How shit are UK dentists

[sincerestwonders]

Dunno why we have a NHS. Its not like they can be bothered to fix my 15 year old sons teeth as shown in the image. We waited since age 12 on NHS orthodontic waiting list. Then find out our dentist "kindly" removed him from it due to "overuse" of the service. We go to a private orthodontist for a free consultation, and they say its not severe enough for fasttrack NHS. My a** look at his underbite. At 15 theres very little time left to fix it. Then on the phone with 2 different private orthodontal practices. Cheapest £5500. A price even with credit card I cant afford. 24 to 36 months of a painful appliance or Invisalign. Imagine the pain. And also the extractions, sticking anesthetic needles in gums every time... For a boy with already low self esteem. If any one in the know knows, does composit bonding work as its mostly a cosmetic issue and I wish for my son to be more confident.

I have composite bonding but it's really only worth getting on already straight teeth, small chips, colour issues.

Bits issues can also cause chipping.

I don't think your son would be suited to this as a solution unfortunately .

Most people I know with similar don't qualify for NHS brace/etc. But lots of people I know don't even have an NHS dentist, so things are getting worse, not better.

What grade is he on the IOTN? For NHS they will usually only treat grades 4 and 5 in most areas. I had one DC Grade 5 and one Grade 4 and we received excellent service.

I'm I understanding you right? You don't want a brace for him because it might be painful? I had Invisalign and it was sometimes a bit painful but I have much improved teeth now. I paid for it obviously. Clearly composite bonding is not going to work for your boy.

My DS has the same problem but he is only 12. However, we are paying privately as we don’t want to wait the year. It works out at £127 a month for 2 years - we are in the midlands on the border with wales so not sure if location changes the price. Maybe shop around for orthodontics that do payment plans. My DD has had a fixed brace for a year. A bit of aching when it’s tightened but no pain as such. And she had teeth out fine - needle was a second sting then no pain at all.

and that looks like an overbite to me, not an underbite. Underbite’s cause more issues I believe.

I've just finished with braces. I didn't have to pay the whole cost up front, it was basically the consultation fee first, then actual installation, then 2 years of monthly fee and a final chunk for removal and my retainers.

Is that more doable for you?

Braces hurt.

I think it depends which one you see, dd's dentist said she'd have to wait 2 years and then have extractions, she then saw a new nhs dentist through her school and had the braces mould taken there and then and braces a couple of weeks later, no extractions.

They will hurt regardless of his age.

Why have you not asked where he is on the NHS list for the past three years? And when you found out he’d been removed from it, what did they say when you asked for him to be put back on?

So are you annoyed about not qualifying for nhs braces
or do you not want braces because of injections/extractions/discomfort?

Have you had braces? I’d say uncomfortable initially but not “hurt” and I’ve not experienced pain with injections in a long long time; technique and tools improve each year.
He might do will with Invisalign honestly they are not dreadful.

It's very hard to understand what you want.

Dentistry in the UK is only for those with spare money.
It's a national disgrace.

I agree. I am not really sure what OP thinks is the solution. She's annoyed he doesn't qualify for NHS treatment, but also doesn't want him to have braces or extractions 🤷

Then find out our dentist "kindly" removed him from it due to "overuse" of the service What overuse? You seem to be flitting between talking about private and NHS.

Imagine the pain. And also the extractions, sticking anesthetic needles in gums every time... For a boy with already low self esteem You can see he has too many teeth and some will need to come out, and it will probably hurt for a while but you advocate for your son, think of the long term benefit for him and take him to the dentist surely? When did he last go? I don’t think that I’m so out of touch that a dentist would look at his mouth and say ‘nah’ am I?

You have a number of threads about your children and you have to advocate for both of them, don’t just say oh it’ll hurt, or similar. Childhood involves going to the dentist, or learning maths and English, they will struggle in the future if you don’t push for these things.