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Children's health

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Original poster

Braces - will I have to pay?

16 replies

Littlefluffyclouds81 · 26/10/2016 23:19

My dd is 12 and the poor thing has my teeth that I had at her age - really wonky with the two front teeth overlapping. I have looked online and it says that NHS treatment is only available if there is a clinical, not cosmetic need, so I'm guessing she will not qualify if it's just because they don't look very nice?

Feel really bad about potentially packing her off into adulthood with teeth like that, and I wouldn't be able to afford to pay privately as I'm a single parent earning not very much money :(

Are there any other options?

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GU24Mum · 26/10/2016 23:22

My 12 year old has just had her braces taken off. She was assessed by an orthodontist and apparently just qualified for NHS treatment (it's all done on measurements I think) but hers weren't dreadful so it's worth getting a referral.

Coldest · 26/10/2016 23:22

Take her to a dentist they will refer to an orthodontist who can advise you accordingly. If they are wonky she may be eligible for treatment. Make sure she has excellent oral hygiene as that is required for orthodontic treatment

Original poster

Littlefluffyclouds81 · 26/10/2016 23:26

Great - that sounds promising! I will get on her case about cleaning her teeth better, she is really crap at it, it's something we fall out about regularly.

OP posts:

stonecircle · 26/10/2016 23:27

Ask your dentist to refer to an orthodontist? She might be a bit young though? DS got a brace when he was 15/16 and had to wait until then for his last two baby teeth to drop out and have a couple of extractions.

I didn't think his teeth were that bad to be honest - a bit of overcrowding but the dentist referred him anyway. However the orthodontist said a brace would cost about £3k and when I asked if it was really necessary, he said, "well it depends if you want your son to have nice teeth or not ..."!

I left it, and then he got referred again about 18 months later. This time the orthodontist decided he would do it on the NHS so no charge. I honestly didn't think they were particularly bad so it's definitely worth exploring.

Coldest · 26/10/2016 23:30

She is just the right age. Dont leave it for later as the waiting lists are really long. Something like 1-2 years and even longer

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 26/10/2016 23:32

DS2 has recently been accepted for NHS treatment (a brace) and is currently on the waiting list.

His mouth is overcrowded. When he was referred to the Orthodontist for assessment our own dentist wasn't sure if he'd qualify or not - but thankfully he has as I couldn't have afforded the £2-3k for private ones either.

You'll never be certain without an Orthodontist referral I'm afraid.

BlossomCat · 26/10/2016 23:32

My girl gets her braces off next week. She has had NHS treatment as her canine tooth on the left had not descended, so wasn't too bad, but obviously qualified. I'd ask your dentist about referral to an orthodontist. Good luck!

choirmumoftwo · 27/10/2016 23:43

My DD has braces which were fitted a year ago at age 13. Referred by dentist to orthodontist and needed 6 extractions first but qualified for NHS treatment and waiting time was very short. She's had no problems and is coping well but good oral hygiene is vital, as others have said. Good luck!

Okkitokkiunga · 27/10/2016 23:49

My DD is 9 and was referred to Orthodontist. We got an appt really quickly and she has a brace. It's a removable one though but it's doing the job. Haven't paid a penny.

Biscuitsneeded · 28/10/2016 21:28

My Ds is 11, got referred by dentist. Orthodontist said there are 5 categories of need and if you fall into Category 4 or 5 you get it on the NHS. Well my DS fell into category 4 so he is now wearing a fixed brace. I wouldn't have said there was anything very wrong with his teeth, so you may well be lucky.

vjg13 · 29/10/2016 08:50

Overlapping teeth may well be a clinical need because they may be more likely to break. Your dentist should be able to grade your daughter and refer. As others have said, don't delay as waiting lists can be long.

RoseDog · 29/10/2016 08:53

Dds orthodontist was very keen on knowing how the way her teeth looked affected how she felt about herself so they could add that to the argument for getting them on the NHS, although she add a noticeable underbite so she was always going to get the treatment.

Berthatydfil · 29/10/2016 08:58

Ask for a referral. They will decide if she qualifies and if she does put her on the waiting list.
It's about 18m to 2 years where I live but it might be different where you are.
If her teeth overlap it might be a narrow palate, overcrowding or another issue and she may well qualify for NHS work.
She is just the right age to do this as well so I wouldn't hesitate.

dementedpixie · 29/10/2016 09:05

Dd was referred to the orthodontist in 2011 when she was 8 as they didn't think there would be enough space for her adult teeth. She went for an assessment annually and has just qualified for treatment this year as her teeth weren't 'bad' enough in previous years. She is 13 and has one baby tooth left that should have come out much earlier and also has teeth that are started to stick out. X-rays have shown her adult tooth is in the gum but is moving in the wrong direction so now she has to be referred for a tooth scan at another clinic which will take about 3 months to come through

I'd see an orthodontist and find out if she qualifies for free treatment

MyVisionsComeFromSoup · 29/10/2016 09:09

DD3s dentist didn't think she qualified for NHS treatment, but referred her anyway (as we'd probably have decided to get braces at some point anyway, after saving up). Orthodontist saw her, measured, said she didn't qualify, but to come back in a year. One year later, her teeth had got more crowded, and she did qualify for NHS treatment, two weeks later she had the first part of her treatment started.

Oblomov21 · 20/03/2021 13:07

Please does anyone have any advice. I have just been told that Ds2 doesn't qualify for nhs braces.

Ds1 didn't either. Even though his were very gappy and had come down further than they should of.

Ds2 has very weak teeth genetically through me apparently, because of my diabetes when he was in the womb she said. Years ago I was told that he had bad overcrowding and would probably need a brace, I hdbr a letter saying do.

But now I'm being told he doesn't qualify anymore because he's 'grown into his teeth'. even though he still has quite a lot of overcrowding on the bottom. and his top two front teeth have crossed over. apparently it's not bad enough so we don't qualify.

and they're suggesting that I pay £3K to have his done. but I've just paid 3K for DS1 brace, and I don't have the money.

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