19 August 2026
We appreciate that this situation has been upsetting and frustrating for many families, and we would like to reassure patients that work is continuing to transfer affected NHS patients to alternative NHS orthodontic care.
Our priority remains ensuring NHS orthodontic patients continue to receive appropriate care and support.
Key information for NHS orthodontic patients:
- A new NHS orthodontic provider has been secured for patients currently in active NHS treatment. (Our update made in July provides full details – see below)
- Transfers are underway and patients are being prioritised according to clinical need.
- To date, around 540 patients whose NHS orthodontic treatment was active at the time of the closure have been identified and transferred to the new provider. We are continuing to validate patient information to ensure that no one is missed.
- Patients who consented through the Dental Monitoring app are being contacted by the new provider
- Patients in active NHS treatment who do not use the Dental Monitoring app have been contacted to obtain their consent to transfer to the new provider.
- Patients currently in active treatment do not need to re-register or take any action at this stage unless contacted by the NHS.
- Arrangements are being developed for patients who had not yet started treatment and affected families will be contacted as soon as these arrangements are confirmed.
Urgent orthodontic care
If your child requires urgent orthodontic care because of pain, swelling or a broken appliance causing discomfort
Please contact:
- Smile Together Dental Helpline: 0333 405 0290
- Evenings and weekends – NHS 111
Why was the River Practice NHS contract terminated?
River Practice was an independent provider delivering NHS services under a contract that is overseen by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board. (ICB)
The ICB is responsible for commissioning and monitoring NHS dental services, including orthodontics. Orthodontic providers are also regulated by the Care Quality Commission and individual orthodontists by the General Dental Council.
The ICB became aware of concerns relating to River Practice in October 2025 and began responding immediately through its contractual assurance processes.
This included increased oversight, formal contractual action, engagement with the provider and assurance visits.
The ICB acted throughout the period concerns were being investigated. The concerns raised in late 2025 differed significantly from the findings that eventually led to contract termination in April 2026.
As additional information and evidence became available, the ICB progressively increased oversight, undertook assurance activity and took formal contractual action.
The decision to terminate was taken when the evidence demonstrated the provider was no longer meeting the standards required under its NHS contract.
Since then, our priority has been ensuring NHS patients continue to receive care. A new NHS orthodontic provider has now been secured for patients already in active treatment, and transfers are underway based on clinical priority.
As patients are assessed by the new provider, appropriate clinical governance processes will help determine whether any further action is required.
Contact us
We kindly ask patients and families to contact us only if necessary, so that we can prioritise support for those with the most urgent needs.
We have established a dedicated email address for enquiries:
We will continue to update this page as further information becomes available.
17 July 2026
Orthodontic Patients – River Practice Update
We are pleased to confirm that a new NHS orthodontic provider has been secured for NHS patients who were receiving active treatment at River Practice, and transfer arrangements will occur over July and August 2026.
We understand that this situation has been worrying for patients and families
Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding while this work continues.
Patients currently in active NHS treatment
The new provider will begin contacting NHS patients who are currently in active treatment and who used the Dental Monitoring app over July and August (starting from week commencing 20 July 2026).
All NHS patients currently in active treatment who have consented through the Dental Monitoring app will be contacted by the new provider. Patients do not need to re-register or take any further action at this stage.
Timeframes for contact over the summer period
The new provider will begin contacting patients throughout July and August.
We recognise that many families may be away during the school holiday period. We therefore ask patients and families not to be concerned if they are not contacted immediately.
If you are currently in active NHS treatment, have consented to your details being transferred through the Dental Monitoring app, and have not heard from the new provider, please wait until the end of August before contacting us.
We appreciate that some families may be worried about being missed. However, a large number of patients need to be contacted and transferred, and this process will take several weeks to complete, particularly during the summer holiday period.
Who will be contacted?
We are prioritising patients already receiving active NHS orthodontic treatment to ensure continuity of care and minimise any impact on ongoing treatment.
The new provider will initially focus on NHS patients who:
- Are currently in active treatment.
- Consent to transfer their care.
- Have details available through the Dental Monitoring app.
Any NHS patients in active treatment who were not using the Dental Monitoring app will be contacted separately by the NHS to obtain consent for their details to be shared with the new provider.
What if I was not using the Dental Monitoring app?
If you are currently receiving active NHS orthodontic treatment and were not using the Dental Monitoring app, you will be contacted by the NHS regarding consent arrangements.
If you have not received an email by 22 July 2026, please contact:
ciosicb.orthodontic@nhs.net
What about patients who were not yet in active treatment?
We continue to work on alternative arrangements for NHS patients who had not yet started active treatment.
Our immediate priority is ensuring continuity of care for patients already receiving treatment. We will provide further updates on arrangements for patients awaiting assessment or treatment as soon as they are available.
Urgent orthodontic care
If your child requires urgent NHS orthodontic care, for example because of pain, swelling, or a broken brace causing discomfort, support remains available.
You can:
- Contact Smile Together’s emergency dental service on 0333 405 0290
- Contact NHS 111, who can assess your needs and direct you to appropriate care
How to contact us
We have set up a dedicated email address for enquiries:
ciosicb.orthodontic@nhs.net
We kindly ask that patients and families only contact us if necessary, so that we can focus on supporting those with the most urgent needs as quickly as possible.
Keeping you updated
We will continue to provide regular updates on this webpage as further arrangements are put in place.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding while we work to ensure ongoing NHS orthodontic care for affected patients.
Monday 22 June
Orthodontic Patients – River Practice Update
Children who were receiving active orthodontic treatment at River Practice are currently being contacted regarding continuation of their care with a new provider.
Due to the number of patients involved, this process is being carried out in stages. If you have not yet been contacted, please be reassured that you will be contacted as soon as possible.
Thank you for your patience while these arrangements are put in place.
Wednesday 17 June
Addition added to questionnaire:
We would like to let you know that the information you give in this form may be shared with orthodontic providers.
If you do not want us to share your information, please let us know by email to ciosicb.orthodontic@nhs.net
We are also aware that there may have been some errors in the email addresses provided via the form, and as a result, some parents/patients may not have received all updates from the team.
Our updates, which include links to frequently asked questions and information on who to contact if more urgent care is required, are attached to this email.
Friday 5 June
Dental Monitoring FAQs
I don’t know what Dental Monitoring is. Do I need to register for it?
No. If you were receiving active NHS orthodontic treatment with River Practice and were using Dental Monitoring as part of your treatment, you will already have been registered and onboarded onto the system by the River Practice team.
You do not need to create a new account or register for the service.
I was receiving active NHS orthodontic treatment but don’t have access to the Dental Monitoring app. What should I do?
If you were previously using Dental Monitoring but no longer have access to your account, please contact the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB team at at ciosicb.contactus@nhs.net. We will work with Dental Monitoring to help restore access where required.
I was receiving active NHS orthodontic treatment but I don’t think I ever used Dental Monitoring. What should I do?
If you believe you were receiving active NHS orthodontic treatment with River Practice but have never used Dental Monitoring, please contact the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB team at ciosicb.contactus@nhs.net so we can look into your individual circumstances.
Will I be disadvantaged if I cannot access the app?
No. Patients will not lose their place in the transfer process because they are unable to access the app. However, where possible, submitting an up-to-date scan will help the new provider assess your current treatment status and prioritise patients according to clinical need.
How will I know if the ICB is aware that I am affected?
If you have completed the ICB patient information form, contacted the ICB directly, or are identified through the Dental Monitoring system as a patient receiving active NHS orthodontic treatment, your details are being included as part of our planning process.
What if I had been assessed but had not yet started NHS treatment?
We recognise that some patients had completed an orthodontic assessment and were awaiting the start of NHS orthodontic treatment when River Practice closed.
At present, the ICB’s priority is to ensure continuity of care for patients who were already receiving active NHS orthodontic treatment. We are currently reviewing arrangements for patients who had been assessed but had not yet started treatment and will provide further information as soon as these arrangements are confirmed.
What if I was on the waiting list for an orthodontic assessment or NHS treatment?
We understand this is an uncertain time for patients and families who were waiting to be seen by River Practice.
At present, patients who were already receiving active NHS orthodontic treatment are being prioritised to ensure ongoing care can continue safely. The ICB is also reviewing arrangements for patients on the waiting list and further information will be shared as soon as these arrangements have been agreed.
Will patients receiving active NHS orthodontic treatment be prioritised?
Yes. Patients who were already receiving active NHS orthodontic treatment at the time of the practice closure are being prioritised. This is because treatment has already commenced and continuity of care is important to minimise any potential impact on clinical outcomes.
Patients who were awaiting treatment or were on a waiting list have not been forgotten, but arrangements for these groups will follow once patients receiving active NHS orthodontic treatment have been safely transferred to alternative providers.
Tuesday 2 June
NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) is continuing to work towards allocating all affected patients to a new NHS orthodontic provider.
To support this process, Dental Monitoring will be contacting patients directly over the coming weeks. Dental Monitoring is assisting with the transfer process and will provide affected patients with information about any actions required, including updating treatment records and confirming contact details where necessary.
What Happens Next?
Patients who are currently using Dental Monitoring will be contacted directly with further instructions. Please keep an eye on your Dental Monitoring app and any communications you receive from Dental Monitoring.
Once patient information has been collected and reviewed, NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB will finalise arrangements with new NHS orthodontic provider. Patients will then be contacted with details of their allocated provider and information about the transfer of their treatment records to support the continuation of care.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation while these arrangements are being completed and will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available.
If your child requires urgent NHS orthodontic care (for example pain, swelling, or a broken brace causing discomfort), you can:
- Contact NHS 111, who can assess your needs and direct you to appropriate care
- Contact Smile Together’s emergency dental service on 0333 405 0290
Friday 15 May
Thank you to everyone who has completed our online form and shared patient details following the closure of River Practice orthodontic services.
Our NHS dental team is continuing to review the information received and is working closely with NHS orthodontic providers to explore alternative arrangements for affected patients. We are grateful for your continued patience while this work progresses.
At this stage, we are not yet able to provide updates on individual patient transfers or treatment arrangements.
We understand this situation remains concerning for patients and families, and we would like to reassure you that this work is ongoing. As a significant number of patients have been affected by the closure, arrangements are being carefully managed to ensure patients are prioritised appropriately based on clinical need and stage of treatment.
Our priority is to identify a safe, consistent and suitable alternative provider for all affected patients. This is a complex process and may take some time, and we will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available.
Urgent care
If your child requires urgent NHS orthodontic care (for example pain, swelling or a broken appliance causing discomfort), please contact:
- NHS 111, who can assess your needs and direct you to appropriate care
- Smile Together’s emergency dental service on 0333 405 0290
We have written to everyone who has completed the online form to confirm that their submission has been received.
We will keep this page updated with any further developments.
Thank you again for your understanding while we work to put ongoing NHS orthodontic arrangements in place.
Friday 1 May
Are you an NHS patient with NHS orthodontic service at River Practice Ltd? To help us keep patients updated on the action being taken following the practice closure and the alternative arrangements we are planning please complete our patient online form.
Timeframes
Due to the bank holiday weekend, and as our team are contacting different providers to make suitable alternative arrangements, it may take some time before we come back to you.
We will keep this webpage updated and come back to people who have completed the online form once we are ready to confirm next steps.
We appreciate your patience while this work is underway.
River Practice Ltd NHS Orthodontic Service, Truro and Penzance
The NHS orthodontic service at River Practice has now closed, and appointments at this practice will no longer take place.
Our immediate priority is to ensure that NHS patients from this practice can continue to access urgent NHS orthodontic care with an alternative provider. Patients already in active treatment are being prioritised first.
We are currently working with other NHS orthodontic providers to put alternative arrangements in place so that continuous orthodontic provision remains available locally for those impacted NHS patients.
We understand this may be worrying for patients and we would like to thank them for their patience while alternative arrangements are put in place.
Advice for patients of River Practice Ltd NHS Orthodontic Service, Truro and Penzance
Patients currently in NHS treatment
If you were receiving NHS orthodontic treatment at River Practice Ltd, we are working to identify all patients and arrange ongoing care with another NHS orthodontic provider.
We will contact you directly as soon as arrangements are confirmed.
Patients on the waiting list
If you were waiting for NHS orthodontic treatment at River Practice Ltd, you do not need to take any action at this stage. We are reviewing waiting list arrangements and will provide further updates when available. Patients already in active treatment are being prioritised first.
What to do if you need urgent orthodontic care?
If you need urgent NHS orthodontic care, for example pain, swelling, or a broken brace causing discomfort, please contact:
- Smile Together emergency orthodontic service: 0333 405 0290
- NHS 111 for advice and support
General dental problems
If your concern is not related to orthodontic treatment, please contact your usual dentist. If you do not have a dentist, NHS 111 or our dental helpline service 0333 405 0290 can provide advice.
We understand this may be worrying and thank patients for their patience while alternative arrangements are put in place. Updates will be shared on this page as soon as further information is available.
Patients receiving private orthodontic treatment
NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board commissions NHS services only and is not able to comment on or advise in relation to private treatment arrangements. If you are receiving private care, you should contact your provider directly.