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Braces

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  • Poppy9
    Poppy9 Posts: 18,833 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Al_Mac wrote: »
    Son is to have braces and doesn't qualify for NHS ones.

    The orthodontist has 3 scales 1300, 1800 and 2300. The main difference being appointment times for more convenience and cosmetic look of braces, one colour, multiple colour or clear. Treatment is exactly the same as NHS.

    Tooth removal is by the normal dentist, baby teeth.

    DD has been told she doesn't qualify for NHS braces either to straighten bottom teeth. Her displacement is only 2mm not the required 4mm. They have to be straighten though as they have caused her pain for over 5 years. The orthodontist she was referred to told me it would cost £2800 but I could pay interest free over 1 year. He didn't mention anything about scales. I will ask my dentist if there is another orthodontist I can be referred to for a second opinion before shelling out but I have a feeling that all the local ones are part of the same practice.
    :) ~Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.~:)
  • Justie
    Justie Posts: 1,768 Forumite
    by the way braces are horribly painful - i had the notion they would be quite cool before i got them - i was so wrong. i couldn't eat for 2 days when i had them fitted and every time i had them adjusted, and i had months of trying to smile in photos without opening my mouth - not a good look!
    yep I'd agree with that - although after a while I didn't mind it as it meant they were doing their job... and it does depend what you're having done, my bottom one didn't hurt at all.


    To the OP I'd be asking what the clinical benefits of the Damon braces are - I'm sure you could get the same outcome with less flashy braces and I'd be worried that he's pushing a brand... that said I was VERY happy to pay a bit extra to have ceramics on my top teeth so you could barely see the brace and it was worth every penny, I have photographs where even on a close up you can't see that I've got a brace on.
  • I've got braces on at the moment, private - costing £2000. Did have them done on the NHS when i was about 12 but didn't wear my retainer :doh: so my teeth went back to their normal place! :eek:

    Anyway, I'm paying the price for it now. Good thing about private is that i've got white blocks on rather than silver so they don't stand out as much. But yes it does hurt when they're adjusting the wire...

    I had a shop around and this was the best price at the best practice, wouldn't pay anymore. I also pay monthly with no interest so that helps.
  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,105 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Jacks_xxx wrote: »
    Thanks for responding Al Mac - our orthodontist didn't say anything like that.

    It was basically "Well you do qualify for the cruddy NHS treatment but what you really need is this shiny £3000 jobbie!"

    (Well...those weren't his exact words to be honest! :rolleyes: )
    I'm going to have to go back and ask a LOT of questions aren't I?? :eek:

    *rummages in drawer for official looking notepad*

    Do you think he'd mind if I took my dictaphone and recorded the appointment? :D

    Love Jacks xxx :D


    I really don't like the way this guy is operating Jacks.

    There is no way an orthodontist would ever 'take teeth out to make room for the equipment'.

    If you are 100% sure that that is what he said, I would have words with the local PCT. He is misleading his patients.

    If teeth were taken out to make room for the braces, then when the braces came off, you'd be left with gaps where the braces were - and that doesn't happen.

    Either get referred somewhere else, or take this guy to task, and then get referred somewhere else.


    P.S. As for them being 'painful' - that's really down to individual pain thresholds. The vast majority of kids I've sent through orthodontics would say it was a 'bit uncomfortable' when first put on, and after adjustment, but nothing more than that.
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,105 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Poppy9 wrote: »
    DD has been told she doesn't qualify for NHS braces either to straighten bottom teeth. Her displacement is only 2mm not the required 4mm. They have to be straighten though as they have caused her pain for over 5 years. The orthodontist she was referred to told me it would cost £2800 but I could pay interest free over 1 year. He didn't mention anything about scales. I will ask my dentist if there is another orthodontist I can be referred to for a second opinion before shelling out but I have a feeling that all the local ones are part of the same practice.


    Hi Poppy.

    That stipulation is a requirement these days - so I don't think another opinion will do much other than waste your time.

    Qualification for NHS ortho since April 06 are hard and fast rules. They can't be broken.
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • I'm interested to read this thread - my 13 year old daughter had her Damon braces fitted (top and bottom) at the end of July - no extractions necessary. There has been no mention of us having to pay anything - NHS all the way - although we do have to take her to a special orthodontist rather than our usual dentist (although it was our dentist who referred her there).

    My 9 year old son is having to start a long-term plan of adjustment as his mouth is so overcrowded - and is going to our usual dentist for an extraction in a couple of weeks to kick this off. We have been told to expect several years of treatment for him as he grows - but, again, all NHS.

    We live in Bristol by the way - do different areas have different policies?
  • Poppy9
    Poppy9 Posts: 18,833 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Toothsmith wrote: »
    Hi Poppy.

    That stipulation is a requirement these days - so I don't think another opinion will do much other than waste your time.

    Qualification for NHS ortho since April 06 are hard and fast rules. They can't be broken.

    Oh I know I have to go private (started saving already which was for OH eye laser treatment but DD comes first), I knew that before being referred by dentist but he still said to get a free opinion on options!! What I meant was getting a second opinion on the cost of the work. I don't know if £2800 is a fair price as it's the only price I've had. I also want more detail on what work needs doing, the outcomes etc. It's only her bottom teeth that are crossing, her top teeth are perfect but the orthodontist said she would need a top and bottom brace but wasn't very clear when I asked why - mind you it was a very hot day, the air con and x ray machine had broke down and he was hot and bothered. DD has to go back for an x-ray as she's never had one and he wants to see what's going on incase something else is causing the pain. He also wanted her to lose her last back tooth, which she obligingly pulled out last thursday.

    Rachel - you said you shopped around. Can you self refer and go direct to the practices or do you have to go through your dentist?
    :) ~Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.~:)
  • interesting read - i had a brace as a teenager but lost the retainer and as my dentist was on holiday it took 5 days to get a new one - by which time my teeth had moved slightly :( and ever since ive wanted them fixed. So in 2 yrs when im done with uni thats what ill do, at least now i know to watch out for rip off merchants
  • ADJOLYN
    ADJOLYN Posts: 21 Forumite
    Hi, does anyone have any idea how long it should be between having teeth extracted and having braces fitted, my son has got an appointment with orthodontist to have braces fitted in november but hasn't had an appointment from our own dentist to have overcrowding teeth removed yet, i don't want him going with sore gums. thanks in advance
  • Justie
    Justie Posts: 1,768 Forumite
    I have my brace fitted a week after my extraction, I don't know if that's the norm.
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