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Original poster

Has anyone paid for their child's braces?

79 replies

Zaragirl84 · 03/08/2021 16:14

Have had a bit of a shock, told today ds won't qualify for orthodontic treatment on the NHS so we would need to pay.

Could ask to be referred elsewhere, however everywhere seems to have a minimum of 3-5 year waiting lists, and at 13 have been told that it would be much better to get the treatment now.

So we are looking at paying £4000. Has anyone else had to do this?

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underneaththeash · 04/08/2021 09:18

DS1 did qualify for nhs orthodontist - but we couldn’t chose the times/dates we were seen. We tried three different appointments - one we were on holiday, the second clashed with an appointment DD had and the third he was doing a sailing course. So 6 months later we just decided to pay.

Fab teeth now.

Original poster
Zaragirl84 · 04/08/2021 11:39

Can I ask those who did pay, how did you choose an orthodontist?

I wasn't really happy with the consultation we had, they were also supposed to ring me back to go through everything but they haven't.

I've now booked another consultation elsewhere with a place that has good reviews online and lots of case examples.

OP posts:
SometimesIFeedTheSparrows · 04/08/2021 14:43

Can I ask those who did pay, how did you choose an orthodontist?

We chose somewhere that you could get after school appointments, that had parking, and was local. I would also google the orthodontist- check the CQC website for the practice and the GDC and any reviews you can find.

Sallycinnamum · 04/08/2021 14:55

My DS started NHS orthodontic treatment at Xmas after a massive delay when our useless dentist forgot to refer him for a front tooth that hasn't come through.

I has to go through PALS to get thing moving after being pushed from pillar to post bit most of my DS friends are having to wait at least 18 months for an appointment or are going private.

Tbh I was shocked anyone had to pay for a child's orthodontic treatment these days as it was just a given you'd get it free when I was a teen but our orthodontist said very few get treated on the NHS unless its a severe dental issue.

And my DS wonders why I go mad when he doesn't wear his bloody brace when he should!

MissMarplesGoddaughter · 05/08/2021 17:12

@Zaragirl84

Did you get turned down for NHS treatment too?
We were told that the work needed was not covered under the National Health
MissMarplesGoddaughter · 05/08/2021 17:18

@Zaragirl84

Can I ask those who did pay, how did you choose an orthodontist?

I wasn't really happy with the consultation we had, they were also supposed to ring me back to go through everything but they haven't.

I've now booked another consultation elsewhere with a place that has good reviews online and lots of case examples.

I went through personal recommendations. One advantage of going privately was that appointments were never during school hours.
Bryonyshcmyony · 05/08/2021 17:18

Luckily all mine had such bad teeth they qualified for NHS treatment. The last dc didn't get retaining wires though so his teeth have moved so considering going privately with him just to tidy things up a bit.

Dozer · 05/08/2021 17:21

DC1 qualified for nhs treatment but was told waiting list of 18 months. Paid £££.

20viona · 05/08/2021 17:23

For people asking what it takes to qualify it's a scoring system based on malocclusion called an IOTN. Not everyone qualifies on the NHS, It's certainly not a given and in years to come
I'd imagine the NHS will remove orthodontics as an NHS treatment - coming from
An ortho nurse in an NHS hospital!

CallmeHendricks · 05/08/2021 17:24

Yep, we had to pay around 3K for ds about 10 years ago. Dd qualified for nhs treatment as hers was deemed medical, not cosmetic. However, the nhs orthodontist worked out of the same room as Ds's private guy. Once, when we took her for her adjustment, the nhs guy was off ill, so Ds's private guy saw her (for free). He was appalled at the way her bands had been set, so took them all out, re-did them and said he would see her from then on - still free!

BigWoollyJumpers · 05/08/2021 17:28

DD's orthodontist tried so hard to get her in for NHS treatment, but that last 1mm just excluded her!

We paid £3k in instalments a few years ago. Fantastic service, long term support, appointments when needed, and could pop in whenever when issues arose, like a broken wire, due to eating crunchy bread Blush.

FlowerArranger · 05/08/2021 17:37

OP - if your son is 13 already you don't want to delay!

Reading these comments I'm astonished that dentists don't seem to encourage an early orthodontic evaluation. In most cases it should be obvious much sooner that a child may need intervention at some point.

CagneyNYPD · 05/08/2021 17:43

DS had his braces fitted a few months ago. Qualified for NHS braces but only because he had a nasty accident a few years ago, resulting in damaged front teeth. So need for braces is not just cosmetic.

In all honesty, I would have rather paid for the braces than him go through what he went through with his accident.

No significant waiting list for NHS orthodontist in our area although Covid has slowed the process.

I do suspect that it will be harder and harder to qualify on the NHS. DS just about qualified, even with his injury. But what about kids who can't afford to pay but just miss out on qualifying for NHS braces?

dft6432 · 05/08/2021 17:58

I've had one of each. Paid for first son for top only, think it cost around £1,800. Younger son comfortably qualified for free NHS treatment. Both seen at the same orthodontist practice, although a longer wait time on the NHS (about 6 months from memory).

No difference in outcome, although younger son's NHS train tracks have worked an absolute miracle. He looks like he's had veneers compared to how wonky his teeth looked.

There does seem to be a grey area with the NHS funding. We were initially sent to a different orthodontist for my older son as they had a reputation for being more flexible. Which I'm sure isn't how it's meant to work (and he didn't qualify in their opinion in any case).

olivo · 05/08/2021 20:03

We don't have NHS where we live so I paid for DD from age 9 to train tracks coming off at 14( delayed a bit by Covid) . It cost just over 6k. but was so worth it. We paid the first about 1200 up front and then approx 95 a month.

Oblomov21 · 05/08/2021 20:09

Yes, just paid £3k for Ds1 which I had saved, just been quoted £3k for Ds2.

So sad. So angry. The world and their dog seems to get nhs braces, but not us.

WrongKindOfFace · 05/08/2021 20:29

They’d have qualified but the waiting list is so long they’d have been an adult by the time they reached the top.

Once they’re done I’m hoping I can finally get mine sorted.

Stylinson · 05/08/2021 20:45

My DD’s dentist wasn’t sure she’d qualify as she only has minor issues with her teeth. We waited about a month for an appointment and then the orthodontist approved the treatment and fitted top and bottom braces 2 weeks later.

Partey · 05/08/2021 20:54

Can I ask what age your dc started treatment please? Ds is 10, his teeth are basically all over the shop. A cpl have no room to come through properly due to the shape of the ones next to them if that makes sense?

His NHS dentist is only seeing emergencies still- my dads dentist offers private treatment, should I be going there now maybe?

Saisong · 05/08/2021 21:10

DD qualified for NHS treatment, and it was surprisingly plain sailing. Referral when she was 12 took about 6 weeks! She had to have 2 teeth out, and another was emerging in the upper gum and had to be chained down into place (I think that must have been why she qualified). Choice of appointments wasnt great - often had to pickup/drop off from school. But that was a small price to pay. They came off yesterday after exactly 2 years and her teeth look amazing. I know we have been extremely fortunate.

ChicChaos · 05/08/2021 21:14

DD had an NHS brace at age 12, she had been referred early knowing the waiting list was 18 months (closer to 2 years by the time it was fitted) and at the initial appointment the orthodontist made it clear that not everyone qualified for NHS treatment (and the practice no longer accepts NHS patients) but after looking at her teeth fortunately for us she did qualify.

It made more of a difference than I expected, and she was really pleased as she was self-conscious about her teeth/smile before.

MarciaMarciaMarcia · 05/08/2021 21:24

We live overseas so no NHS option, but I was happy to pay.. Dd1 had her braces taken off a few months ago, and her teeth are stunning.
Was referred to the orthodontist by a friend.

We have since moved, but will be looking for another referral for Dd2.

Musication · 06/08/2021 06:08

My children are still young but one has very wonky adult teeth coming through.
If I have to pay in future then I definitely will.

sashagabadon · 06/08/2021 06:18

Yes I paid myself. £2.5k all in. My sister got her kids for free though. £4K sounds excessive though

chocolateoranges33 · 06/08/2021 06:28

My DD had braces on the NHS but when her retainer broke 2 years later all her bottom teeth moved back with 1 week. The orthodontist who did it was no longer in business and no other NHS one would help. I paid £1950 in monthly installments for her bottom teeth at a private one.

My DS who didnt qualify for NHS as it was cosmetic also wanted straight teeth so we paid £3500 for his upper and lower teeth privately again.

We've never been private for dental work before but now we have I can absolutely see the difference - appointments to suit us not them, much better quality of working communication.

I would recommend going private if you can afford it - most people pay monthly in interest free installments.