Children, dentist and paying for treatment. What happened to FREE NHS care for children?

[Waltzywotzy]

I am lucky that dds haven't needed anything other than regular check-ups which are free on NHS at our dentist.

Our dentist went private about 2 years ago and I set up a dental plan for dh and myself.

Now I thought that the children would get FREE treatments, but I have just paid over £40 for a filing for dd1 (12).

I am mortified. I am shocked because there has been talk or braces for dd2 and on the way home, dd1 said her friend has had to pay over £2k for hers. .

I think I am out of touch here!

free fissure sealants too

I'm feeling very lucky

ComeOVeneer I bow to you superior knowledge - I guess I have only come across dentists that offer a combination of NHS and private dental treatment then, I wasn't aware that some dentists don't even treat children free - that is a terrible state of affairs IMO. Agree with you about the millions that can seemingly be found for other things but not NHS care.

I was aware that the criteria for free orthodontic treatment was very strict as I have several friends who have already been through this process and had to pay out fortunes. I am very lucky that I have a good NHS dentist that I have been with for over 20 years who was happy to take dd on too. It remains to be seen as to whether orthodontic treatment might be needed in future - goodness knows what the situation will be then - she is only 5 atm so I better start saving!

I have read the small print and when they changed to private all children up to 5 could get free treatments and 6 monthly check-ups. From 6 - 16 free 6 monthly check-ups only. After that it doesn't say, so I guess 17 and 18 they will not get even a free check-ups. I must see what the family plan dental costs are.

You'd think all children should be allowed an allowance each to use for any treatments until they were 18. If they have no need for the treatments, the funds go back into the pot for those that do. Isn't that what the NHS was about?

When dd was 13, she saw an orthodontist (NHS) who said her teeth needed braces. She was put on the waiting list. We got posted out of the area (dh was RAF), saw a dentist who said if we needed braces - hard luck.

In the end, we had to pay £2,500 for the braces. So, I think it may be a lottery. Some places you will get free nhs dental care, other places you won't.

fuck !

we don't have £2,500 !!

Braces are really tricky for us.

My kids are American and if we lived there, there is a 90% chance that they would get braces - all insured kids do. It has reached the point of being a class qualifier - crooked teeth are bad news if you want to go for a top job.

Only my eldest has had an orthodontic assessment and he doesn't qualify for NHS braces. His 'problem' (small overjet) is so trivial as to be embarrasing to be taking up the orthodontist's time.

There is no shame nowadays in adults paying for their own braces. I got braces when I was 38, and I wasn't the youngest patient there. I'm glad that I did it. If my kids want to perfect their smiles, they can pay for it themselves.

Where do you find £2.5k?

Maybe that's why the dentist was preparing me when she said..."Your dd may need braces" she should have said "You need to find £2.5k - you have 6 to 12 months to do so!"

jesus, we see the orthodontist in february

I wonder how many parents just say, well thanks for the recommendation (for braces) but since we don't have a spare 2.5k, we won't be doing that!

I'd better start selling my body now

I have never heard of fissure sealants and have just googled it. Why has a dentist never recommended it to me (not the best teeth)..I'd pay to have it done.

To be fair to dentists who went private ,i know in our area ,the powers that be refused to allow them to treat children as NHS patients . Im afraid NHS dentistry will soon be a thing of the past, so get saving

I have an NHS dentist at work but he says I need to see an endodontist for some difficult root canal work, but that there are none in our part of the country, so I will have to go private. The fact that there isn't a dental hospital nearby is one of the main reasons, apparently.

This seems really awful, and I have been told to budget £700-£1000, which will have to go on my credit card.

I have told my kids that one of them will have to train as a dentist to treat the rest of us!

I got left a bit of money when my poor mum passed away, which was spent on the braces, otherwise my daughter may have ended up looking like goofy!!!

If we had not had the money, then I would have had to maxed out the credit card.

Just wandering why I pay my taxes and national insurance every month. Thought it was supposed to pay for these things.