whether additional scans or refinements are needed.

Depending on the circumstances, treatment may continue with the existing aligners or require a revised treatment plan.

Will You Need To Start Treatment Again?

Not necessarily.

Many patients are able to continue from their current stage.

However, there are situations where restarting part of the treatment may produce a safer or more predictable outcome.

This may be recommended if:

  • Your teeth are no longer following the original treatment plan.
  • The appliance is no longer suitable.
  • Important treatment records are unavailable.
  • Your orthodontic needs have changed.

Your orthodontist will explain whether continuing or replanning is the better option.

Will Transferring Orthodontic Treatment Cost More?

It often involves some additional costs.

These may include:

  • A new consultation.
  • Fresh scans or X-rays if required.
  • Preparation of a revised treatment plan.
  • Replacement appliances where necessary.

The exact fees depend on how much treatment remains and what work is required to safely continue your care.

Should You Stop Wearing Your Braces Or Aligners?

No.

Continue following the instructions provided by your current orthodontist until you have been assessed by the new provider.

For Invisalign patients, continue wearing your current aligners according to the advice you have already been given unless your new orthodontist recommends otherwise.

Stopping treatment unexpectedly may allow unwanted tooth movement.

Can You Transfer From NHS To Private Orthodontic Treatment?

Yes, many patients ask about moving from NHS care to private orthodontic treatment.

However, transferring to another orthodontist is a broader topic than simply changing funding routes.

If your main question relates specifically to moving from NHS orthodontics into private care, you may also find our guide on switching from NHS to private orthodontic treatment helpful.

How Can You Make The Transfer Process Easier?

A few simple steps can help make changing orthodontists smoother:

  • Arrange a consultation before stopping treatment.
  • Request copies of your treatment records where possible.
  • Bring your current aligners or appliance information.
  • Attend appointments as recommended.
  • Ask questions about how your treatment will continue.

If you’re starting with a new provider, our guide on what an orthodontist does explains how they assess and plan orthodontic treatment.

FAQs: Transferring Orthodontic Treatment

Changing orthodontists can raise plenty of practical questions. These are some of the most common.

Can You Transfer Orthodontic Treatment To Another Orthodontist?

Yes. Many patients can continue treatment with another orthodontist following a new assessment.

Can Another Orthodontist Continue My Braces?

Often, yes. Your new orthodontist will decide whether continuing the existing treatment is appropriate.

Can Invisalign Treatment Be Transferred?

Yes. Invisalign treatment can often be transferred, although your new provider may need to review your records and treatment progress.

Will I Need New Scans?

Possibly. New digital scans or X-rays may be recommended to help the orthodontist assess your current position.

Will My Treatment Restart?

Not always. Many patients continue from their current stage, although some cases benefit from a revised treatment plan.

Can I Change Orthodontists If I Move House?

Yes. Relocating is one of the most common reasons patients transfer orthodontic care.

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Looking For An Orthodontist In London?

If you’re considering transferring your orthodontic treatment, an assessment with an experienced clinician can help you understand whether your existing treatment can continue or whether a revised plan would produce the best long-term result.

At Whites Dental, patients can explore treatment with an experienced orthodontist in London, whether they’re beginning treatment for the first time or transferring care from another provider.

  • ✅ Specialist orthodontic assessments
  • ✅ Fixed braces and Invisalign treatment
  • ✅ Individual treatment planning
  • ✅ Central London clinic locations

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Author

Dr Deepa Chopra Author Of Whites Dental Blog

Dr Deepa Chopra
Principal Dentist & Clinic Founder
GDC registration number: 124489

Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Membership of the British Dental Association
Restorative Dentistry from Tipton
Align Invisalign profile
LinkedIn profile

Areas of Expertise: 20+ Years Dentistry Experience. General Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry, Invisalign, Composite Bonding, Veneers, Root Canals, Crowns, Dentures, Gum Disease, Hygienist Services, Emergency Dental Services & Teeth Whitening.

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Whites Dental (“we”, “us” or “our”) are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy.

The practice respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy sets out how we will do this, taking into account data protection laws as well as our professional guidelines and requirements.

The data controller is Whites Dental; the Information Governance Lead is Deepa Chopra.

This Privacy Policy is available on the practice website at www.whitesdental.co.uk/privacy-policy, by email if you contact [email protected] or by calling the practice on 0204 527 3210.

This policy (together with our Cookies Policy) sets out the basis on which any personal data we collect, or that you provide to us, will be processed by us. It does not include data where the identity has been removed (i.e. anonymous data).

Please read the following carefully to understand our views and practices regarding your personal data and how we will treat it.

You will be asked to provide personal information when joining the practice. The purpose of us processing this data is to provide optimum health care to you by, for example, recommending the most relevant treatment and ensuring your safety by taking your medical history.

The categories of data we process

  • Contact data (such as name, address, email address, telephone number) for the purposes of corresponding with you, for example, regarding your appointments and treatment.
  • Contact data (such as name, address, email address, telephone number) for the purposes of direct mail/email/text/marketing.
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  • Financial data (such as credit card details, bank account information, credit history, employment status) for the purposes of processing your payment for treatment(s).
  • Usage data (such as information about how you use our website, products and services) for the purposes of improving the way we provide our treatment and services.

The ways we collect information about you

We may collect and process the following data about you in operating the website and performing any of our services and treatment(s):

Direct
  • Information you give us (including information you give to our Clinical Lead, Specialists, Dentists, Hygienists and Orthodontic Therapists who are contracted to work for us). You may give us information about you by filling in forms on our website www.whitesdental.co.uk or by corresponding with us by phone, email, in person or otherwise.
  • Personal data is obtained when a patient joins the practice, when a patient is referred to the practice and when a patient subscribes to an email list.
Automatic
  • Information we automatically collect about you. With regard to each of your visits to our website we may automatically collect the following information:
  • Technical information, including the internet protocol (IP) address used to connect your computer to the internet, your login information, browser type and version, time zone setting, browser plugin types and versions, operating system and platform; and
  • Information about your visit, including the full Uniform Resource Locators (URL) clickstream to, through and from our site (including date and time); products you viewed or searched for; page response times, download errors, length of visits to certain pages, page interaction information (such as scrolling, clicks, and mouseovers), and methods used to browse away from the page and any phone number used to call our customer service number.
From third parties
  • Our Clinical Lead, Specialists, Dentists, Hygienists and Orthodontic Therapists are third parties working for us as contractors, however, they are contractually bound to us with regard to obligations of confidentiality in the same way as our employees and by professional obligations of confidentiality.
  • You may have been referred to us for treatment from Invisalign and we will therefore receive contact data, special category data concerning health, treatment data and/or financial data from them.
  • Information we receive from other sources. We may receive information about you if you use any of the other websites we operate or the other services we provide.
  • We are also working closely with third parties (including, for example, business partners, subcontractors in technical, payment and delivery services, advertising networks, analytics providers, search information providers, credit reference agencies) and may receive information about you from them.
  • We use third-party analytics services (such as Google Analytics) to evaluate your use of the website, compile reports on activity, collect demographic data, analyze performance metrics, and collect and evaluate other information relating to our website and internet usage. These third parties use cookies and other technologies to help analyse and provide us with data.

How we share data with third parties

We may share your Contact data, special category of data relating to health, Financial data, Treatment data and/or Usage data with selected third parties including:

  • Our Clinical Lead, Specialists, Dentists, Hygienists and Orthodontic Therapists.
  • Private health insurance companies (at your request if you are using private health insurance).
  • Credit reference agencies.
  • Equipment providers and laboratories such as Align Tech, Nimrodental, and Ashford Orthodontics.
  • Professional compliance organisations such as BDA.
  • Data storage and transfer platforms such as Microsoft Sharepoint and Dropbox.
  • Our payment platform Natwest.
  • Our practice management and CRM software providers Pearl.
  • Our live chat provider Quriobot.
  • Advertisers and advertising networks that require the data to select and serve relevant adverts to you and others such as Facebook.
  • Analytics and search engine providers that assist us in the improvement and optimisation of our site such as Google.

This is a list of the main third parties with whom we share your personal data. If you would like a full list of third parties who process your data, and their contact details, please contact us using the details set out above.

We never pass your personal details to a third party unless we have a contract for them to process data on our behalf and will otherwise keep it confidential.

If we intend to refer a patient to another practitioner or to secondary care such as a hospital we will gain your consent before the referral is made and the personal data is shared.

The website may include links to third party websites, plugins and applications. Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third party websites and are not responsible for their privacy statements. When you leave our website, we encourage you to read the privacy notice of every website you visit.

Data transferred outside the EU

  • Personal data is stored in the EU whether in digital or hard copy format.
  • Personal data is stored in the US in digital format when the data storage company is certified with the EU-US Privacy Shield.

Lawful basis for processing personal data

The lawful bases for processing personal data (including providing your personal data to third parties) are:

  • Consent of the data subject for data relating to treatment, care, our services, processing payment, credit checks, marketing and reviews, improving our services and improving our website (including using data analytics). This will also apply to the storage of personal data for these purposes.
  • Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with the data subject or to take steps to enter into a contract such as the provision of the services by us.
  • Processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation such as financial, tax and contractual laws.

For consent relating to children and people who may not have mental capacity to give consent, please contact us using the details above for a copy of our Safeguarding and Mental Capacity policies.

The reason for processing special category data such as patients’ health data is:

  • The processing is necessary for the purposes of preventative or occupational medicine, for assessing the working capacity of the employee, medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or management of health or social care systems and services on the basis of Union or Member State law or a contract with a health professional; and
  • Data is processed by or under the responsibility of a professional subject to the obligation of professional secrecy under Union or Member State law or rules established by national competent bodies or by another person also subject to an obligation of secrecy under Union or Member State law or rules established by national competent bodies.

Purposes for processing personal data

We (and the third parties listed above) process your personal data for the following purposes:

  • To provide you with our services.
  • To discuss relevant treatments.
  • To provide a safe working environment for staff, contractors and patients.
  • To check your employment and financial status for payment plans.
  • To process payments.
  • To keep you informed of our latest offers, other services we provide and general marketing activities.
  • To obtain reviews and feedback on your experience of our services.
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If you would like more information about how your data is processed please contact us by using the details set out above.

Data retention

The retention period for special category data in patient records is a minimum of 10 years and may be longer for complex records in order to meet our legal requirements. The retention periods for other personal data is two years after it was last processed.

You will receive marketing emails until you unsubscribe, either by contacting us or by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. For details of other retention periods please contact us using the details set out above.

Your personal data rights

You have the following personal data rights:

  • The right to be informed.
  • The right of access to your personal data, which enables you to receive a copy of the personal data we hold about you and to check that we are lawfully processing it.
  • The right to rectification of your personal data that you consider to be inaccurate. This enables you to have any incomplete or inaccurate data we hold about you corrected.
  • The right to erasure. This enables you to ask us to delete or remove your personal data (however clinical records must be retained for a certain time period).
  • The right to restrict processing. This gives you the option to ask us to suspend the processing of your personal data e.g. if you want us to establish the data’s accuracy or you do not want us to erase it.
  • The right to data portability. If you request us to do so, we will provide to you, or a third party of your choice, your personal data in a commonly used, machine-readable format.
  • The right to object. This enables you to object to the processing of your personal data if you feel it impacts on your fundamental rights and freedoms, however, in some cases, we may have compelling legitimate grounds to process your information which can override your right to object.
  • The right to request confirmation as to whether or not your personal data is being processed.
  • The right to not have a decision made about you based solely on automated processing.

You have the right to withdraw consent at any time. If you request us to do so, we will no longer process your data. However, this will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before you withdraw your consent. If you withdraw your consent, we will not be able to provide you with the services. You have the right to obtain a free copy of your patient records within one month of submitting a request.

If you are not a patient of the practice you have the right to withdraw consent for processing personal data, to have a free copy of it within one month of submitting a request, to correct errors in it or to ask us to delete it. You can also withdraw consent from communication methods such as telephone, email or text.

We have carried out a Privacy Impact Assessment and if you would like a copy please contact us using the details set out above.

If you wish to exercise any of the rights set out above, in the first instance, please contact us using the details set out above.

You will not have to pay a fee to access your personal data (or to exercise any of the other rights). However, we may charge a reasonable fee if your request is clearly unfounded, repetitive or excessive. Alternatively, we may refuse to comply with your request in these circumstances.

We may need to request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity and ensure your right to access your personal data (or to exercise any of your other rights). This is a security measure to ensure that personal data is not disclosed to any person who has no right to receive it. We may also contact you to ask you for further information in relation to your request to speed up our response.

Further details of these rights can be obtained on the Information Commissioner’s website.

Data security

We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way, altered or disclosed. In addition, we limit access to your personal data to those employees, agents, contractors and other third parties who have a business need to know. They will only process your personal data on our instructions and they are subject to a duty of confidentiality.

We have put in place procedures to deal with any suspected personal data breach and will notify you and any applicable regulator of a breach where we are legally required to do so.

Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Although we will do our best to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee the security of your data transmitted through our website; any transmission is at your own risk. Once we have received your information, we will use strict procedures and security features to try to prevent unauthorised access.

Comments, suggestions and complaints

Please contact the practice for a comment, suggestion or a complaint about your data processing at [email protected], or 0204 527 3210 or by writing to or visiting the practice. We take complaints very seriously.

If you are unhappy with our response or if you need any advice you should contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Their telephone number is 0303 123 1113, you can also find other contact options here. The ICO can investigate your claim and take action against anyone who’s misused personal data. You can also visit their website for information on how to make a data protection complaint.

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Our consent for marketing requires a positive opt-in, we don’t use pre-ticked boxes or any other method of default consent. We make it easy for people to withdraw consent, tell you how to and keep contemporaneous evidence of consent. Consent to marketing is never a precondition of a service.

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