Patients needing treatment to their teeth at Grantham Hospital may now be seen by a new orthodontic therapist.

Joy Hudson is already a familiar face at the hospital, where she has been a dental nurse in the orthodontic and oral surgery team for 13 years.

Joy has now been appointed to the newly-created role of orthodontic therapist at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust and will be working Grantham, Lincoln and Louth hospitals to treat patients with impacted teeth, jaw deformities, and to fit braces.

Joy said: "Last year I was offered the chance to become an orthodontic therapist – an additional role in our growing team.

"I spent a year training and taking exams, but I'm now qualified and busy treating patients. I work alongside the consultants and provide most of the same treatments with their support."

The new role in the team will help to free up some of the orthodontic consultants' time, allowing them to spend more time assessing new patients and planning their treatments.

Joy will soon be joined in the role by her colleague Rebecca Thomas, who is underway with her training to gain a Diploma in Orthodontic Therapy with the Leeds Dental Institute, before qualifying as an orthodontic therapist in July 2020.

Dr Neill Hepburn, Medical Director at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "The introduction of this role is brilliant news for the trust and our patients.

"With two orthodontic therapists within the team, our patients across the county will have access to even more expertise and could be seen sooner.

"It has also led to us hiring two more orthodontic nurses to replace Joy and Rebecca. These staff have now been appointed and are busy at work at Grantham and District Hospital."