Orthodontics

[exgov]

Does anyone know anything about the changes in NHS rules about qualifying for NHS orthodontics? My DS is due to see one soon but they say the rules have changed and many teenagers won't now qualify for free treatment. We may have missed the boat!

Not sure, you may not know the score until you go for the first consultation. I didn't realise the rules had changed. Can your dentist not advise you?

it varies from trust to trust but the funds are drying up fast. If it's cosmetic you may well be refused.

my ds's straight teeth cost about £2400 over 3 years. They are wonderful though just like that!

I think they grade the severity of the problem. Ds1 is on the waiting list for braces top and bottom and has quite a severe overbite.

My little sister(14) on the other hand has just been told she can't get treatment for her fairly gappy teeth and would have to pay for it.

My dd's need was deemed to be so great (altho they didn't look so bad to me) that we got it free. She is currently on the elastic band phase of the treatment

Thanks for the quick replies. He did have very sticky-out incisors but they have recently got a lot better - I'm hoping they will say everything will straighten out by itself as his mouth gets bigger. I certainly don't fancy paying thousands. The dentist was supposed to have referred him 6 months ago but when I checked they seemed to have forgotten. We'll just have to wait and see what they say.

Went private with dd, think she would have got funding but by the time she got all the way up the list, she was removed and had to start again so would still have been in braces by uni.

By the time ds came about all cosmetic funding was withdrawn, he wasnt bothered and we didnt push.

dd still says it was the best money we ever spent, I say its worth it if you can manage it