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AIBU?

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Original poster

DD told she can’t have NHS orthodontist treatment

135 replies

Readysteadife · 23/09/2021 20:42

Was seen for an assessment about 2 years ago by the orthodontist. She was told she qualifies for NHS treatment .

Roll forward 2 years and yesterday she was told her teeth have improved and they are unable to offer NHS treatment . The teeth have “improved “ by 1mm and apparently that’s not on the parameters for NHS treatment.

Has anyone else experienced this ? I can’t help but think If it wasn’t for COVID she would have them . They said I can pay £2500 for them!

I am going back to the Orthodontist clinic next week to be seen by another Orthodontist as I wanted a second opinion . Should I get a independent opinion too ?

OP posts:
Porfre · 23/09/2021 21:31

YANBU.
Unfortunately that's the way it going to be. And it'll just get worse

GoWalkabout · 23/09/2021 21:32

I think they changed the guidelines so its harder to get treatment now. Dd realised she didn't actually want to go through the pain and discomfort over 2 years and having talked to her friends about it.

Allywill · 23/09/2021 21:34

my daughter broke her 2 front teeth age 8 falling off her bicycle. she had them built up with white filling stuff which kept breaking off. we were told she could have something more permanent done once her jaw had stopped growing on the nhs. by the time she reached 18 the rules had changed and no she didn’t qualify for anything being done on nhs. this was 5 years ago now so nothing to do with covid. they are always looking to save money and goalposts constantly moving.

Itsnotdeep · 23/09/2021 21:35

Yes we also had the experience that dd only qualified for NHS treatment when she was 15 with a 3 year waiting list. Had to pay in the end.

This isn't due to covid I'm afraid. It's just the way it is. It sucks.

I paid in the end but had the option to pay monthly (after a hefty deposit) so dd had her braces for 2-3 years and they were taken off before she went off to university.

Porfre · 23/09/2021 21:36

@GreatPotato

If it's only needed for cosmetic reasons why should the NHS pay? I mean it would be lovely if there was a magic money tree but does the tax payer really want to pay for cosmetic dental work?
You mean like the magic money tree that paid for the test and trace app.

The magic money tree that's getting the fertiliser business back working. Theres money available when they want to spend it.

Talktalkchat · 23/09/2021 21:37

@Totallydefeated

The NHS will deem it ‘cosmetic’, conveniently ignoring the deeply negative and long-lasting psychological and emotional impact such things can have. Not surprising, given the resources devoted to mental health, I guess. It’s shit but all part of the underfunding and organisational problems.
And who’s fault is that?
megletthesecond · 23/09/2021 21:39

To be fair, it's probably cheaper for the NHS provide a brace than MH treatment.

FindingMeno · 23/09/2021 21:43

The measurements are exact and 1mm would make all the difference.
How gutting to think treatment will be provided on the NHS and then find that's changed.
I feel for you.
I was fortunate in that my dc's qualified for NHS orthodontics, and was keen to point out to them that they should grab the opportunity.

RobinHumphries · 23/09/2021 21:46

@WormYourHonour

My dentist is almost an hour away, the nearest accepting NHS.

I thought kids up to a set age got NHs treatment and anyone over that age would have to be from a household claiming certain benefits and such?

I get NHS treatment as I'm on Universal Credit.

Where do people get these misconceptions from? Everyone is eligible for NHS dentistry however children are exempt from having to pay just as people on certain benefits.

HOWEVER the rumour is the government only fund enough treatment for something like 50% of the population.

And IOTN does not take into account how many holes/ fillings someone has so that’s a load of crap too.

jewel1968 · 23/09/2021 21:52

DS had orthodontic appointment and we were told he needed 4 teeth out and braces. All for one tooth that was slightly out of alignment. And it would be covered by NHS. I was concerned as it seemed mega disruption.

Got second opinion and was told no extraction needed and we could if we wanted have a brace but it really wasn't necessary. And no not covered by NHS. He was shocked at other orthodontist's diagnosis and proposed treatment.

I know this is reverse of your situation but shows how second opinion can be important.

I also did a lot of research at the time about NHS funding. It's complex.

Totallydefeated · 23/09/2021 21:52

Talktalkchat

Totallydefeated
The NHS will deem it ‘cosmetic’, conveniently ignoring the deeply negative and long-lasting psychological and emotional impact such things can have. Not surprising, given the resources devoted to mental health, I guess. It’s shit but all part of the underfunding and organisational problems.
And who’s fault is that?

Er, not sure I understand your question? As to why you’re asking it of me?

It isn’t mine.....

Dunrovi · 23/09/2021 21:53

DD1 had rabbity front teeth from sucking her thumb. She too was deemed 1mm outside NHS criteria. We paid around £2k in instalments over two years (five years ago). This was a fixed price and included all treatment and consultations for as long as it took plus plastic retainers at the end of the treatment.

DD2 did not suck her thumb but has a small jaw and her adult teeth came through all over the place, a real mess. She had to have four molars removed and WAS eligible for NHS treatment; it was essentially the same as what DD1 had, fixed braces for two years.

However it's funded, it's SO worth it. A real investment if there's any way you can stretch to it, especially as most kids (round here anyway) seem to have orthodontic treatment these days and so teeth, on average, are pretty straight (crooked ones do really stand out). The few of my kids' friends who didn't bother when they were young teens have since gone to have it done privately.

elbea · 23/09/2021 21:55

@YourKidsIf They must have made it up because the appeal committee didn’t know why they’d refused treatment!

Babyroobs · 23/09/2021 21:55

@whenwillthemadnessend

My kids both got accepted and they could certainly close their mo the so I call bullshit on that last comment

Yes get a second opinion.

Yes my on also had braces a couple of years ago and his really were not too bad.
Totallydefeated · 23/09/2021 21:57

@megletthesecond

To be fair, it's probably cheaper for the NHS provide a brace than MH treatment.
It would be if they provided adequate MH treatment.
Thirtyrock39 · 23/09/2021 21:57

My dd needs braces and we were told it's currently a two year wait and that most people go private - similar price quoted I guess there is probably payment plans but it is depressing
Think partly covid backlog but not sure

JudgeJ · 23/09/2021 22:02

@pianolessons1

It's cosmetic. The NHS is in a mess.
Cosmetic treatment shouldn't be on the NHS for anything other than genuine cases, not just to make someone feel better about themselves. One of the reasons why the 'NHS is in a mess' is because it's having to pick up the bill for far more than it's designed.
B1rthis · 23/09/2021 22:03

I would consider not spending the money by researching why children's teeth have only been wonky in the last 100 years or so.
Our ancestors never needed braces etc and there was plenty of room for their very straight teeth.
I would look into mewing also.
A cheaper alternative.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 23/09/2021 22:06

The criteria have been tightening for years. I was part of a 20 year longitudinal study by a university dental school on whether nor not orthodontic treatment had a longer term impact on psychological wellbeing as adults - it didn't. I think that is part of why the move away from orthodontic treatment that had more of a cosmetic element to a focus on functional issues took place.

However, I do object to people who are dismissing orthodontic treatment as just "cosmetic". I would have qualified for treatment under the current criteria as I had a severe cross bite - I suspect by now, in my 50's, I would have serious structural problems with my jaw if it hadn't been corrected.

RickJames · 23/09/2021 22:08

I think its worth paying personally. Whatever the rights or wrongs of the system.

I have part of DS's ortho paid by health insurance but still have to top up about 30€ a month. He's gone from having a 5mm overbite to looking awesome. Can't put a price on that for me. I had to have adult fixed metal braces in my 30's and it cost about 3K over 2 years. Changed my life.

I will always be willing to go private for dental and MH treatment because I'm not prepared to deal with the consequences of patchy or non-existent 'free' treatment.

StormzyinaTCup · 23/09/2021 22:09

DD was told at 14 she definitely qualified for orthodontic work on the NHS and they put her on the waiting list and told us it would be about 18months wait. Two years rolled round and we hadn't heard anything so checked on it and yes she was still on the list and told her turn will come. It never did. By 17 she was getting more desperate and it was really getting her down. As soon as lockdown was over we went and saw someone privately, she has just turned 18 has had her braces on for three months and is so very happy (it's costing us an eye watering £5k though!).

22Giraffes · 23/09/2021 22:11

I must be very lucky where I am in London, both my children waited less than a month for treatment after referall and both met nhs criteria (They could certainly close their mouths.) I am really grateful.

Etonmessisyum · 23/09/2021 22:12

‘Just cosmetic’

Provided me with years, and years of bullying. Called goofy, rabbit face, buck teeth and many many other names and of course it starts with the teeth then escalates. So I had no shred of self confidence and went through years and years of painful orthodontic treatment from 8/9. Double brace for nights, single retainer, then the day after my friend got her tracks off I got mine on. 4 years and maxillary osteotomy and genioplasty later, I’m still scarred by the bullying I suffered. So just cosmetic means nothing when you’re 6 and no one will play with you because the bullies will target them too. That 1mm is actually a lot and I know it’s expensive but for some kids orthodontic work is more than just cosmetic. I had a very short lower jaw no chin and really sticky out teeth, which looked worse due to my jaw. I can’t look at childhood pictures of me now.

Op i hope your daughter gets her treatment. It made all the difference to me especially once I’d left school. I remember getting my braces off and finding a mirror and I could not stop smiling. Took me ages to get used to ‘me’ not being stared at or called names at home though.

FindingMeno · 23/09/2021 22:13

I thought the whole point of the assessment was that there needs to be medical reasons for NHS orthodontics, and the NHS doesn't fund cosmetic correction.