Braces

Anniek1969

Wow didn't realise it was that expensive. My daughter who was 12 at the time hated her front teeth and asked her dentist during her 6 month check about them and he referred her. She has had braces now for the last 7 months and although we thought it was just her front teeth it seems that her back teeth were out of alignment too and she had a spring put in for about 5 months. She's getting the brace removed next week and I must admit I can see a real difference. I honestly think, looking back now as to how her teeth were if I didn't get it on the nhs we would have tried to pay for it as it has given her more self confidence and she loves her teeth now so she's more likely to look after them unlike her dad and me.

Toothsmith

I can see your point of view here Slim, but when I read this I just see an outstanding success that has been marred by the crap heathcare system we 'enjoy'.

The functional appliances your daughter has been wearing have taken her jaw relationship from something that only a very traumatic osteotomy (Jaw being broken and realigned, then wired together for 4 months) could have corrected if left alone, to something which is now nearly normal.

Remember that the locum just saw her that one day. He didn't see her at the start of treatment, and hadn't seen the change. He just saw her how she was there and then.

The original orthodontist has worked successfully on the 'big' problem, just leaving you with a more minor bit of straightening up to give your daughter a lovely smile.

The fact that in doing this he has taken her out of what the NHS will pay for is the fault of our system. Had you had to pay for it all, it would have been double or triple the £1500.

I would set as my priority keeping the momentum of the treatment going, rather than how cheaply it could be done.

4 years is a long time to wait, and who knows what funding crisis will crop up in that time? Plus, will it be any more convienient when she is 18 and maybe at university to trail all the way back to the dental hospital every few weeks?

Mandles

Good grief this is an eye opener! My daughter is 11 and on the waiting list to be seen to possibly have a brace. I knew i may have to pay but a couple of hundred was the highest i was expecting . £1200!! im sure i could buy her a new set of false teeth cheaper:rotfl:.That is horrendous. Thants more than my cars worth!

KathrynPenguin

I'm 37 and I need to have braces fitted to sort out alignment problems. I've been told £2000 for the braces and then retainers but due to something an orthodontist recommended in my teens I have 2 missing bottom teeth. Once I've paid my £2000 and had the braces and then retainers I will then have to pay again for 2 implants to replace the missing teeth. No idea how much that is all going to cost.

I have an initial appointment booked for October (saw the orthodontist then he left so have to have a second consultation with the new one) but I may now cancel as can't afford the work now (moving and taking on a new mortgage).

I've been having problems with this for the last 20 years so I guess I can wait - appliance I wear at night is keeping the pain at bay.

When I finally get the braces (been recommended crystal ones) the reactions should be amusing, my top teeth are perfectly, naturally straight and I am often complimented on them.

Can't complain too much though, until I got gum disease problems a couple of years ago I have never spend much on my teeth - not a filling in my head!

SMC_2

When did orthodontic treatment stop being free on the NHS? Is it just England & Wales where this rule came in? What if you were already undergoing treatment when the rule came in?

funky-footprints

ooierr I had braces top & bottom ....... and my husband should of ..but years of sport would of only wsted any work done. I have always assumed our children would inherit our jaw line and will also need braces ? never thought we would have to pay for it !!!!

Gemmzie

I didn't even realise that Orthodontics were no longer NHS available to all children that required it :eek:
Guess I was lucky then... I hate to think how much my treatment is costing

Toothsmith

SMC wrote:

When did orthodontic treatment stop being free on the NHS?

It hasn't.

99% of kids that would have had orthodontics on the NHS prior to April 1st will still get orthodontics on the NHS now.

It would only ever have been the kids with really whacky bites that ever wanted it anyway. Apart from the odd mother who thinks little didumses canine is just that tiny bit too pointy, or one front tooth just slightly crosses another in a way that will totally ruin her life if it isn't sorted out.

Now, be honest, is that really a good use of healthcare resources?

So, now we have a situation where there is an actual scale which can be measured against, and only those acually NEEDING orthodontics will get it free.

When a scale is put into play, there will be the odd case like the OP, who fall outside it. This is very unfortunate, but hey, the money being spent on NHS dentistry is so small, that soon enough, there won't be any orthodontics for anyone on the NHS anyway, and we'll be lucky if there is even any general dentistry.

My recommendation for anyone with young kids is to aim to have a pot of money worth about £2000 for when they are in their early teens. If they need orthodontics, you'll have the fees, if they don't, you've got a nice holiday!

Toothsmith

Mandles wrote:

£1200!! That is horrendous. Thants more than my cars worth!

Which do you expect to last the longest though? The car or the teeth!

Gemmzie

So Toothsmith, the jaw lining up thingy, totally forgotten the name. What's the cost for that?
And I'm sure you mentioned wired shut :eek: They didn't tell me that! Is that always done?!