Braces on the NHS as an adult

AshReeves87

I'm a little in the dark about this. Basically I live in London and I need braces but they're incredibly expensive if I go private. Now obviously being over 18 I know braces are no longer free on the NHS but I understand that it is sometimes possible on a case by case basis and I read somewhere that you can get the basic braces on the NHS for about £219

I've arranged to see an Orthodontist at an NHS practice but they never seem to other treatment on the NHS, it usually just seems to be a private Orthodontist operating at an NHS practice.

So my question is basically is it possible to get basic braces on the NHS for cheap? And how do you go about doing that? Because it isn't clear. Finding an NHS practice and an NHS dentist is the easy part. Finding an orthodontist who operates on the NHS is not. I always get offered the £2000- £2500 area package which is obviously exceptionally more then going through the NHS. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Tater

I can give you my personal experience:

I went to a local orthodontist who I assume did NHS as it was always full of school kids and paid for a consultation, which was then taken off the cost of my treatment, as it has excellent reviews.

Apparently with my case it was bad enough that he thought the best option was surgery then braces which because of the case could be funded under the NHS. I wouldn't have choices in the braces etc - it hard to be silver metal train tracks if I went on the NHS.

I really didn't want train tracks so opted for private treatment and no surgery and had lingual braces on the back of my teeth. It cost me but it was worth every single penny (and 2ish years of pain!) and I would do it again in a heart beat.

So funding must be there for adult NHS braces but I think it would have to be for severe case not just aesthetic reasons.

Hope this helps!

brook2jack

Adult orthodontics are only available via a hospital referral where the bite problems are so severe that jaw surgery will be required as well as braces.

No orthodontist in practice will have an NHS contract to examine or treat adults for braces.