Waiting for nhs orthodontist treatment

[london111]

I find the nhs system so confusing so would appreciate any intel and advice on potential next steps. My son has been waiting over two years for orthodontics. We did pay for an initial consultation upfront to confirm he would qualify for nhs treatment under current rules and he does.

The issue is that the orthodontist keeps pushing back the latest expected start date. Initially it was Dec 24, then Feb 25, now Sept 25. I suspect they are just really busy and prioritising private patients instead (they are a business after all). Do we have any options on the nhs in this situation? If we moved the referral elsewhere do we have to start at the bottom of the waiting list again? Are orthodontists offering nhs treatments allowed to simply push back nhs patients again and again or can we complain to anyone?

I also wondered whether the system was so broken that it would be worth finding the money to go private instead. Given how reluctant they are to treat under nhs rules, do you get a much better service and outcomes if privately funded. Not just a quicker service but they do a better job. It is so much money but would definitely be worth it if outcome is improved.

Also worried that it will begin to hit exam period now as treatment likely two years...

Any experience from others would be great! Thanks

We had similar issues with DD when she was referred and in the end went private. The same orthodontist we were referred to on the NHS saw her within a month for private treatment. The price wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and we could pay monthly over the course of the treatment which made it doable.

DS now needs braces and we’ve decided to go down the private route again as like you we don’t want the treatment taking place during exam year.

How old is he? If under 16 it's more likely he's being pushed back as they slot in older ones to get the treatment started before they turn 18. It's free as long as they start it, even if they are 19 when it finishes, so the older ones will be priority unless it's a severe case

This isn't true my dd was 11 when she started her treatment. She was seen within a few months after referral. It's a postcode lottery.

My daughter was on the NHS waiting list for almost 5 years. The practice now has a 7 year wait. Private treatment was £4k, so we waited.

It is such a mess of a system! I want to be told upfront if it is going to be 5 years and not have it pushed back a couple of months each time... it makes it impossible to make an informed decision.

Does anyone think private treatment gives better outcomes or is it just quicker and the option of a less visible brace?

We did go private. It was about 3k and she needed twin block braces and then train tracks plus has an undecended tooth which needs gum retraction (lucky girl eh). Definitely qualified for nhs treatment.

With the twin blocks as I understand it there is something of a sweet spot where it works best before they completely stop growing. She was put on the nhs wait list at 10 with the knowledge that it would take a few years but by 13 still nothing so we went private. Her orthodontist is actually doing the gum retraction under the nhs for us.

We finally got an nhs appointment through 6 months after her twin blocks had started. Given her treatment will last about 3 years I am pleased we didn't wait but also lucky enough to be able to afford it.

We paid privately. In our area, the waiting lists for NHS orthodontics are about 6 years. £4k for Invisalign and the treatment will be completed within a year.
mu son plays a brass instrument so would not be able to have traditional fixed braces anyway.

It's a postcode lottery. My dd11 was seen after referral from her dentist within 6 weeks. The orthodontist is a private Bupa clinic but we don't pay for it.

We ended up going private too. The waitlist was far too long. Son is coming to the end of treatment now. Includes bottom and top, he will need two fixed retainers and then a retainer for night time. We pay in installments; £300 every time we go. I think deposit was £900

All three of mine got NHS orthodontics, started at 14, 13, 11 respectively, younger two just coming to end of two-year treatments. Managed to get the two younger ones in together so all appointments done at the same time. Our referring dentist gave me the option of referral to different orthodontists with different wait times, I was prepared to drive halfway across the county for appointments so they got in within 6 weeks at a new practice.

Just on the instrument point above, my son plays trombone and has had no issue with fixed braces (about to take Grade 8, did up to Grade 4 without them, rest with them on!) Similarly my daughter plays clarinet and no issue playing up to Grade 8 with braces on. Bit of relearning required when they were put on/came off (a matter of days to adjust).