Second opinion/self referral for child orthodontics?

[DeafLeppard]

Does anyone know anything about self referral or second opinion for child orthodontics? One DC has microdontia and one of their adult teeth has come in significantly behind the rest of hers (so closer to the roof of the mouth, IYSWIM). I know that microdontia isn’t in itself a reason for NHS funded orthodontic work but it’s the tooth that’s randomly near the middle of her mouth that is the one that’s well out of line.

Her previous dentist was all set to refer, but was waiting on some more baby teeth falling out, then he left and now DC have a dental technician who says that DC’s teeth are fine. I’m not convinced but not sure where to go from here. We go to a dentist across a county border and friends who stay within county seem to have far less serious issues sorted via NHS orthodontics.

Does anyone know if you can just book an appointment with an orthodontist and if you are eligible for NHS treatment, they will do it? Or do you need to be referred by your own dentist?

We saw an NHS orthodontist, then sought a second opinion for our daughter from a private orthodontist (tooth in roof of mouth, overcrowding). We just researched where, then phoned up and made an appointment for an assessment. Started treatment a month later.
Just see who is near, then phone up.
You have to be referred for NHS treatment, and even the waiting list is commonly 2+ years.

Thanks for the reply! So your eventual treatment was privately funded, you can’t get referred back into the NHS?

The NHS has strict referral criteria so eg the computer will reject if child is below 10 ish for most problems and will reject if most baby teeth are still present .

Only a dentist can refer for NHS orthodontics and most areas waiting lists will vary from 6 months to 3+ years .

Once referred you are still not guaranteed treatment , you need to have a bad enough grading on IOTN scale https://www.stmichaelsdentistswakefield.co.uk/index-of-orthodontic-treatment-need-iotn-explained/

you can pay for a private opinion which will be around £150 and if you fit NHS criteria and if they have a NHS contract you could possibly be added to the waiting list , if not treatment can be done privately at around £2500 to £5000 depending on complexity.

So it was around a year wait for NHS assessment appointment, dentist would only refer her after all baby teeth fell out. Then they assessed her according to NHS criteria, said she qualified, but it would be another 2 year wait at least for NHS treatment to start.
As that orthodontist was a) not the most pleasant, and b) suggested some slightly odd things (verified as odd by dentist friends) we sought a second opinion - only option for that around here was private, with private treatment.
There is then no option for her to be treated on NHS.
We are paying 4.5k, but orthodontist is very experienced and specialised.

Thanks both this is just what I was looking for. We might have to pay privately, but having had a look at some of the IOTN photos, I am reasonably certain my DC would meet the criteria. More than happy to pay for a private assessment to confirm or not!

Our dentist didn’t think my dd’s teeth would qualify for NHS orthodontics but said they could do a referral anyway and the orthodontist would be able to confirm either way. As it turned out she did qualify (but due to a different issue than the more obvious one, which had been overlooked by our dentist). So it’s really worth asking them if they can make a referral, even if they’re not sure.