AIBU to think this is too long between orthodontist appointments?

[Pumpkintopf]

DS (13) had his braces fitted today. Fixed brace, top and bottom teeth. Orthodontist has booked him in to be seen again in 12 weeks?! Everything I've read online since suggests the norm is 4-6 weeks, 8 at the outside...anyone else experienced this long gap between appointments? Sorry, should have questioned it today but this is all new to me (not had braces myself) until DH questioned it...

DS (14)'s appointments are 3 months apart so that sounds about right. Maybe it depends what the braces are for.
Hope your DS is ok, mine finds the first 2-3 days are a nightmare and then he forgets he's got them.

12 weeks for us as well. Mind you, he's already been back twice to fix them! Remember, no crusty bread or drinking from bottles!

my DD had braces fitted about 3 weeks ago and isnt going back til mid January.

12 weeks for all 4 of my lot!

I have fixed braces at the moment and have about 8-10 weeks between appointments, so sounds about right to me.

It takes something like 260 days for a tooth to set in a new position so nothing happens quickly!

Hmm....
I am a dentist, my DS is currently having fixed ortho treatment.
His appointments are @ strict 6 week intervals.

I think that's too long OP.
My DD gets her braces off tomorrow ( hurrah).

Children's teeth move at different rates. My DDs clinic is really busy, sometimes getting a 6 week appointment is impossible, and she has had to wait 11 or 12 weeks for her next appointment. THis has led to some over corrections which have had to be reversed, and she has had her braces on for several months more than was necessary.

DD2 started treatment on the NHS was being seen every 12 weeks, then we moved abroad and had to pay private - appts are 4 weeks apart now!

I have had two DCs go through it. Always appointments 4-6 weeks apart. NHS Orthodontist. Both completed their treatment ahead of schedule.

I have 2 with braces on. Every 4-6 weeks but they get seen at the hospital (complex maxillofacial issues) rather than an orthodontic clinic. I would assume it is every 12 weeks because they don't have the capacity to see you every 4-6 weeks.

Is it NHS treatment? In some parts of the country waiting lists for NHS Orthodontics are extremely long - there has been an increased demand on the service on recent years. Perhaps this is the reason? In my local NHS area there is a 2 year waiting list from referral to first consultation.

Thanks so much everyone for the replies, think I'll give our dentist a call Monday just to check it...

Also, FWIW DS is having NHS ortho too; so nothing to do with it being a perk of private treatment.

DD is seen every 8 weeks, her braces went on at the start of may this year and she should get them off in April, 7 months earlier than first predicted! She is getting NHS funded treatment at a fancy private orthodontist.

It is NHS treatment although we pay for a private dentist who hopefully will give me their opinion on whether this is an appropriate timescale...
Thanks for the well wishes too, he had the predicted 2 days of agony but managed some shepherds pie tonight (hurray)

Orthodontists who do NHS treatment will subcontract a certain amount to the NHS. It's not like hospitals where the NHS fund treatment in private hospitals, all dental practices are private. They may spend some time doing NHS work and some private, other time may be BUPA etc.

Whoever pays, healthcare professionals have to do the right thing. Statute and duty bound. So chances are 12 weeks is right for this phase of treatment. Your dentist will almost certainly defer to the orthodontist, they're the specialists.

Thanks MrsMorton, I'm sure you're right, I'm probably being over anxious about it all...

I have two in NHS braces ATM. Their appointments alternate between the orthodontist himself and his technician. The orthodontist decides how long he wants between appointments, and it has varied between 6 and 12 weeks. We generally manage to make an appointment within that time scale, maybe the week before or after, sometimes.

Thanks, the orthodontist himself said in the appointment he wouldn't need to see DS until April (?!) but the receptionist said no and booked us in for February so I did feel a bit as though I wasn't sure they knew what they were doing.