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Original poster

To be astounded that we have to pay for braces?!

256 replies

toothyname · 13/01/2011 14:38

(regular with name change!)

My step daughter has just gone to the orthodontics and has been told she needs braces but that NHS wont pay as it's cosmetic.. The cost is over £2000! Has anyone got any experience of this or succesfully challenged it..? Surely good teeth can't be the privilage of wealthy children..??

OP posts:
twofingerstoGideon · 25/03/2014 11:40

My DD has been told by three different dentists that she needs braces. All have referred her to the orthodontist, who has then said she doesn't meet the NHS criteria, but that they 'recommend' braces anyway. As there's no way of paying for these, we've just had to accept that she will have wonky teeth. Thousands of pounds is completely out of the question for us.

GooseyLoosey · 25/03/2014 11:43

Dd is not eligible on the NHS. Her front teeth overlap. Adult teeth have come through without the milk teeth coming out so they have gown through high on the gum and at strange angles. She has many more teeth in her mouth currently than you are supposed to have.

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 25/03/2014 12:25

Someone asked why dental treatment is much cheaper abroad. This will be because of the much lower cost of living in countries like Hungary, which has very good dental training and services.

NHS treatment is available for the very worst cases, and it is correct that it is not available for free to less badly affected cases. Someone has to pay for it and we can't expect everything we want to be provided from someone elses taxes.

In any case, cosmetic dentistry is booming currently, which I find inexplicable, as we are constantly being told that we are all 'poor', yet there appears to be a neverending supply of people willing and able to spend thousands on having their teeth fixed and of dentists investing six figure sums on equipment to enable them to provide such services.

chicaguapa · 25/03/2014 12:35

This is really interesting as DD has been referred to the orthodontist. I won't bother making an appointment and taking her if it's going to result in a 2,000 bill that we're not going to pay. Shock We didn't even ask to go, the dentist referred her.

Wantsunshine · 25/03/2014 12:40

Gideon does the orthodontist have a payment plan that you could spread the cost out or could you start saving now so she could have them fixed in the future?

Abra1d · 25/03/2014 12:45

We had to pay for our daughter's braces as they were not judged bad enough for the NHS. It cost £1500 and we paid in four instalments, during the first four appointments.

And yes, it hurts financially (especially as my husband was out of work at the time). But her teeth were functional as they were, just a little crooked, and why should you taxpayers have to pay for them to be straightened because it would look nicer?

drnoitall · 25/03/2014 13:11

Not read twt sorry if this has been said.
Bear in mind the Denist does ask the patient/child how they feel about their own teeth and the idea of a brace.
Funding for a brace has a points system at our dentist, points are given if the child feels emotionally effected by the appearance of the teeth.
If it's borderline and your child is very upset at the decision tell the Denist, you never know, if you don't try.

MistressDeeCee · 25/03/2014 13:19

How old is DSD?

Id definetely take further advice and have a look around, you never know. Although when my DD needed braces 2 years ago at age 16, I was told she was just in time to get them done free of charge. She is 18 now, braces due to come off in September, and we've never had to pay for anything. So, I wonder if it would be worth 'phoning around to some orthodontists, and see where you stand. DD is with Dulwich Orthodontics.

givemeaclue · 25/03/2014 13:26

Have you got medical insurance, would that cover it?

ParkingFred · 25/03/2014 13:27

My ds has braces, and I was shocked to be told he needed them as his teeth were not wonky but really straight. He had a very small overbite.

We qualified on the NHS - I am not sure why!

He's about to have them removed after 10 months. The orthodontist has been great - I couldn't fault the service.

NurseyWursey · 25/03/2014 13:27

Unfortunately there are some things that we have to pay for. We should think ourselves lucky that we don't have to pay for so many other things.

And yes I know we pay tax and insurance, but is that so much compared to what we get for it?

EeyoreIsh · 25/03/2014 13:27

I think it's fair enough that braces aren't free for all. I'm in my mid thirties with nhs braces and soon to have double jaw surgery. My jaw and teeth are so wonky I can't bite, imagine not being able to chew meat or even dried fruit, that's what I live with. I have to tear or cut food up into tiny pieces and let things soften in my mouth, there's no chewing. my bottom jaw comes up significantly in front of and at an angle to my top jaw. I also have eight missing teeth.

I consider myself really lucky I'm getting treatment in the nhs. It's taking a long time, it'll be a four year process by the time I'm finished.

I'm still having to pay for some of the work myself, the bits that the nhs consider cosmetic, which I'm fine with. As well as the 6 monthly dental check ups and hygienist appointments.

The NHS has to draw a line somewhere, and a lot of orthodontic work is cosmetic rather then medically necessary.

ProlificPenguin · 25/03/2014 13:30

I paid £3000 for braces as an adult and my (lovely) Orthadontist said that he treats 16 and und for free on NHS.

I would try another practise.

KitZacJak · 25/03/2014 13:31

Braces were free when I was young thank goodness as I was majorly self conscious about my teeth.

What a shame it is not free now. Another thing to start saving for!!!

ProlificPenguin · 25/03/2014 13:32

Forgot to add that I paid in several installments over 18 months (length of treatment).

creampie · 25/03/2014 13:37

We really need to consider the difference between an essential treatment, and a desirable one.

I'm not really sure why people insist on complaining about the few things that aren't available on the NHS, rather than being grateful for all the hundreds of things that are.

flipchart · 25/03/2014 13:42

mistressdeecee. The DSD is 3 years older than when the thread was first posted.

The outcome of her teeth is probably all sorted by now.

( the post was on the 13 January 2011)

littledrummergirl · 25/03/2014 13:42

I read this thread this morning and went aagh. We have just come from the hospital with ds1, he needs 5 teeth out and braces, no cost has been mentioned. His orthodentist said he would check an xray taken today to determine how to proceed.
Ds1 was shown the xray when it was taken and it shows a tooth has turned sideways in the gum so another one to come out!
Ds2 has similar teeth.
This could be expensive.

allthatglittersisnotgold · 25/03/2014 13:44

I haven't read all the thread, but seeing as you might have to pay and she doesn't want them NOW. Would it be possible to start a small braces fund for as she gets older and does want them? If it turns out she never wants them, then you've got a little nest egg!

soverylucky · 25/03/2014 13:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

allthatglittersisnotgold · 25/03/2014 13:45

Rats, just seen! Sorry!

TheBigBumTheory · 25/03/2014 13:46

My dcs orthodontics have been free, is it another post code lottery?

tiggytape · 25/03/2014 14:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Abra1d · 25/03/2014 15:14

TheBigBum it depends on the severity of the crookedness. My daughter's teeth were measured and the 'angle' wasn't serious enough to justify the tax payer picking up the tab. It was a bit of a financial nightmare.

TheBigBumTheory · 25/03/2014 15:44

Yes, that would make sense.all mine seem to have someone else's teeth-there's no way they would fit in their mouth without a lot of turning.