Teens with braces 'abandoned' by orthodontist

"They've left so many people without a dentist and without any care," says Jacob, 16, who hoped his braces would be coming off his teeth this summer.

He is among more than 700 former patients - both NHS and private - of River Practice, an orthodontist in Cornwall that closed suddenly in April 2026 after the regional health body NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) found it was "no longer meeting the standards required", and terminated its contract.

Many patients, like Jacob, have been left with braces but no treatment plan and some fear the devices could be damaging their teeth and mouths.

The practice owners have not responded to the BBC's requests for comment.

A BBC investigation found former members of staff raised concerns, including unpaid debts, missing equipment and the future of patient care with NHS bodies, up to sixmonths before the contract was terminated.

The NHS says it had boosted oversight of the practice before its closure, while NHS patients are now in the process of being transferred to a new provider based on "clinical priority".

Several patients have told the BBC their braces have not been checked for months and others say they have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket and cannot afford more treatment.

Jacob says his brace was fitted 18 months ago at River Practice with a chain pulling down one tooth from his gum.

As an NHS patient, he will be allocated a new provider but in the meantime he feels strandedin what he describes as a "ridiculous" situation.

Having not been seen for four months aside from NHS emergency appointments, his mother Amy agrees: "We don't know how long we're going to have to wait. My biggest fear is that the brace is doing more harm than good at this point."

NHS fixed metal braces are generally used where children and teenagers have a clinical need, such as overcrowding, bite problems or teeth that make eating or cleaning difficult.

They are meant to be adjusted regularly over many months, delays can prolong treatment or have oral health implications.

Niamh, 14, was referred as an NHS patient but after being assessed at River Practice her father Simon says he was told she did not qualify for free care.

As a result he paid a £2,650 deposit of the total £3,650 cost, using cash from the sale of a family heirloom.

"My mum had to sell her gold sovereigns that her grandma collected."

Although the bank has now refunded the cash, the sovereigns are gone and Simon says he has been quoted £3,600 by another private dentist for ongoing treatment.

Niamh had her brace - which the family say cannot be unhooked as it is glued to her teeth - fitted in October 2025 but says the practice adjusted it only once in eight months.

"They're pointless, they're not doing anything. I'd happily have it off tomorrow but you need someone to remove it," adds Niamh.

The General Dental Council (GDC), which regulates individual dental professionals, advises affected private patients to get in touch with the Dental Complaints Service.

It says where practice owners do not respond, patients can contact their debit or credit card provider.

But this has not been successful for Lisa, who says she felt "conned" after she was offered a discount by River Practice if she paid up front and part cash.

In total, she paid almost £7,000 for braces for her two daughters, Lottie and Lola.

"I feel that the money has gone and I have no choice but to pay again," she continues.

Lola says she wanted to get her braces removed before leaving school and in time for the prom: "I had all these exciting things coming up, but now it's that waiting and not knowing."

Lottie says she feels "abandoned" and that her teeth have "started to go out of place".

River Practice was taken over in 2023 by orthodontist Neil Counihan and businessman Sheraz Ahmed, who inherited the NHS orthodontic contract for West Cornwall.

Records, seen by the BBC, indicate the practice was treating 596 NHS patients and 148 private patients when it closed.

One former business manager raised concerns with NHS England's South West dental team on 8 October 2025, but says she was not contacted again after an initial discussion.

A month later, on 7 November, Keara Simmons, another former practice manager, says she emailed NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board urging it to "investigate urgently".

She received a response stating her concerns had been passed to the South West Dental Team, but she says she was not contacted again.

"I believe it is important that you are made aware of the current situation, as it raises significant concerns about the safety and wellbeing of the children under their care," Simmons wrote in her email.

She also alleged suppliers were not being paid and warned this could affect patients' treatment.

The BBC has seen demands for payment from suppliers, HM Revenue and Customs, Cornwall Council and the landlord of the practice's former Penzance premises.

Documents show River Practice Limited was the subject of multiple county court judgments for unpaid debts from September 2025 onwards.

A spokesperson for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB says it "recognises the impact" the closure is having on patients and their families, and thanked them for their patience while they are transferred to alternative services.

It says it first became aware of concerns about River Practice in October 2025 and subsequently introduced measures including increased oversight, which escalated over time. It says appropriate action was taken "at every stage".

According to the board, concerns raised by staff were considered alongside "contractual, clinical and regulatory intelligence". A remedial notice - a formal written warning - was issued before an assurance visit took place in April 2026.

The visit identified "significant and systemic failures", the ICB says, leading to the immediate termination of the practice's NHS contract.

"Since then, our priority has been ensuring NHS patients continue to receive care," the spokesperson says.

The ICB adds the process has been "particularly complex" because complete patient information "was not provided by the practice following its closure".

Dental nurse Emily Withington, who worked at the practice, says staff often found themselves trying to look after patients "while dealing with enforcement officers wanting payment".

"It was at a point where they were dismantling chairs, they were removing goods from the practice, this would be mid treatment," she continues.

Withington says she was concerned staff were at times unable to order equipment such as retainers, meaning "children were left in a position where they could relapse after NHS money had been spent".

"I'm disappointed and I'm angry, and I'm hurt, that these men aren't being held accountable at the moment and that they just seem to be getting away," she says.

Withington, along with former associate orthodontist Jamie Deans, are now volunteering to help some of his former patients who had paid for treatment.

Deans says he just wants to keep his previous patients safe at a difficult time.

He says unsupervised wearing of braces can "risk damage" to the mouth, with appointments not only needed to adjust the appliance and progress treatment but also to "monitor for some of the unwanted rare side effects of braces".

The Dental Complaints Service says it will refer fitness to practiseconcerns about registered dental professionals to the GDC for investigation, where appropriate.

It adds: "We recognise this is a distressing situation for those affected and the Dental Complaints Service will continue to support patients as much as possible."

The BBC has put detailed allegations to Counihan and Ahmed, including questions about patient care, outstanding debts, supplier payments and concerns raised by former staff.

They were contacted by email, letter and telephone but the BBC has received no response.

For Niamh and the other patients left in limbo, an apology would be welcome.

"That's the least they should do," she says.

"This is their problem, they've left people with no options, they've disappeared."

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