Brace funding help

[ortho]

My dd was refereed to a orthodontist around a year ago.

In a nutshell, her teeth are a mess. She has a 7mm overbite as well as overcrowding. Her front teeth are twisted' .

She has been given the retainer to align her jaw. It is very big and bulky. My daughter has a very small mouth. She has honestly tried and tried but it's extremely uncomfortable to the point that she is in tears. She's not a sensitive child either. I feel awful for her.

Anyway, we have been back today to the orthodontist. The head orthodontist there agrees it is very big for her mouth but that's what the nhs fund.

They given us a quote for private treatment . It looks amount smaller and comfortable but it's £4000.

We are on a small income.

I'm at a lost of what to do.

Is there anywhere I can appeal for this treatment ? I'm not expecting the full cost but possibly part funded (ie what the nhs would contribute for the standard braces) .

Anyone ?

You could ask for a referral to the nearest hospital orthodontic department , they may offer different options on nhs. However if it a twin block that is designed to expand the growing jaw and create space to straighten the teeth. She will get used to it and it is for a relatively short time.

The brace will have been made to size and if it really isn’t right then they might need to remake it. She shouldn’t be having any more trouble than other children as it’s made to measure, most of the kids who get a twin block have a tiny jaw. DD has a tiny mouth and a twin block and it was uncomfortable for a couple of weeks and her speech isn’t great but she has got used to it.

We were offered the £4K option too and declined it after passing out in shock at the price. I think you will be hard pushed to get any contributions to the other brace when she’s eligible for NHS.

Sounds like it’s twin blocks they will have been made for your daughter I’m not sure that private will help for this stage. They are v uncomfortable but as the pp said they are there to expand. My DC was very uncomfortable for about the first month, with constant split lips from the drooling and pain as the jaw moved but eventually got used to them. Private treatment for fixed braces allows greater choice but the results from NHS ones will be the same.

Before you shell out for the private treatment ask for more detail on what the exact difference in treatment will be.

There was talk of the orthodontist hospital and a mention of jaw surgery which doesn't sound pleasant.

Honestly , we have tried and tried with the block but it's just working. She looks like she has a tennis ball in her mouth.

The other option ( private) they showed us is a device that is attached to the teeth and some rubber bands? They pull back the jaw to align it.

dd1 is getting the braces with the bands on the nhs for her overbite.

@kimlo

Can you remember what brand they are ?

Ds had twinblocks then traintracks with bands.

no sorry no idea on brand. It's just going to be a fixed brace on the top and the bottom and bands between them. She's getting them fitted at the next appointment.

She has just told me it's an overbite and an overjet she has. It's not actually me who takes her to the orthodontist.

My daughter had the braces with the bands on the NHS.
She had a overbite and overjet. She had maxilofacial surgery last September to finish off treatment and the fixed braces came off last week after 3 years.
Its worth persevering

Twin blocks do look and feel very bulky to start off with. They work though. Just persevere. You have to be pretty motivated towards treatment tbh.
Ortho isn’t for everyone- no one ever died from wonky teeth - so you could stop but no I think it’s a one shot deal NHS wise.
NHS Dentistry is dying and I’m constantly surprised it isn’t removed.

My DD had an invisalign last year after refusing to have a brace as a teen. It cost her 2K. She had a great deal f pain for several weeks.

It's interesting that some teens with an overjet are having the fixed with the bands and my dad is offered the blocks. Wonder if it's a postcode thing?

My youngest has a 7mm overbite and is being seen at a children's dental teaching hospital, they are planning a twin bloc in two years when she's a bit older, the care she has had there is second to none, and I'm very grateful to be getting it on the NHS

That's good @MissSmiley . I hope you dd has better luck with her twin block then mine has.

I think it depends on the type of correction needed, development and how much natural jaw growth there is left. As I stated below ds had both over time as they need to correct his jaw alignment, drag a tooth into position and straighten them. He also now has both a removal retainer and fixed wire, the latter unusual on nhs. He was treated at a nhs hospital orthodontic department.

My DD has twin blocks to correct her jaw alignment. Then top and bottom fixed braces. She's now got top and bottom fixed retainers and is coming to the end of the full time plastic retainers too. All NHS

My youngest son has twin blocks and I agree they are massive, I had warned him prior to receiving them that they are going to be difficult but he has persevered and now he can't eat or talk without them, for the first week he had them I made soft/easy to eat versions of his favourite foods and within 5 days he was totally used to his twin blocks, they work very quickly if worn full time and the discomfort he had initially is nothing compared to the recovery from an osteotomy or the jaw problems she may have without treatment. Please believe me I am genuinely sorry for your child and it must be heartbreaking for you as mum to see her so unhappy, I'm a dental professional and can see both sides of the issue and unfortunately the twin blocks are the only option available on the NHS.

You might find this long running support thread useful
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1391667-Twin-Block-Braces-Any-Advice

My son had block braces and they looked awful. It looked like he had a sock stuffed in his mouth. He was so brave and don't seem to Mind too much. His mouth was always dry as he couldn't close it, especially at night. He wore them almost full time and they were off within 7 months while they had estimated 9-12 months followed by train tracks. It really was worth it and was the best treatment for him.

A twin block is the absolute best treatment for this problem at her age, anything else would be compromised treatment and will affect her profile.