will someone talk to me about braces?

[AlicesWonderland]

Hi I think my son may need braced to correct an overbite

He's top jaw really protrudes a lot more than his lower and his front top teeth constantly seem to be sticking out, although he doesn't have all his big teeth especially the bottom back ones have yet to come through (he's 9 is this normal

Anyway I am aware if he does need braces that they may cost a small fortune and I wanted to know if anyone could advise of any dental plans or anything that may help towards the cost of these or if the dentists do a payment scheme, I will ask the next time I go unless this is totally wrong lol

TIA

are you in uk?
my ds got some about a yr ago - we were told free for medical reasons (not so for cosmetic) before age 16.

it is hard at first to get used to them but this is only for the first few days - v soft foods and take time with eating.

i posted on here at the time for help and advice and got loads of support - good luck.

thanks yep we're in the uk

Until I read some threads on here in passing I;d always assumed that they were free I now know that that's not the case

I am hoping that when I take him and ask next month that she'll just say that we have to wait till he's lost all his baby teeth and it may correct itself although that is probably just wishful thinking

He has started grinding his teeth lately too which may be unrelated but should I mention this too?

i wd mention it and iirc they shd be able to tell if braces will be needed in future - dd was told it was a possibility at around this age.

thanks I'll definately ask then

even if we can't get help with the costs would be good to know a round about how much and what sort of age we would be looking at getting them so we could sell a kidney look at saving some cash

we had a last minute wobble (well ds did) and all the dentists/orthodontists we spoke to were v helpful - hope it all goes well

Don't think they will fit them until he has all his adult teeth (aged 12-14ish).

My DD will definately need braces due to overgrouding and severe rotation of some incisors.

I always thought they were free (for uner 16's same as other prescriptions). Would be interested to know where you found out that you have to pay.

And this is why I thought it was free:

How much does it cost?
Answer:
You can have orthodontic treatment under the National Health Service or as a private patient. National Health treatment is free for children up to the age of 18 and students up to the age of 19 based as long as there is a clinical need. Other people entitled to free treatment are patients on a low income, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Everyone else has to pay the NHS charges. There is no charge for treatment in hospital departments.

You will only be entitled to treatment under the NHS if your condition is serious. Minor problems may be classed as cosmetic and would therefore be charged privately.

If you decide to have treatment privately, the orthodontist will be able to estimate the cost of your treatment and give you details. It is always a good idea to discuss the cost fully before treatment and, if necessary, have the cost confirmed in writing to avoid any confusion.

Someone on here said ages ago that if it was just for cosmetic reasons that you had to pay, but if there was thought to be a medical need they were on the nhs

I really do hope I am wrong as we have no spare cash at all these days anyway and have 2 more dc so if they all needed them it would not be possible

"Don't think they will fit them until he has all his adult teeth (aged 12-14ish)."

That's not quite true. DS1 has had them since he was 8 (and DS2 from 7) although this was a private orthodontist who treats differently to traditional train-track orthodontists.

Should be free if necessary from NHS orthodontist. My DS got one (a functional applaince)when 9 for an underbite and at that stage only had very few adult teeth. As this type more about training the jaw to grow correctly so not necessary to have all adult teeth so may be similar for overbite.

My DD (13) has braces on the NHS, as do many of her friends. I suspect there is an element of postcode lottery in their provision. The criterion is that there is a clinical, rather than a cosmetic need (unless the cosmetic problem is very severe), but our local orthodontist doesn't seem to turn many away. It's definitely worth seeing if your dentist will refer your son for NHS treatment. From what you describe, I think he'd qualify round here (and SlightlyMadSpook's DD - sounds like mine).

My 10 year-old has only just started to lose her molars, by the way - it's perfectly normal, though DD1 already had an overcrowded mouthful by this age.

Hi Alices, I am a dentist although I don't treat children generally but I will impart my knowledge:

It sounds like (although no-one can tell without a proper in person examination) like your son has what we call a class 2 occlusion, with this, it is important he is seen during his growth phase, not afterwards as certain appliances (as mentioned above, a functional appliance) can help to align the facial growth into a class 1 (the average) profile.

Now, some PCTs have stopped all funding for orthodontics. This means that no matter how bad the teeth are, the NHS will not fund the treatment. This isn't the dentist or orthodontist's fault, it is the government cutting the health budget and the PCT deciding that chemotherapy is more important that braces.

If you are that 14 year old boy being bullied because of your teeth it is a different matter, however, I acknowledge that orthodontics are expensive if you are unfortunate enough to be in an PCT where they won't fund the treatment.

So I think you have two options.

1: Take your PCT to judicial review if they won't fund the treatment.
2: Fund the treatment privately.

The first option may be what is morally correct, the second option will be cheaper.

Many orthodontists will have payment plans etc etc but ultimately it is up to your family to decide (if NHS treatment) isn't available, whether it is worth sacrifices to get the treatment (which is most successful when carried out during growth phase) or not.

I don't have children so can't say what I would do.

Please message me for any specific queries.

Hope I've helped in a small way.

My daughter (14) currently has braces, fitted since about May last year, top and bottom set

No costs involved at all for us. We were told when she was about 8/9 she was likely to need a brace and they waited until the last adult tooth had grown in before starting the work

She can't wait until it is all done and she can eat crusty rolls and toffees again!

please may I jump in here as I would really appreciate your professional opinion on our DS? He is 9 and from a very early age sucked his index and middle fingers but with his hand turned palm side up so his upper jaw has been pushed forward and his lower jaw backwards creating a substantial overbite (whatever and whenever DS eats he is left with a mess of food smudges under his bottom lip because of this.)

Our dentist has said that nothing will be done at all (if at all) until DS has at least completely given up this habit. Although he hasn't sucked his fingers consciously for years he does very occasionally do it in his sleep.
I would hope that with a brace this would stop as DS would not be able to comfortably suck his fingers.

He doesn't have all his adult teeth yet, just the front ones. The top ones look fairly straight but the bottom ones are definitely leaning in.

Should I sit tight or would I do well to get a second opinion do you think? We are luckily enough to be in the position to pay if necessary, if that makes a difference to how me might proceed.
TIA.

The action of soft tissues (lips and Tongue) are very important with braces and they are unlikely to be successful if they are being interfered with. Have you told your dentist that he has stopped almost entirely? Have you seen an orthodontist yet? May be worth it for a second opinion.

Just to say that DD had braces fitted when she was nearly 12. They tested her as to whether or not the braces were necessary. From memory they were graded 1-5 on some sort of chart and the bottom three grades (wonky teeth but not too bad) would not be treated but the top two would.

DD scored very highly in the wonky teeth examination and therefore the treatment was free. Otherwise our orthodontist told us it would have cost around £2k. Which tbh was less than I thought it would cost. Our orthodontist offers payment plans so you can spread the cost of the treatment over the time of the treatment - which in our case was around 18 months.

You could start saving in any event and then if your DS scores highly in the wonky teeth examination and qualifies for free treatment, take the family away for a bonus holiday?

thanks so much for all the replies

I'm taking us for a family check up at the end of Feb so I shall definately be asking about refferals and if she thinks he does need treatment

Thanks dentistnotheretobejudged fingers crossed then that we are in an area where they will still fund them on the NHS

Thanks Quattrocento that's the kind of figure I thought it may be if the treatment wasn;t free

Even if they gave us 18 months there's no way on earth we could afford to pay that though, money is very tight at the moment and we have no left over cash at the end of eash week and are lucky to have £50 a week shopping to feed 5 of us

Maybe though grandma and grandad may loan it to us until things look up lol

Mckenzie, DS1 didn't stop sucking his thumb until the brace he had meant that he physically could no longer get his thumb in. Nothing else had worked.

In fact, the orthodontist had toyed with the idea of fitting DD (5) with one purely to stop her sucking her thumb. Instead, he suggested trying long socks on both arms, taped right at the top. I have yet to try this as I think the child needs to be fully committed to giving up before trying it. If they want to give up but can't help it, I think it would be more successful and less distressing.

thank you Dentistnotheretobejudged and Soupdragon for your replies and thank you AlicesWonderland for allowing my hijack.

What is the best way to go about finding a good orthodontist? Is my dentist's recommendation enough or should I be looking into it further?

No worries mckenzie

Do you have to go somewhere else for braces then....I stupidly assumed the dentist would do them...oops

I don't suppose there's anyway to get them done free by letting a student do them at the dental hospital is there

I think most people go as recommended by their dentist.

I didn't, I could see DS1 had issues and went by personal recommendation - however, this is private and, I'm afraid, eyewateringly expensive.

I think it is always a good idea to ask about and do your own research though.

Dental Hospitals have waiting lists far far longer than orthodontists in practice. The most severe cases are seen in hospital and students will simply do as they are told by a consultant. No chance of any favours there.