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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Adult orthodontics on NHS or Invisalign

35 replies

PandaPolar · 26/03/2017 12:20

Actually it's a partial AIBU and WWYD...

I have an overjet which is progressively getting worse - it's about 1.2cm horizontal, and starting to affect my dental hygiene. I was referred to orthodontics 2 years ago when it was 7mm and they said they wouldn't do anything as wasn't really affecting my confidence. Now it is. It has changed the entire shape of my face, I don't like smiling and I hate talking as I feel it looks gross. Also been "bullied" a bit for it recently by a crap house colleague.

AIBU to ask for another referral back to orthodontics from dentist?

Secondly, I was wondering about ivsalign - which I can't afford, but I could maybe get a bank loan to cover it I think. Does anyone know if they can fix overjets over 1.2mm ?

OP posts:
RubixCircle · 26/03/2017 13:13

I may be a bit biased as a work in the dental profession. But I personally would get referred back to the NHS orthodontist. Yes it may be that you have to have basic fixed appliances but in my opinion they work faster and have better results for more severe cases. Invisalign, while it has come a long way, still in my opinion is far from perfect. I have seen many patients struggling with them to get their desired result. Plus they are much slower and are reliant on you wearing them as much as possible. (I am far from an expert on Invisalign though, and I can't say for definite either way whether they would work on large overjets)
As a dental professional myself, when I decided to have adult braces a few years ago, I chose bog standard fixed appliances (train tracks) for myself. And its what I'd choose again definitely if needed.

Clnz4fun · 26/03/2017 14:12

I 2nd asking for a referral again. I did quite a bit of research and traditional braces are still by far the most effective of braces out of all the cosmetically friendly ones.

You could save as little as you can while you wait for the outcome incase you can't get it. Braces are usually 1/4 for a deposit then pay as you go as long as you pay the full amount by end of treatment.

I'm paying for traditional braces through and an NHS practice so the cost is massively cheaper than a private practice.

Original poster
PandaPolar · 26/03/2017 14:30

Thank you - I actually don't think my dentist will have a problem with re-referring me back to the hospital as she was seriously annoyed they didn't do anything last time.

At this stage, I don't mind having the metal braces on because I think it's a case of short term vs. long term. I would prefer them to be done by someone my dentist suggests rather than going elsewhere - I'm not sure she would suggest a private orthodontist as an NHS dentist.

Are braces on the NHS not always free though? I thought I would just have to pay the two hundred and something complex treatment free, but I may have misunderstood that.

Thank you so much for your help, definitely given me some confidence to go back and ask to get another referral.

Also - should I go back to same hospital, or go to the other hospital? I had the choice of two last time, so I could chose the other one...

OP posts:
Clnz4fun · 26/03/2017 14:52

I was referred by my NHS dentist to the ortho in the practice and was told I wasn't eligible to NHS funding for it but gave me a quote to get it done privately by him.

I reckon if you are eligible then you won't have any personal costs to pay.Smile

I left it a year before going back as couldn't afford it but still half the cost for private practice treatment. I realise every case is different though my trestment isn't complicated.

You get used to the braces really and no one cares or really notices them.

Go with your gut with regards the hospital choice, if it was me if I hadn't got the reception I expected from the person doing the assessment I wouldn't want to see them again, but that's me.

RubixCircle · 26/03/2017 15:03

From my understanding full NHS braces are totally free. (Been a while since I worked in NHS - but going back about 15 years I worked in a NHS ortho hospital department and it was totally free back then)
I have heard in some NHS practices they allow people to pay for the white version of fixed braces at cost but the actual treatment is NHS. No idea how common this is and I'm pretty sure you can't in a hospital environment anyway.
They changed all the NHS ortho rules a few years back now. Even children don't qualify for full free treatment unless severe. (Not something I particularly agree with myself as we're just going to have a generation of adults with extremely crooked teeth which are harder to clean, getting more decay and needing more treatment in the long run)
So if the teeth are causing either physical problems with eating or severe cosmetic/confidence problems in either children or adults you should qualify for NHS treatment.
With regards to which hospital, some have stricker criteria than others due to being over subscribed etc. Which part of the UK are you in? If London by any chance, feel free to PM me as I know all the London dental hospitals as I've worked at most of them at some point in the last 20 years!

mygorgeousmilo · 26/03/2017 15:37

Following with interest Hmm

MatildaTheCat · 26/03/2017 15:41

No idea which system is best but dental practices do offer payment schemes for braces so you can spread the cost over a period of time.

Chesntoots · 26/03/2017 15:47

My teeth are wonky and it has had a massive effect on my confidence all my life.

I have decided on invisalign because I have a job where a punch to the mouth is a daily possibility and was concerned about having a mangled face if it happened!

If i had a different job I would probably have gone for train tracks.

Bitchycocktailwaitress · 26/03/2017 15:54

I did 6 month smiles as I didn't like the idea of Invisalign. They are normal (white) braces that are on for less time than standard braces as they only deal with the cosmetic aspects of your bite.

Pics are before and after, after wearing for 26 weeks.

Adult orthodontics on NHS or Invisalign
Adult orthodontics on NHS or Invisalign
Bitchycocktailwaitress · 26/03/2017 15:56

I don't think braces are free on the NHS unless you are a child or maybe low income perhaps?

My treatment cost around £3,000

RubixCircle · 26/03/2017 16:31

NHS braces are only free for severe cases. IOTN 4 and 5 I believe (index of orthodontic treatment needs) if I remember correctly. That can apply for both children and adults and although it is a lot less common in adults it is available. Mainly from dental hospitals. I don't believe income plays a part in costs if it's considered a cosmetic only treatment.

Original poster
PandaPolar · 26/03/2017 16:48

I believe I am IOTN 5 - as it's 1.2 cm with my teeth closed on the back teeth (which is how the dentist told me to measure previously). Also, because my mouth doesn't close naturally, I have to keep moving saliva around to the front of my teeth as they dry out - I can't remember the medical term for this, but it was explained to me. Everything else with my gnashers is great - they are vertically straight and I have no fillings etc.

Bitchy That's an epic improvement. So cool!

What's the difference with going to a dental hospital vs. an orthodontist in a dental practice? I was just referred to the hospital (Eastman) last time. This time I may ask to go to Tommy's at that was the other option offered to me.

OP posts:
Original poster
PandaPolar · 26/03/2017 16:48

Chesntoots - That's actually something I need to consider - thanks for raising it.

OP posts:
8misskitty8 · 26/03/2017 16:52

My dentist referred me to the orthodontist as I have a 100% overbite and my eye teeth at the top are twisted. They have got worse as I've got older.
As a child the school dentist said I needed braces but my own dentist disagreed. I've had my current dentist for about 8 years and he has noticed my overbite has got worse and my twisted teeth.
I also have TMJ and one side of my jaw sticks at times for a few seconds. It's a horrible feeling and ever time it happens I worry that one day it won't unstick and I'll need to go to hospital.

He seems to think it is bad enough that I'll get braces on the nhs (Scotland).
Going for my orthodontist consultation in a few weeks. So I shall see what happens.

8misskitty8 · 26/03/2017 16:54

Bitchycocktail that is a huge difference and only 6 months !

Bitchycocktailwaitress · 26/03/2017 16:55

OP, all I can say is just do it! I felt so much more confident after the treatment and it was well worth the money. If you hate putting in a retainer then you will hate Invisalign. I got a permanent retainer behind my teeth as I hated putting in the nightly one.

Bitchycocktailwaitress · 26/03/2017 16:56

Thanks miss kitty, it really took no time at all. I went to a local dental clinic for mine.

Bitchycocktailwaitress · 26/03/2017 17:01

Please ask if you have any questions about pain etc. X

RubixCircle · 26/03/2017 17:05

PandaPolar the only real difference between hospital and practice is the dentists in the hospital will be training. The level of their training will depend on which hospital you go to. Eastman is a postgraduate hospital only so all the dentists working there are qualified dentists specialising in their chosen field. Guys and St Thomas have both undergraduate and postgraduate students. In my opinion it makes no difference if you are seen by undergrads or postgrads. They are all highly supervised and all want to pass their studies so will do the best treatment possible.
So if you get seen in practice everyone is qualified. Although, normal dentists can do ortho with no specialist training, so I'd always make sure you see someone who has specialised in ortho personally. Although with Invisalign being done mainly by computer generated models it's not always as necessary. But for fixed appliances definitely see an actual orthodontist. (In my opinion)

Headinthedraw · 26/03/2017 17:20

Bitchycocktail I am having 6 month smile braces fixed next week.Yours look amazing!How painful did you find it and did you have to change your diet much (staining/risk of breaking braces)?Any tips?Op I'm yet to hear from anyone regretting getting their teeth fixed so I'd get a referral back to NHS orthodontics asap.Good luck.

8misskitty8 · 26/03/2017 17:26

Due to the TMJ I already have a plastic shield I wear some nights on my bottom teeth to stop my teeth rubbing so I'm used to having something in my mouth.
Both my Dd's need braces as well. One will get hers in about a year once her last baby teeth are gone and the other one they are checking every 9mths until she is 13. But already her bottom teeth rub her palate and she has bother eating at one side due to the twist in her front teeth.
I can envisage spending the next 5/6 years in the orthodontist with the 3 of us ! Lol.

Mrsmorton · 26/03/2017 17:31

A 1.2mm overjet is pretty significant, are you sure it can be treated without surgery to change your jaw relationship? IMO Invisalign will not be appropriate for this as it doesn't move teeth in the same way as fixed braces with brackets and wires.

If you need surgery then it may all be available on the NHS, if you don't, even with an IOTN as high as that it will depend on your trust whether they will fund it.

Original poster
PandaPolar · 26/03/2017 18:29

Would they do braces before the surgery? The last anaesthetist I saw was not happy to intubate me due to the overbite protusion so I think they'd need to decrease it before the surgery somehow...

Yes - it's change the entire shape of my face. It's nuts. I never knew it could keep going in adulthood.

If I am not eligible for NHS treatment, that's fine - i will take the loan, i do think I need to have it done as it's got to a point where it's affecting me (not just cosmetically).

Thank you so much for all the suggestions, advice and experiences!

OP posts:
RubixCircle · 26/03/2017 18:36

I think in most cases where surgery is required they start with braces to get the teeth into what will be the correct after surgery position, then they do the surgery, followed by further braces to finish off.
But each case is different of course.

Bitchycocktailwaitress · 26/03/2017 19:20

Heather
I had slight pain/discomfort when I got them tighted every week. I found it really helped to take a normal painkiller 30 minutes before my appointments. I know this sounds crazy but when they were tightened it was almost a good pain, as I knew they were going back to the right position!!

I gave up popcorn and crisps/sweets as they were annoying when they got stuck. I ended up losing a stone (I was already overweight) as I stopped snacking so much. Put it straight back on after though!

I also broke my braces twice by eating chewy stuff but my dentist fixed this free of charge.

I did stop red wine as it stained the braces. However I couldn't give up cigarettes so I did have my teeth cleaned twice in the 6 months.

I also found that at first my teeth rubbed against the braces before the inside of my mouth toughed up. I used dental wax to help with this but should have used from the very start. Please get some for as soon as they are on. I left it almost a week and it was very uncomfortable.

As soon as they were off I had a big glass of red wine!!

Please ask if any other questions.