Orthodontic treatment declined - help

Bebsie

Can someone please help. My DD2 is 14 and we had an appointment at the orthodontist as her teeth are really skew (dentist said she needs braces), anyway to cut a long story short the orthodontist said she is a borderline case and she cannot get treatment on the NHS :eek: Her sister now 17 got braces and her teeth were exactly the same, my DD2 is so upset as she hates her teeth and feels so upset that her sister has straight teeth and hers are all skew. I just cannot afford to pay £3000 for her to have them done. Does anyone know if I can appeal this decision or it this just something I have to accept? Please I know there are more important things that the NHS money can go towards but I would really like some advice - Thanks

rocketdog_2

I am 31 years old and I had to have fixed braces when I was 14. I know that my Mum and Dad had to pay for my top set (almost £20 per tooth) as they were a clear stuck on brace ( I was a madam and refeused to wear "train tracks"!) and at that time everything was (so called) NHS!

It's rubbish isn't it?!

dipsy

surely if the dentist says she requires braces then she should be allowed them on the NHS?

I know when I saw the photos of how bad your teeth need to be now to get them on the NHS I was horrified, I had braces (many years ago), my daughter who had a front tooth trauma (broke off whilst playing french skipping in playground) has been referred for braces to help sort out her front teeth and she is under a dental hospital, if they refuse I guess I will find the money somehow.... maybe sell my son as he is a total pain in rear at the moment (only kidding about selling him - I would have to pay :-) )

Can you go back to your dentist again and ask them to maybe write a more firm application for the braces, say how it effecting her mental health etc? Just a thought and good luck with it x

Artytarty

I agree with Dipsy, i would go back to my dentist and say how her self esteem was poor, her confidence low etc. Possibly she is also being cruelly teased at school? You get the idea, lay it on thick!
Manipulative I know but sometimes you have just have to work the system to your advantage. I hope she gets the braces she needs.
Arty.

Paparika

Keep looking back at this thread, and hopefully toothsmith will have some answers for you

Toothsmith

If she's a borderline case, it might be worth asking your dentist to refer you to another orthodontist.

The one you've seen might have limited NHS funding, so saves that for the worse cases. Another one might use all his NHS money on a 'first come first served' basis, and then only see people privately once that runs out.

The rules are pretty strict now (since April 2006) which is why your older daughter might have got away with it.

Everything has to be justified though (unlike MP's expenses!) so if she doesn't qualify, private would be your only option.

Bebsie

Thanks for the replies, I will go to my dentist and see if there is anything she can do! My daughter was really upset so that would not be a lie! If not I will have to try and find the money, perhaps pay it off monthy - does anyone know if orthodontist accept payment plans?

anguk

Bebsie wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, I will go to my dentist and see if there is anything she can do! My daughter was really upset so that would not be a lie! If not I will have to try and find the money, perhaps pay it off monthy - does anyone know if orthodontist accept payment plans?

I think most have some sort of payment plan. Our dentist referred my DD to the dental hospital for orthodontic treatment and when we received the appointment in the post there was also a letter explaining that there was a shortage of orthodontists and limited funding so they could only treat the most severe cases.

My daughter's teeth weren't that wonky so we thought she may get turned down for treatment but it turned out she had a problem with her jaw being too far back (I forget the name) so the dental hospital agreed to treat her. And we only had a 4 month wait instead of the normal 2 years!

I'd looked into private orthodontic treatment just incase she was turned down because she hated her teeth and found that all private practices in our area offered a monthly payment plan. I think it worked out at about £100ish a month, (alot of money for us as we're on benefits due to my OH's disability & illness) but we decided we'd tighten our belts elsewhere so she could have the treatment. I must admit though I breathed a sigh of relief when the dental hospital accepted her.

Bebsie

Thanks anguk, we are being referred to another orthodontist (spoke to dentist today) so I will see what they say. If they don't agree with the NHS treatment £100 a month would be OK, it will be tight but I will definitely do this for my daughter (esp as her sister had it done). I just hope and pray that this orthodontist will treat her.......

anguk

Just in case type orthodontist and the area where you live into google, some of them may have a website that'll give details of dental plans etc to give you some idea of cost. I found one that cost between £1750 and £2800 depending on which plan you took and also the treatment you required, and the interest free payments were made over 12-18 months. Of course also seek advice from your dentist, they should know who is good and also who offer payment plans.

Bebsie

anguk wrote: »

Just in case type orthodontist and the area where you live into google, some of them may have a website that'll give details of dental plans etc to give you some idea of cost. I found one that cost between £1750 and £2800 depending on which plan you took and also the treatment you required, and the interest free payments were made over 12-18 months. Of course also seek advice from your dentist, they should know who is good and also who offer payment plans.

Thanks so much.