Orthodontist appointment

[AutisticLegoLover]

What's the usual practice for consent for children? Does a child under 16 need parental consent for orthodontic work including extractions and the preceding X-rays, photos, potential blood tests and whatever else is needed? Would the parent or person with parental consent need to accompany the child or can anyone take them to the appointment? The child is 15.

Aibu to think this is something that does require parental consent?

Depend of your separation/divorce agreement.

@ErinAoife what do you mean? There's no divorce/separation agreement here.

Anyone over 16 can accompany. I'm not sure I always was present in the treatment room.

(not uk)
but one of us parents was there for the initial assessment & treatment plan. we needed to be there mainly for the payment agreement tbh.

from then on dc managed any appointment themselves.

I had to be there for the whole appt and to consent.

I was told a parent had to be there for records and treatment plan to agree and sign paperwork. No payment as we are NHS, then I had to take her to have teeth out at our regular dentist before treatment started.
After that they said anyone can take her and she can go on her own. She is 14.

sorry I assume it was a case of parents no longer together and one of the parent don’t want to pay for orthodontist work.
This link should answer your question
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/consent-to-treatment/children/

Sorry I should have said it's NHS treatment at a universify teaching hospital orthodontist

Yes, I definitely had to attend the treatment plan appointment and the extractions. Both me and DD had to sign the agreement before treatment could start.
After that she can attend alone (but doesn't) and I haven't had to sign anything else.

Dc will need extractions at our family dentist once all the initial treatment plan is decided and the dentist is likely to insist a parent is there. I don't see how someone without PR can make a decision about a treatment plan then give consent for that treatment. They don't know the dc's medical history for a start.

This sounds the same as us.
I agree with you someone with parental consent should be required for treatment plan and extractions.
Have you been told otherwise.

I dont understand what you're asking? Are you not able to attend the appointment? I always went with dd as she needed transport anyway as the orthodontist was in a different town.

I can't take dc so dc's other parent was going. Now saying that's not possible and a relative or friend will take dc. I've explained about PR and been told I'm wrong. This appointment has been arranged since the summer.

I was with ds but not in the room while he had an extraction at pur dentist or routine hospital orthodontic appointments. There is a principle regarding confidentiality if under 16s which may be involved, so they can be seen without a parent/carer if they choose. What is your precise concern?

tbh it should be fine. assuming dc was attending the treatment plan and knows what's involved.

Hi OP, Dentist here. For the planning appts & extractions I would require a parent to be present. They can wait outside after inital discussions but I need to physically see them and talk to them. Further appts I'd usually be happy to see a child I knew well alone if I felt they were happy to do so/understood what was happening so eg a wire change halfway through treatment they know exactly what's happening so can agree to treatment themselves.
An assessment appointment without a parent present is a complete waste of everyone's time as no progress will be able to be made. If neither of you can go it needs to be rearranged.

@Starlightdarkness thank you, that's my understanding too but ex is insisting he knows best.

I went with my son when he had teeth out but he goes alone to the appointments to get his braces tightened. My sons step dad (no PR) and his nan have taken him to medical apps before and we had no issue.