Dentist said he'd report me

I’m so sorry, that must have felt terrible, like you’ve somehow done something wrong. You have done nothing but want the best for your son.
My son is the same age and had to have a brace to fix his underbite. At that age they’re self conscious- of course they don’t want one but it’s in their best interests. He’s not old enough to make adult decisions and right now that’s your job. What an absolute twat he is.
Report him!

A rather uncomfortable young women's health professional (I don't know what sort exactly) asked my sister "would you like a trans vaginal ultrasound?".

We laugh....I mean saying "yes" looks a bit keen, saying "no" means declining the check. She was fine for him to go ahead, but the question would have been better worded as "I'd like to do a trans vaginal ultrasound, are you OK for me to go ahead with that?"

Dentist is an absolute twat and knew exactly what he was doing.

Formal complaint and you need to insist upon an immediate referral to an orthodontist that is ND and child friendly.

OK, but that wasn't clear to me.

This is an interesting one. Dentists have got to receive informed consent from the actual patient to fit braces.

You say he doesn’t have Gillick competence, but that really is only relevant when the treatment being discussed is life saving or has serious medical benefit.

Braces are not even medically necessary, so Gillick isn’t relevant. It sounds like you were trying to supersede your son’s decision- no dentist can fit braces in those circumstances.

@Shmee1988 I would absolutely make a formal complaint, and explain how the Dentist failed to recognise your DS's additional needs, he also failed to explain the procedure, and outcome, in order for your son to even attempt to make a decision. As you said, your son took his "would you like braces", as a literal question based on the "like". I mean, who the fuck would "like" braces? My daughter, also suspected autism would have taken his question the same why your son did as she takes everything literally. I hope you get a decent response to a formal complaint about this. It sounds like the dentist made no effort to explain any procedures or outcomes to your DS to even attempt to get informed consent.

Apologies. You are quite right. I'll wind my neck in.

No life. He will need to wear retainers for life. Either a fixed retainer which creates additional oral hygeine or a removable retainer which he will need to wear every night. Obviously clean and replace as necessary

Is the mother really going to be picking bits of food out her sons braces or using an interdental brush every night between his back molars?

This dentist sounds very much like the one I took my son to around 6 years ago. He was so rude. I complained to the practice manager and ended up seeing someone else, ds eventually got his braces and this dentist left to go somewhere else in the UK.

I since discovered many other patients had raised complaints over this guy.

Don't let it lie, complain to the manager.

I am a dentist in the uk (not an orthodontist however we are an orthodontic practice so have them working closely with us).

Firstly, I’m not sure what he was saying with regards to reporting you. A social services report wouldn't go very far in this case! If he was saying he would report you to the PM, perhaps he felt like you were being aggressive. I’m not saying you were but often patients (or family members) frustration, can come across as aggression, and every practice I know has a no tolerance policy when it comes to this.

I do know that it is policy for an orthodontist to ask every patient if they want braces and for a patient to decline, is an automatic no. I understand in your case there are other things to consider which is perhaps why he’s saying come back later, rather than just rejecting the referral. Braces cost the NHS approx £3000 which is why this rule is now in place. It’s a relatively new thing.

With regards to gillick competency, I agree that he your son most likely isn’t. However we still cannot force teens into doing treatment they don’t want. I appreciate, however, you saying it’s perhaps the language the orthodontist used. And in this case, I agree he could have changed his language or approach. I have seen many SEN patients and always take into account their literal thinking.

On the other side of the argument, for someone with SEN, braces can be really difficult. They’re painful, they irritate the mouth and tongue, they’re different and new, and many can’t tolerate them.

I don’t agree with how your interaction went, he should not be saying he will report you for being a concerned mother. And as I mentioned already, it would not go anywhere if he tried. So please be reassured in that respect. I just wanted to put across the perspective as a dental professional. Please feel free to DM me should you have any further questions

Oh don’t be ridiculous. The son did not expressly not want them as the op explained. My autistic daughter said similar. We all laughed and I explained her meaning. Our orthodontist was better trained as regards ND and listened .

All my children are ND and all had braces. They are entitled to them as much as NT children even though they need more support and time at home and at the dentist as regards going through care etc. None of my dc “wanted” braces, they say it as it is, but knew they needed to have them. Not one has a single cavity.

Not at all.

There will be a record of what happened and this would be produced if the OP were to take it further. The GDC would then decide if there was a case to answer.

Life is correct. Retainers must be worn for life or the crowding will come back. An unmotivated child is not suited for braces.

As is so often the case here, the first post has nailed it.

Not life, a year or so, which the mother would have helped out with - if she hadn't been stopped in her ways...

Well he clearly didn’t as the mother explained and the child with SEN has walked out without braces.

Will be interesting to see how any assistant can put a spin on the mother explaining her son’s SEN and ND. 2 members of staff ignorant as to the needs of ND patients.

Op complain ASAP.

Not at all, all the "hes" refer to the son.

Although your son has crowded teeth, him getting braces is completely optional. Having crowded teeth is not a functional problem, only an aesthetic one. And getting braces increases the risk of decay because there are many more nooks and crannies for plaque to collect.
For this reason, the child needs to be absolutely on board with getting braces because otherwise they will lack the motivation to keep their teeth clean which is quite tricky with braces.

If your child lacks capacity to consent then he probably lacks capacity to keep his teeth clean with braces.
If your child has capacity but is not keen on the braces then he probably lacks the motivation to keep his teeth clean.
If you pressure your child regardless to get the braces he will (again) lack the motivation to keep his teeth clean.

He will then be left with tooth decay for having gone through with what is a completely optional and purely aesthetic treatment.

These are your orthodontist's concerns. Complaining about him is ridiculous: he is withholding an optional treatment which the patient does not expressly want, because it carries an actual risk.
I'm sorry but it sounds like your son is not ready for braces yet.

Because a medically necessary jab is completely different to braces. Braces require long term engagement from the child. You are altering that child's appearance. No child should be undergoing that unless they want to.

OP needs to prove that her child wants braces. I agree that she should contact the practice manager, but I wouldnt advise going down the route of he's not gillick competent or comparing it to something like jab

What part of the country are you in OP? I work in this field and I am shocked that the ortho said this to you! Could you get your GDP to refer you to a different practice or your nearest dental hospital/community care which has an ortho department?

Good. There will be an accurate record of the dentist being an absolute arsewipe then

This!! Im so angry for you.... barstard!

No dentist is going to risk being reported to the GDC for not obtaining informed consent.
Don't forget there is a DSA (Dental Surgery Assistant) in the same room who will be noting all this down, keeping records and making sure correct procedures were followed. They also act as chaperones.