private orthodontist? should I encourage ds to get braces? is it worth it?

[Chanc]

I have a 14 yo ds and his 2 front teeth overlap slightly (one in front of the other about 2 mm). It is noticeable close up but the dentist has said not severe enough to get NHS treatment. Ds is not bothered, especially as we'd have to pay. However half his friends have braces (I am not sure if they are private or NHS).
We could stretch to private braces if necessary but I am not sure whether to encourage ds if he's not bothered. My concern is he might be bothered in the future and then it be too late, or treatment take longer or be less effective. Have others been in this situation? what did you do? Also when I was younger it seemed that most kids qualified for NHS braces, but now things seem stricter - are a lot of parents paying for braces? thank you

I don't think it makes any difference if they get them done younger if its not a major issue. DD has major over crowding so qualifies for NHS, but I wouldn't be paying £1000's if it's only slightly cosmetic that they aren't that bothered about and could have done latter when their jaw has fully grown.

My 15 year old's teeth sound similar. We asked at the dentist and he said the orthodontist would probably say no but we could be referred if we wanted to be. My son was quite keen and so we were referred and the NHS orthodontist put him forward for braces straightaway. Can you ask the dentist to refer him so that the orthodontist can make the decision?

Thanks both. The dentist did actually offer to refer my son but said he wouldn’t qualify for nhs treatment. So with hindsight I should have taken the referral! I could ask at the next checkup for a referral

Ask for a referral and let the orthodontist decide. They look at other things like jaw alignment and bite, not just straightness of the teeth. There is usually a long waiting list of 2+ years and treatment is better when not left until their late teens.

Will he wear a retainer rigidly? Dd had braces then gave up with the retainer... Fuming. She's 18 now so nowt I can say.... She can pay if she wants to in the future....

He’s quite good with things so probably would wear a retainer. Literally half his friends have them so he wouldn’t feel out of place. Just not sure if it’s worth it. He’s the sort of kid who doesn’t care for appearance at all - I have to remind him re haircuts etc . But aware that could all change and he might end up self conscious re teeth in future

Absolutely don’t encourage him to get them - you’d be making a mountain out of a molehill and risk making him self-conscious. If he wants them fixed then fine but his teeth, his decision and obviously at the minute they’re not bothering him.

Braces are braces - they will work in the exact same way and timeframe if/when he decides to get them. There’s no rush at all.

We paid privately for DD’s braces as she didn’t qualify for NHS ones. She was desperate to have her teeth fixed though and was very conscious of them. Treatment was definitely worth it, there perfectly straight now but if they weren’t bothering her I definitely wouldn’t have paid ££££ for the sake of it!

When is 'too late' to get braces? I'm in my 60s and my dentist said I could have them to correct my crooked front teeth if I wanted (I didn't!).

Sounds like your ds doesn't have much of a problem so I'd leave it and if he wants them as an adult he can. I think slightly crooked teeth are much more natural and attractive than a perfectly uniform set.

It’s never too late - DD’s orthodontist said that his eldest patient was in her 90s!

I would get them if you can afford it. Now's the time, when lots of his friends have them and then he'll be set up into adulthood. Personally, I think having straight, healthy teeth creates a good impression as an adult (whether conscious or not in things like job interviews). It's not for long in the context of his life but the effects definitely are.

Agree it’s worth getting a referral. My DD wasn’t eligible for braces on the NHS (the orthodontist tried loads of different measurements, but she was 1 or 2mm out for NHS treatment). We opted to go private (£3k on interest free payments) as DD was adamant she wanted her teeth corrected. If she had waited until she was over 18 the cost for the same treatment would be £5k at adult prices.

There are so many invisible options these days that adult braces really aren’t an issue. DD had Invisalign and it was fantastic - only close friends/family that she had told about it knew she was having treatment, everyone else was completely unaware and never even realised!

I would get a referral but if I couldn’t get it covered o would 100% pay. Infact I paid for both my boys who didn’t qualify, my daughter had hers NHS. If you can’t afford it why wouldn’t you?

I disagree with this completely.

My teeth went through a phase of being quite crooked and slightly overlapping. My mum asked my dentist for braces, but he refused saying that your mouth still grows and changes until mid-late twenties and in the vast majority of mild cases it sorts itself out. In my thirties my teeth are totally straight and I am so grateful that my dentist was old school enough to be honest.

If it doesn't bother your DS, I'd be tempted to leave it. Possibly telling him that if it's still an issue when he's 25, you'll help finance braces then

Totally agree

As a dentist i would a 100% encourage you to get you child’s teeth fixed when possible as issues are better fixed at younger age rather than waiting till they’re old. We treat kids from as young a 7 and 8. Look up interceptive orthodontics and benefits of it. Just because a child isnt complaining about teeth doesn’t mean they dont need treatment. There’s a health and function perspective to it that is way more important than just esthetics. :))

My eldest small jaw, big teeth, had the full works. Three years it took. I checked the retainer was in every night. It was worth it.

Middle son much easier to straighten. But when his wisdom teeth came through he did get some squashing of the bottom teeth. He also had his jaw smashed in rugby so has a Titanium plate. Such a shame.

Youngest got away with it.

My friend had Invisalign in her fifties.

I would pay for it if you think he'll wear his retainer afterwards.

My teens both qualified immediately for NHS treatment no question. They both have loads of issues, terrible wonky teeth and incorrect bites. I was quite surprised I didn't have to pay. It seems like such a bonus when most people can't even get an NHS dentist.

If you do decide to get them,it’s a good idea to get the fixed wire retainer. My oldest DC didn’t have the fixed and only wore the plastic night time retainer for 6 months, their teeth have moved. Youngest DC has fixed and nighttime retainer and they’re still straight 10 months later.

I wouldn’t hesitate to do it. One of mine had NHS and I paid for the other two. Their teeth look amazing and it’s well worth it