Adult orthodontics NHS (underbite surgery) - do you pay?

cwilk3

I know the obvious answer is yes.
But, initially I started my dental treatment when I was at school, I had braces and in 2007 (when I was 16) I was offered surgery to correct my underbite. At the time I didn't understand what surgery meant and wasn't self-conscious so didn't feel it was worth having time off school / college to go through with the procedure - although I was reassured that I could go back if I ever changed my mind. I have been in FT education since then (I completed my Master's degree last year), but since leaving university my confidence has plummeted. I'm not happy with how I look and find it hard speaking to people because I think my jaw / teeth effects my speech - I didn't realise these could be connected until I started reaching the procedure last year. I spoke to my dentist about it and he offered that I paid £50 for a retainer? (I have no idea how this would have helped?!) I then contacted my old orthodontist who had a meeting with me, looked through my notes and referred me to hospital for further treatment. I have now had my hospital appointment where I had three different x-rays and discussed possible operations (1, to correct my under bite, 2, to improve with face symmetry and 3, possible chin reshaping?!) - although there was no mention of a fee, the fact that I'm being offered other treatments made me wonder if I'm being treated as a private patient? I did ask my old orthodontist (who refereed me) and was told that there wouldn't be a charge as I am carrying on my previous treatment, but at the hospital they didn't have any any of my old notes or x-rays, as this was carried out prior to 2007 at a different hospital, which no longer has an orthodontic department.. clear as mud eh?
I have another appointment next month with the surgeon who will talk though the options in more detail - so I assume I'll find out either way then, but I just wanted to ask for advice so I'm not shocked if I'm told it's going to cost thousands. This would mean that I couldn't have the treatment as I am currently unemployed, which I put down to my lack of confidence. Does anyone know if I'm likely to get the treatment for free? Or how much would this usually cost though the NHS if it isn't free? Could I be invoiced for the consultation and x-rays that I've already had - is that possible?

Sorry this is so long - I'm really grateful for any responses.

Toothsmith

If your problem is serious enough for surgery - then it will be done on the NHS and you won't pay.

Surgery isn't done until all facial growth has stopped anyway - which is often in early adulthood.

Even if you had just begun this now - and had no treatment earlier, it sounds like this is a case that would qualify for NHS funded adult orthodontics.

I would still just check - to reassure yourself, as obviously I can't see you and only have your description to go on. But I would be surprised if you have to pay anything. I'm sure they'd have told you by now if you did!

pirateyqueen

Funnily enough, I am on the same sort of journey. I am 28 and have an overbite. I saw my dentist who referred me to an NHS orthodontist and my case is bad enough to have braces and jaw surgery on the NHS with no fees. It is a long process though, I have a 6 month wait until my next appointment, which is still just to talk it through, not to start treatment yet.

As this seems a relevant thread, I was wondering if any of the dentists would be able to give me a bit more information while I wait for my next appointment? Are cases like this (on overbite with 11mm over jet) ever able to be resolved just with braces as an adult? I am guessing not, but some of my family are very against me having the surgery and keep telling me that they know people who have their jaws fixed as adults with just surgery.

Do you know if private surgeries do a visualisation of how the face would look after the surgery? They don't seem to do it on the NHS, but a it is such a big decision I would really like to see a visualisation, and would pay for it privately if I could.

Toothsmith

Big overbites need surgery. There's only so much you can alter by shuffling teeth about within the jaws.

Whether there are any alternatives in your particular case, you'll need to wait and get the opinion of someone who can actually see you and see x-rays of your skull to judge this alignment.

There is software available that can give you an idea of what you might end up looking like - and it is a good idea to try and find somewhere that has it.

It is a major operation, and you're quite right to give it very serious consideration before leaping in. But it can be quite a life-changer too!

pirateyqueen

That's what I thought, thanks. I have lots of questions prepared for my next dentist visit! I don't suppose you know the name of the software so I can have a look to see if anywhere near has it?

ampersand_

Pirateyqueen, I just had surgery about 5 weeks ago to correct my overbite with 10mm overjet. I had braces twice as a teenager and although they helped to a certain extent, it only really masked the underlying skeletal issue. The problem I had was that because of my jaw structure, even though I wore my retainers religiously for years my teeth relapsed - the only way to really fix it was with surgery.

Toothsmith is right, it is a major operation, and the recovery afterwards is pretty hardcore (no chewing allowed for weeks!) - but the results have been amazing and I don't regret it for a second. A lot of my family and friends didn't understand why I would want to do it too. I think it's difficult to understand for people who have never had problems with their bite.

I'm afraid I can't help with the software thing as I never had anything like that done. But I hope you can find somewhere! Good luck with everything

brook2jack

No dental surgery is likely to have the modelling software that will give you an idea post surgery what things will look like. The software in dentist surgeries can work well with cosmetic dentistry to show how teeth will look but with orthognathic surgery it is the change in the face that is the most dramatic.

Because of the complexity and cost of treatment that needs to be done in combination with orthodontics it is not a procedure done in private hospitals so they will ditto not have software to show post op changes.

Your best bet is to ask to speak to others who have had surgery. It is not without risk and the recovery is arduous and the best way of getting some idea of what it may be like is to speak to someone who has had it done. Your surgeon may also have some pre and post op pictures to give you some idea of what may be achieved.

pirateyqueen

ampersand_ wrote: »

Pirateyqueen, I just had surgery about 5 weeks ago to correct my overbite with 10mm overjet. I had braces twice as a teenager and although they helped to a certain extent, it only really masked the underlying skeletal issue. The problem I had was that because of my jaw structure, even though I wore my retainers religiously for years my teeth relapsed - the only way to really fix it was with surgery.

Toothsmith is right, it is a major operation, and the recovery afterwards is pretty hardcore (no chewing allowed for weeks!) - but the results have been amazing and I don't regret it for a second. A lot of my family and friends didn't understand why I would want to do it too. I think it's difficult to understand for people who have never had problems with their bite.

I'm afraid I can't help with the software thing as I never had anything like that done. But I hope you can find somewhere! Good luck with everything

Congratulations on your surgery! How is the recovery for you so far? I have been reading up loads on peoples experiences, but everyone's seems so personal. I hope you are recovering quick and are happy with the results.

ampersand_

pirateyqueen wrote: »

Congratulations on your surgery! How is the recovery for you so far? I have been reading up loads on peoples experiences, but everyone's seems so personal. I hope you are recovering quick and are happy with the results.

Thank you! To be honest, the recovery hasn't been quite as bad as I'd been expecting - I think this is mostly down to my surgeon allowing me to eat soft foods very early on, so I was only on liquids for a few days. That did so much for my morale!! Liquids are ok, you can make some really tasty soups and smoothies, but I found that my stomach felt very 'gloopy' and I'd end up bloated rather than full.

The first few days are pretty miserable, as this is when the swelling and pain are at their worst, but after that it does get a lot better! My swelling was quite bad for the first three days or so, but it went down very quickly after that. I used ice packs almost constantly which I think helped a lot.

The main thing I've found with recovery is that my energy levels have been quite low and it's taking a while to build back up to my normal activity. I took two weeks off work and then worked from home for another couple of weeks after that. I went back into the office for the first time yesterday and although I felt ok then, it's knocked me for six today! And it's not even a physical job, I sit at a desk all day haha. So I would recommend taking as much time off as you can, and if working from home is an option for you I would definitely do that for a while afterwards as well.

Reading up on other people's experiences and looking at their photos is good, I did a lot of that too - other people's blogs and forum threads were so helpful. Your surgeon and orthodontist can tell you a lot to prepare you but it's always good to hear things from the perspective of someone who's actually been through it!