Braces offerred too late by dentist..is private only option?

welshdent

phebe3 wrote: »

Thanks...and yes they do do private work. Think the problem is she needs blocks to alter her jaw and apparently they have to fitted before 14? Phoned our hosp too and they gave me a number to phone to discuss it with a complaints/customer service helpline.

Most people do private work so the fact they offer it is not a concern ... more the manner in which it is encouraged. Sounds like you are talking anout a functional appliance - according to my teachers at uni they are debateable if they work. They do not encourage growth merely direct it ... but IIRC ... we are not 100% certain that it is the appliance or natural growth that causes the changes anyway (we have no comparisons and we can not predict how people will grow). My cousin had a stack of work done when she was younger then at 15 she had another growth spurt and her bottom jaw then protruded beyond the top. It happens like that sometimes .... but has been corrected without such devices.

Also ... if the growth spurt has been missed (which is exceptionally difficult to predict) ... no amount of private money will change that.

phebe3

So will she need the blocks? They look like I remember braces...a big plastic bit with wire on..make it difficult to talk and eat...and play the trumpet unfortunately as she does! The dentist said she needed to push her lower jaw forward. After that she will then have what they call train track braces...it's all altered since my eldest was treated! Sure she had the train tracks first then the other thing. Mind you, was a long time ago!

Toothsmith

Twin blocks work by guiding the growth of the jaw into a better position. It is a good way to do it, and often means less extractions. It can only be done during active growth. It is not the only way to do things.

14 is just a chronological age. What is more important is the developmental age of your daughter. Some kids grow/develop sooner, others later.

It is very wrong of the orthodontist to make an issue of her being refered 'late' when most orthodontists object to being loused out with dentists refering kids far to early, before treatment needs can even be assessed, just to make sure they're put on the 'waiting list' in good time. That just makes waiting lists longer.

Your dentist has referred her at exactly the right time. If the orthodontist has a waiting list, that's for her to deal with.

I can't quite understand the pathway here though. Your dentist has referred you to this orthodontist. Is she then referring you on somewhere else? Is there nowhere else she can refer you to? Can she not do it? Is she offering to do it if you have it done privately, but not on the NHS, or does she need to refer you somewhere else if it were to be done privately as well?

elfen

Both my older sisters had braces at about 14, one had to wear them for two maybe thee years (had to have teeth removed as there wasn't enough room, the other as she'd sucked her thumb up until them and messed her mouth up) and they weren't told they were too old.

loulou123

I had braces fitted by the NHS when i was 26! So am guessing that i answer your question!

Admittedly i was very very late due to a dentist phobia in my teens. i also had a problem with my jaws and required an operation to remodel them (which would have usually been done around the age of 18 i think) and personally i am glad that i had it all done when i was older (tho maybe not quite as old as i was) as it meant that i could make an informed decision about the treatment and was mentally ready for the long slog it turned out to be.

But the part about NHS waiting lists is very true it was nearly 3 years between my referral and actually getting the braces put on my teeth. Like your daughter i was offered the private option as my teeth were causing me problems, but i couldnt afford it.

daisybella

This seems really odd to me, like others were saying.
I had a bad experience with my first orthodontist, and was referred to a second at 16, and had braces again at 17, 19 and just now at 22, with never any mention of it being too late for NHS.

If possible, push to see another orthodontist if that is an option where you live,
bottom line is if you daughter meets the criteria for needing braces
(there are "levels" and as long as it isn't for vanity reasons, basically, it should be free)

Xh2oX

Our daughter also had her braces fitted when she was over 14years old. We had been told by our dentist (since she was young) that she would probably need them but had to wait until she was older.
We were originally seen by the local dental hospital who messed us about quite a lot and so in the end I asked for her to be referred to someone else and within 3 months her braces were fitted. Still a way to go with them but fingers crossed all will go well for her.
Ask if any of her friends have braces, where they were referred to and how good they think their orthodontist is?
Good luck.

MoradoJess

What needs to be done with her jaw? Sorry I don't know much about dentistry.
Just wanted to say that I should be getting a brace around March and I turn 17 in July. I'm getting 2 teeth removed and a stuck on brace though. I would guess the reason she needs a brace asap is because of her jaw?
Can you get it quicker anywhere else? I live near Cardiff but because the waiting list was so big there I got reffered to Swansea. Could you do something like that?

Penny_Watcher

DS1(15) wore twin blocks at the start of his orthodontic treatment.

His bottom jaw needed to be brought forward (lengthened ?) because as a child he sucked his thumb. This pushed the bottom jaw back and gave him wildly protruding top teeth. At the beginning of treatment he had a 12mm overbite (gap between his top and bottom front teeth with his teeth clenched). The orthodontist said that ideally this gap needed to be closed before treating DS1's misaligned teeth using train track fixed brace.

His twin blocks were worn like dentures (removable). Hard to explain without a picture. Hang on and chat amongst yourselves .............................. OK, Google is my friend.



The bottom block pulls the bottom jaw into place.

Fortunately for DS1 everything worked and he has a million dollar smile now, not unlike this --->