DD told she can’t have NHS orthodontist treatment

I'm hoping this means he's sat out any waiting list, as you say. I'm pretty sure he will qualify for funding as he has a big overjet and I am sure he will need a twin block just for starters.

If he doesn't qualify I'll be gutted at having to pay because I'm already six months in to £5k of treatment for myself.

I'm in my 50s and I've struggled with my appearance for over 30 years because of my teeth. I'm embarrassed at the cost and it hasn't been easy to afford the monthly repayments but I think it will make a huge difference to my confidence. I will pay for DS if necessary because I don't want him to grow up with the same issues as me.

My son was within NHS parameters but the waiting list was over a year so we paid private and got it done straight away.

I wouldn’t bother with the NHS, they’re swamped at the moment, if you can afford to pay.

^cost me £15k.

Nhs sucks dick.

Everything is always “1mm out”.

Hey all.

So I had an open bite and bad teeth.

I was deemed “cosmetic”.

Jaw survey and 3 years of braces, I have teeth whereby I can actually chew, won’t be having undue damage etc.

I don't think it's COVd related. We had to pay and that was about 8 years ago. It Stu may but I do agree that NHS shouldn't pay if it's cosmetic

Given the link between oral health and general health (e.g. gum disease linked to heart disease) anything less than optimal should be addressed in my view. Long term it saves money.

My DD qualified. We were told waiting list was 2 years pre-covid and expected to get worse. We went private. £2,000. Down-payment if £1,000 and then paid off at a rate of £100 per month.
Don't begrudge a penny and could afford it, but it made me very sad for children less fortunate. Someone's smile is such a vital part of how they present to the world and their self-confidence - something really important to teenagers and especially those in this Instagram era.

DS has severe hypodontia and his last appointment was cancelled/shifted. I pray we don't have to pay, it will cost the earth to sort him out

TBF, even if you do get assessed as meeting the criteria, the list round here is so long that you’re unlikely to get it in time. I think we’re going to have to pay :(

Sorry to jump in, but may I ask what is the average age for the initial referral? The dentist has said both my DC's will need a brace. DD is 11 ( year 7) and my DS, age 10 ( year 6). I get the feeling that my dentist is stalling though, on doing the referrals but I'm not sure why? She thinks my DD is a borderline case as to whether she will get it funded but she feels my DS fully meets the criteria for funding. I've got no idea how the orthodontic system works. Thank you.

Well, yes totally. MH treatment is gone too. (Paremt of a self harming teen sick of trying to get support for her).

So are people saying that the NHS guidelines are wrong and that children who need braces for medical reasons are being categorised as cosmetic?

That seems very wrong and unfair.

I do think some people/kids get braces when they don't really need them and their teeth/jaws can look a bit odd afterwards. A bit false looking. I have a friend that had teeth that honestly looked fine/good. She had braces as a teen. For some reason she thought they looked wonky. They really didn't. She got braces and now they look squished together and false. I have seen this with kids too.

I'm absolutely dreading this. My 7yo has inherited his father's teeth: he has too many, and they'll end up looking like a neglected graveyard when all his adult ones come through 😔

His first lower front adult tooth grew through right at the back of the gum, and leans towards his tongue. He speaks with a lisp because of it, love him, and the dentist was very clear that he'll end up needing several teeth removed as his adult ones grow in, then braces.

He was a few days short of his 7th birthday when he lost 3 milk teeth at once - they're so tightly packed, they weren't even wobbly.

Dental fees are so bloody prohibitive, I'm saving money in preparation, because no doubt it'll be treated as cosmetic.

Why should it? When I was at school nearly every teenager had NHS braces.

I really resent the comments re 'it's just cosmetic'. Its demeaning. It's not always. The IOTN guidelines and criteria are a lot tighter than they used to be, years ago, because of a lack of funding.

Ds1 says majority of his year have braces. It's true, I've seen them. How is that even possible.

My 2 ds's both have overcrowding, 4 teeth including top front 2 crossed over, those front 2 had come down further than they should of, and the next 2 incisors on either side were very naturally small, and also hadn't come down as far as they could have. Both have had to have jaw moved aswell. And still private orthodontist tells me they wouldn't qualify. I struggle to get my head around this.

I got 2 opinions and was told neither qualified and that criteria in this area was fierce.

Just cosmetic. It's not always.

My daughters were referred before they were ready by our NHS dentist. So by the time we had sat out a two year waiting list, all the baby teeth had gone and we were ready to go. Canny.

My DD did qualify for NHS orthodontic treatment, but waited two years for the initial appointment to assess whether the NHS would pay. On top of that, COVID delayed the removal of her braces when they'd done the job so I can definitely see how the waiting lists would be even longer now. The braces did make a big difference and she was very self-conscious beforehand.

My daughter needed braces. Quoted over 3k. Smile direct was 1k and fixed them in about 6 months. No problems it was an easy process.

It’s just Shocking and very sad

My son was told the same .We
have gone privately, costs £210 for 12
months although he'll have braces for 24 months

My dd qualifies for nhs orthodontic but her mouth and jaw are very very misaligned and causing problems with eating and speech. I’m glad the criteria is so strict- I don’t think the nhs should fund smaller adjustments for cosmetic purposes. The funding should only be available for significant and severe cases.

Wonky teeth just don't affect your self esteem. Imagine avoiding smiling?

They are very difficult to clean too, can effect eating and speaking and have other implications on overall health.

It's not just about them being straight.

My daughter has just been accepted, Its taken a couple of years though! I bet it's about them filling their NHS contract - they can only treat so many. Then they say you don't qualify and have to pay. Or maybe I'm cynical?

Get a second opinion. We are with Total orthodontics and if you do have to pay, you can interest free by instalments.

They have to draw the line somewhere, too bad for whoever is only just on the wrong side of it

We had to pay £2500 for 15 year olds braces as wait was 2 1/2 years. Annoying but no way around it.