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Has anyone gone private for braces for a child?

6 replies

soundedbetterinmyhead · 01/08/2015 21:56

DS,11, has been told that he needs teeth out, headgear at night, then fixed braces then a retainer for as long as he wants straight teeth. His canines have grown up in front of his other teeth. We went on the local NHS waiting list a he was due to start the work last April so that it could settle before he went up to high school. He had xrays and the orthodontist looked at him for about 5 mins, told him that they were out of place and that he should also clean his teeth better. Since then he hasn't opened his mouth to smile for photos as he is ashamed of his teeth.

Then we had a call from the orthodontist saying that now he couldn't be fitted in until September. He's got appointments now for every Wednesday afternoon in September, presumably to get his teeth out and braces on. These are non-negotiable and will mean me taking an afternoon off work and him missing school every Wed for that first month of the new term. I don't think my employer will let me have this and certainly not as paid time off. We don't get a choice of clinic as far as I am aware so it's not a case of choosing someone else to do it on the NHS.

I have booked an appointment at the local private orthodontist, just to see what my options are but I don't know of anyone else who has done this for a child - we would be using the money that we are now saving on daily after-school childcare which DCs have had up to now but no longer need so it would be a push, but I think we could afford it if we needed to.

Has anyone done this for their child and do you think it worth the money? Any thoughts would be welcome. I know this is a first world problem BTW!

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FirCoat · 01/08/2015 22:11

We have done this for our son. He had overcrowded maxilla, canines coming in outside other teeth, lateral incisors crowded out. The NHS orthodontist was lovely but he wanted to extract and retract.

After lots of research we have since found a private holistic orthodontist who works in a completely different way - by expanding the jaw to accommodate the teeth. Also included is the therapy for correct tongue posture, nasal breathing etc

Total cost over 18 months approx. £8K but so so worth it imo.

I personally wouldn't waste your money on a conventional private orthodontist - as with the NHS your son would end up with teeth extracted > smaller jaw > reduced airway size > reduced sports performance etc

You might want to watch some youtube videos by one of the leading holistic orthodontists, Dr Mike Mew. Good luck!

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soundedbetterinmyhead · 02/08/2015 13:14

Thanks for this - I didn't even know that expanding the jaw was a thing! I will have a look at the videos.

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soundedbetterinmyhead · 02/08/2015 13:47

Well, I think I am too late for this as DS is now 11.5 - it may well have been a great idea 3 years ago (we've know he needed braces for ages but the dentist said to wait). It's a shame because he's got a lisp and mouth-breathes so I can't help wondering if it is all related to his palate and jaw. I had no idea this sort of work existed. I kind of wish I hadn't posted...
Thanks anyway though!

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LIZS · 02/08/2015 13:52

Ds has had his on nhs, including a twin block to realign and expand jaw, no teeth removed. His appointments are at the area specialist hospital which is half an hour away. Not convenient but we use sports afternoon and school holidays to minimise impact, fortunately I am normally off that day and they are about every 8-10 weeks. If you want weekend appointments then you'd need to go private.

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soundedbetterinmyhead · 02/08/2015 17:14

LIZS - were you offered the jaw work, or did you have to ask for it? I just can't help feeling that no-one's really looked at his teeth and given it much thought - he was literally in the dentist's chair for 5 minutes, not even that. We'll see what the other orthodontist says tomorrow. I had train tracks for 2 years and have crooked teeth now as they have gone back, although not as bad as they used to be. I also had to have 4 out and it was a horrible experience, so I suppose I want to make sure the extractions are absolutely necessary before we start. I would like appointments after 4.30pm but I am told that this is not possible.

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LIZS · 02/08/2015 17:25

The twin blocks were the first part of the treatment plan. Our dentist used to do orthodontics so had a good idea of how to approach it although she implied his mouth was worse than the orthodontist assessed and suggested the longer term alternative would be surgery. Hmm hopefully at next appointment he will be fitted with train tracks to improve alignment if the blocks have achieved the maximum space.

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