Orthodontic treatment on the NHs

[Princess Alison]

Has anyone opted for Nhs orthodontic treatment for their teenager (as opposed to private)?

I’d be grateful for your experiences in particular how long the process took at the various stages in terms of admin (getting first appointment, getting treatment actually started etc.)

Many thanks

[sammykitten]

Do you mean braces?

If so, yes, my DD was referred and had all her treatment through the NHS. It was 5 years ago, and I believe it can be a bit of postcode lottery, so don't know if our experience would be useful for you?

[Sandra & co]

My dd started at 9 and at 17 on Wednesday she had her braces removed, she had the best care on the NHS. Sometimes they cancelled appointments but that’s about it, she has to visit for another year with her retainers to check everything is ok and that’s it. It was a long road but definitely worth it. I have posted pics on another thread I’d you want to look x

[Princess Alison]

Thanks both. She’s currently 12 nearly 13 and we’ve been waiting for all her milk teeth to fall out before starting. Yes it’s braces. It’s slightly complicated in that one of her milk teeth doesn’t have a big tooth behind it at all, so that will need dealing with.

We are just weighing up whether to go via the nhs which would be our preference or going private. I suppose we could see how long the first appointment takes and decide from there?! I expect it’s going to be a long process though

[Princess Alison]

Thanks I’ll take a look at those pics too

[Jagmate]

My dd14 currently has braces through the NHS and our experiences have been all very positive thus far. We were referred about two years ago initially and the appt came through within a couple of months. The orthodontist examined her and took x rays but told us that she still had two baby teeth which he recommended the dentist removing asap in order that her adult teeth, which were behind, would come through. An appt was made for her to return in 12 months during which time, we had said teeth removed and it gave time for the remaining adult teeth to move into position. At her second orthodontic appt in March this year, impressions were taken and it was arranged that she would have her braces fitted about a month later. She's had no problems with her braces since then. She goes back every couple of months for adjustments and new wires and has had a couple of emergency appointments after a wire has snapped or popped off a bracket and they've fitted us in on the same day. Her orthodontists are great with her, really patient and calm, and ask her what is going on in her life so that she is pretty relaxed. As sammykitten suggested, it can probably be a postcode lottery but we've been very impressed as have others in our area who have been referred to the same practice. She's been told that she'll probably have them removed sometime next summer/autumn depending on progress.

[Twin mummy]

My twins both had braces on the NHS. Think referral to first appointment was about 6 months but our dentist was brilliant so referred 6 months before they needed treatment. Really great orthodontist, from first appointment the timescale was decided due to medical need, so one had to wait a bit for teeth to be removed but she kept her on her books so she didn’t have to join the waiting list again. Mine got braces fairly early, think they were about 11 which meant they were braces free by about 14.

[Princess Alison]

Sandra the photos of your daughter look amazing!

Jagmate- thank you that sounds very positive. And similar to our situation! Dd as mentioned has lost all milk teeth bar two. One has a tooth behind it to come through. The other is just not there and won’t be there. So we have an overbite and this missing tooth to sort! Luckily it’s a back tooth so not at all noticeable but presumably can be dealt with as part of the wider work.

I guess we may hear back From the nhs after Christmas then...

[Stardust5]

My DS is having braces, we went for the initial appointment in January, the orthodontist asked us to return in August, we were then told he required both top and bottom braces, impressions were taken and he is having them fitted in 2 weeks time.

[danisleigh]

I think my son was referred and it was about a year before he got his first appointment. The care has been fab and he has 3.5 years into treatment now and about to have a couple of teeth removed so he can start the final stage.