NHS orthodontics vs private orthodontics...

[ZozuTheRobot]

... is there much difference? If so, what?

DS (12) needs braces - looks like he will have them for several years.

His teeth are wonky enough to get treatment on the NHS. Alternatively, we could afford to go private for treatment. But would there be any advantage in doing so?

I never had braces myself, so I'm a bit clueless here. I did have friends growing up who had NHS braces and suffered considerable discomfort with them... but perhaps this is just something you get with all braces?

DS doesn't care at all what the braces look like or anything like that. I'm just keen to make the experience less horrible for him if I can.

Any advice very gratefully received!

we just had our first meeting on an NHS referral. We will get nHS orthodontistry and the practice also does private. It seems that if you want to have appointments in school holidays / after school hours, you have to go private. If you want any modicum of charm / explanation from the orthodontist himself, you go private. If you want certain types of braces, you go private. Essentially it seems that if you want and can afford anything more than the most basic level of customer service / care, you have to pay for it even through the person the NHS refers you to. I am rather hoping we can get referred elsewhere to someone a little more convenient for school location

JackieReacher - this is really helpful. I don't want him to miss a lot of school with this.

Fingers crossed you get a better referral...

I had braces for 8 years growing up and my DS is about to get his first set. All NHS treatment. I've got no complaints at all about the service. The practice I went to is the same one DS now goes to, still very friendly and they explain everything. Their books are a bit full so there is less choice with appointments, but it only seems to be a problem if you need to rearrange at the last minute.

Hmmm, thank you, Silhouette. Looks as if a lot depends on which NHS practice you get referred to - I think I will see what they are like when we go for an assessment and then take it from there.

Dd gets nhs treatment. I try to ensure appointments are after school and am mostly successful.

Ds 12 had his done on the nhs. It was a private practice but they did take on a few nhs patients. Absolutely no complaints. Only difference will probably be appointment times are less flexible for nhs patients. He got the choice of having different colour braces too. Which was fun for him.

DD1 is 14 and has NHS braces from the same orthodontist that did mine. No complaints at all, she's seen very quickly and he makes sure she not you mum, she's wearing them looks after them properly. Gets a band colour choice too!

My younger two will need them too at some point.

Dc1 has his braces from the NHS.
We have no issues with times to go and see them. Usually first thing in the am so he misses 10mins max or at the end of the day.
Not a lot of explanation but then his dentist just doesn’t seem talkative at all!

I am not sure what else a private dentist could do.

Both my dds have had nhs braces. The eldest it was a massive pain referral orthodontist was an hour's drive away meanjng lots of school time lost . Dd2 we had already gone private for all of us and luckily a lovely private dentist who does nhs orthodontics also is our main dentist. So we had benefits of Both, appointments outside of school hours, lovely dentist, comfortable surroundings and a good experience. However there is no difference in the quality of the end result- both girls teeth are beautiful.

My daughter has braces, all done on NHS. The orthodontist practice she was referred to also has (a majority of) private patients. We have never felt 'second class' and the clinicians have been lovely. They also try to give us early morning slots so that dd doesn't miss much school. The braces are due to be removed next week, and she will be fitted with a night time retainer thingy.

YY about colour braces (but Dc1 Just wasn’t fussed about it)

I've been private and NHS with my Dd. The same orthodontist, only difference that I've seen is the private appointments were longer so you received better explanations, just more time with him really. The NHS appointments, I can't be picky about when I want to go and it's literally in and and out with no real explanations about what's next as he hasn't got time.

Oh, also the surgery we go to has mainly NHS patients. That’s where all the referral for the area are sent to.

I have one son funded by NHS and one private. One received NHS funding, and one didn't. BTW the private cost is minimum £3000!

It's the same orthodontist and the same result. The experience is slightly more pleasant going private. You have a separate, posh waiting room with free drinks, Saturday appointments, plus more time explaining treatment plans etc.

Otherwise identical. I would choose NHS in a shot to save £££££££.

Ds didn't have great experience with NHS orthodontist so we decided to get 2nd opinion and then went private.
NHS orhtodontist fitted twin books which ds did not get on with at all , found traumatic and refused to wear (not the orthodontists fault I know) . Only option after that from NHS was to take 4 teeth out and fit brace. Ds was happy with that but I wanted 2nd opinion so we went to local private guy in our town.

He explained twin blocks weren't necessary to have straight front teeth , he would just have to live with a slight overbite (hardly noticeable ) and that he could straighten ds' teeth with a brace without taking teeth out.
Fitted the brace and his teeth were straight in 3 months !!! Yes 3 months, we couldn't believe it. He now has lovely straight teeth , permanent wire behind them and is wearing retainer ..cost was £2100 and well worth it.

Thanks so much, everybody - this has given me a lot of info on things to check and things to watch out for! I feel a bit less helpless now!

OP what did you decide to do in the end and how did it go?