To think if your child needs an NHS orthodontist, and cant go private, the appointments are during term time only from 9.30 to 3pm

[LieLikeALoungeroomLizard]

So either pay thousands or your child will have to miss school in year 10 and 11

I missed a lot of school to attend hospital appointments for oral surgery and braces, the teachers just gave me notes on anything I missed, so not a big problem.

For straightforward braces and teeth straightening the appointments are quite spaced out so I can't see how a few hours every 6 weeks or so would be a problem.

I've also had private dental treatment and my dentist worked for the NHS during the day and saw his private clients in the evening and weekend, so really couldn't book the NHS patients for any other time. I think a lot of private dentists work for the NHS during 9-5 Mon to Fri.

I did GCSE while missing school for orthodontists (actually missed school from yr5-yr11 for orthodontists!), did fine.

Just take them out of school. It's not a big deal, an hour here or there can easily be caught up on.

Just paid £3k for DDs braces as just missed qualifying for NHS.
This doesn't mean we're wealthy - in fact at the moment things are really tough but the work needs doing so we'll sacrifice other things.

Meanwhile friend's child going to same orthodontist getting it free on NHS and somehow making it into a case of her being treated like NHS scum (her words) because, just like us, she can only get school hours appointments.

I'd be really grateful to get it for free because I'm not getting a further advantage going private.

Have you calmed down a bit yet OP?
I think what your trying to tell us is that your NHS dentist, not all NHS dentists has restricted hours.
I work in CAMHS the pelters we get for not offering appointments 24/7, you’d think we were child murderers

Wo der why she's retained baby teeth anyway ?

I had ten years' worth of orthodontic treatment on the NHS (lucky me!) My appointments were usually after lunch so I only missed a period or two of school every six to eight weeks. Obviously not perfect, but it wasn't majorly disruptive and it certainly didn't impact my exam results. Plenty of my friends went to private orthodontists and their appointments were also during school hours, so I doubt it makes a difference.

I don't know about children's appointments but my dentist only does nh appointments during the day on weekdays. I think it's unfortunately common. If you need flexibility you need to have money for private treatment. It's crap. Luckily I have a really flexible job.

It just happens sometimes. Genetics. Once they're removed it should stimulate the adult ones to bud.

DS is 14 this month and has had braces for around 18 months. He will get them removed in June. Yes, he was missing maybe one hour of school max per appointment. Worth it IMO. He caught up with missed lessons fairly quickly. No big deal 🤷

Think I'm calming down a bit now, it's just so upsetting when it's your child
I think one of the teeth is somewhere really odd too, like the roof of the mouth or something which sounds very strange to me, so I don't want to wait months and months for the orthodontist to say oh well sorry but we can't treat her
She will need to be referred to the hospital or so and so and waste more and more time

Dh had to have braces when he was teen so maybe she gets it from him

Pretty sure all practices are like this. Ours isn't school holidays though.

We also have adult private patients so the after work appointments need to be saved for them.

Our current waiting list is 3 years only likely to get longer. I would imagine dentistry is going to be cut anyway eventually.

I'm also quite aware that she will feel very self conscious as she's a lovely kid, very kind and thoughtful but can be quite shy and sensitive
So I guess I feel for her

I think your thinking in to this to much.

It's more common to have braces than not they like to match with there friends and at the end of it they have dazzling teeth.

Ours start at 8 in the morning. I always try and get the first appointment.

Just think how much more confident she'll feel when they're done!

I had them for 6years, a couple of nasty people made comments, but on the whole it was life changing. I remember the day they took them off, I walked back to school smiling like a lunatic at every single person!! She'll be grateful for them when she's older :)

Can't help? Oh, no. No, no

Dentist's are miracle workers. Utter weirdos, but miracle workers. Go on youtube and watch some videos. They could take somebody with teeth growing out of their nose and give them a supermodel smile. You have literally nothing to worry about in that department. Dentistry is properly our most advenced medical field. It has been mastered.

How on earth do they decide who qualifies for NHS treatment?

I’m sure your DS is capable of catching up the missed time.

Ds missed a lot of games afternoons! Once you get into treatment it is usually possible to get appointments during school holidays.

There is a criteria you have to hit.
It's a chart that all orthodontists have to follow. An orthodontist has to prove to the NHS your daughter hits the criteria to get treatment on the NHS otherwise they don't get paid

14 is not late to be having braces. Braces need to be on before patients 18th birthday to have NHs treatment.

Thanks gin, I'll try to remember that.
There was one time on xfactor Simon Cowell was so horrible to a kid with braces, saying nasty comments like how did you even get in here, I thought you'd set off the metal detector, I was disgusted back then

Perhaps I just need to calm down a bit

I’d be very happy just to be seen at all as we’ve been on the waiting list over a year

@LieLikeALoungeroomLizard

Surely this is bloody unethical

Not at all.

Missing out on education? The appointments aren't usually very long.

She would perhaps be quite happy to skip pe