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

DD's treatment was 3 years (though Covid added 6 months of that).

Both my kids have been stuck to school hours. But I tried to do it with minimal disruption. It didn't help that I work school hours and term time.

Appointments varied from 4-10 weeks depending on what was going on. We just took it. School never had an issue but I did try to do first thing in the morning one time then later afternoon the next time so it wasn't all the same classes they missed.

Dd is back under the hospital orthodontist prior to jaw surgery this summer and that's actually worse.

This annoyed me too OP. The only good thing for us is that ds' school finished at 2.30 so we could get the appointments after 3pm but before 3.30.

I wore a brace as a child and I don't remember having to miss lessons.

Judicious use of Inset days can also help.

This is part of the reason we paid privately plus an 18 month waiting list! Its not fair

My son's treatment was complex and took over three years. The letter we got at the start outlining his treatment plan stated something along the lines of we treat NHS and private patients with equal fairness regardless of whether or not you pay but when I tried to get an after school, and later college, appointment was told none available as these were reserved for private patients. His treatment was excellent though.

You're right, it's not fair, but there isn't really a solution is there? Everyone wants to be seen 4pm-7pm and there's 9 hours work to be done.

Getting to the hospital can be a problem. We live rurally and an hour away from the hospital, appointments meant half a day off school/work. I work part time and arranged my hours around the orthodontist clinic days - then they changed it without warning us

We could book in school holidays so made the most of that and got term time appointments as late in the day as possible.

Dd had quite severe problems though, she was referred aged about 9 and had to have surgery before they fitted the brace. She had her braces off aged 16 this summer and her teeth are perfect now. It's all been worthwhile.

If I had a dc with more straight forward issues I'd definitely explore private treatment. Covid has caused more issues with waiting lists etc If I could find the £3k to do it I would.

Yup, had this x2, but I tried to get as many in holidays as I could, or at end of day so only last lesson missed. It’s a pain, but no-one suffered academically in the end.

Schools know this and always authorise absence. Total non-issue.

Lots of children have medical appointments during school time. My ds sees the specialist orthodontist so we have to go to the hospital 45 minutes drive away instead of our local one. We don't get a choice of appointment times and last time we were there for 4 hours. The school aren't happy but it's tough luck.

That's a ridiculous rule. I have had 5 children need braces and have been able to book appointments in the school holidays and after school most of the time. The orthodontist does a mix of private and NHS, we are NHS.

My dc's go to an NHS orthodontist during school time.
You do what you need to, and orthodontist treatment is not approved under the NHS unless there's good reason for it.
Many people don't have the spare readies knocking about to go private, and I'm very grateful they have braces and think it's important even if they miss a bit of school.
Obviously I'd prefer they didn't, but it is what it is.

Well the orthodontist can't fit everyone in outside of school hours so I don't know what you expect them to do? All 3 of ours had braces and school never complained.

We are paying privately for DS’s braces as he was just under the threshold for NHS treatment. He still has appointments during school hours.

Wow it’s 1 hour ! I had 2 kids that had orthodontist and they both passed GCSEs with great success don’t worry to much x

Same for my son but his appointments take less than 15 mins, they're very efficient.
He's picked up and dropped back within an hour- not a big deal.

@arethereanyleftatall

You're right, it's not fair, but there isn't really a solution is there? Everyone wants to be seen 4pm-7pm and there's 9 hours work to be done.

Absolutely. My DS has a long term condition which requires regular visits to our "local" children's hospital which is about 3 hours each way by public transport and a bit less time but more stress if I drive. Every appointment requires a full day off school unless we are lucky enough to get an appointment in the holidays. But it's a service that caters for children, the vast majority of whom go to school so most parents probably would like appointments in the holidays or after school. But it isn't possible is it? And lots of staff, my DS's Consultant included, are parents themselves so they take leave in the school holidays etc. The reason a lot of private appointments are outside office hours is simply that most of the staff work for the NHS too so private work is done when they are off duty. It's not necessarily because they are trying to make it more convenient for paying clients, it's just when they are available. I had a private MRI scan on a Saturday morning recently. All the staff involved work in NHS hospitals and fit private work in around that. If I had wanted it doing on a Wednesday afternoon because that suited me better it would have been impossible- they (and the scanner) would have been in use by the NHS then.

LieLikeALoungeroomLizard

They use the index of orthodontic treatment needs (IOTN).

I had a tooth in the roof of my mouth. I had surgery at 16 to get it out and remove 3 or 4 others. Then I had braces for 18 months. I can't remember whether I went in school holidays but I remember going for appointments from school and it wasn't a big issue. I was doing AS and A levels by the time they came off and it was fine

Two of ours needed orthodontics for a couple of years each.

IIRC brace checking and adjustment appointments were a month or six weeks apart , no big deal, dh and I shared them.
End result, a lifetime wondeful smile. Well worth the time and effort

It's perfectly legitimate and permissible to take kids out of school for dentists, medical appointments and treatments. Our school was very used to teenagers having orthodontic appointments .

Missing school was the best thing about having to have braces! (I still got all my GCSEs). My grandparents used to take me for my appointments so mum didn't have to miss work.

OK, thanks for the help, I do feel a bit better
Good point about inset days