Children below 18 years of age may be entitled to have brace treatment through the NHS. Your dentist will assess you and make a referral to the local NHS clinics. Adults generally do not qualify for NHS treatment unless their problem is very complicated and likely to require treatment in a hospital setting. This often involves a combination of braces and surgery or management of compromised teeth. Adults cannot be referred directly to the hospital department without seeing an orthodontist to assess the suitability for referral. A private consultation will be necessary to see if you are suitable for hospital referral.