Braces and referral times

[Nightowlatheart]

DD will need braces. I’m wondering how long the wait times are generally if referred to see an orthodontist and then how long from then to get braces. Thanks

Years, but I’m sure it varies depending on your geographical location. We are in SE England and LOs dentist made the referral when LO was in year 4 (if I remember correctly) and LO got braces in year 7.
Our dentist wanted LO to have braces in year 7 or 8 so it worked out perfectly.

Thanks. Timing worked out well then! Did she still have some baby teeth when she was referred? My dentist said that referral took about a year so he normally times it so they’ve only got a few baby teeth left. He said orthodontist would just say to be referred for another appointment. In SE too. I think in what I’ve seen in recent years, I’ve lost trust in assumed referral times.

So, apparently one of her friends in year above has had braces for a few weeks. She must be 10 or at least very near to turning 10, so would still have some baby teeth unless DD is mistaken?

My DS needs braces, and has been desperate to get them for ages but he was late getting referred because of covid, our practice closed to NHS patients and trying to find another NHS dentist that was taking on in a reasonable vicinity took years. We were told the average wait is 3 years. He’s 16 now and pretty close to the 3 year mark and still haven’t heard anything, he’s gutted because he wanted them done and out if the way before starting college.

Edit to say: We’re North West.

Last year we were told we’d need to wait 14 weeks for the NHS Orthodontist appointment and it was exactly that. My son was just 12. Braces were fitted within a week of the first appointment.

My DS was referred when he was ten, has checks at orthodontist every year, think they are waiting for the last baby tooth to fall out. He's 13.

Thank you. My kids have also spent years on waiting lists - they got deregistered without warning. This appointment was with a new dentist in a different surgery. I acknowledge I may be a bit apprehensive about waiting times, but I don’t think it’s completely unfounded. My daughter has mentioned her teeth a few times (turns out someone from school has said something to her). I’m assuming thresholds for treatment have also changed from when I was a kid.

I know this is an older thread but just came across it now.
My child was referred in May 2025. We had an appointment October. Brace is being fitted this week. I was not expecting such a quick turn around. This is on nhs too. We are in SE.

I know this is an older thread but just came across it now.
My child was referred in May 2025. We had an appointment October. Brace is being fitted this week. I was not expecting such a quick turn around. This is on nhs too. We are in SE.
My child had teeth come through from 4 months. All baby teeth lost by september 2025 before 11th birthday.