hello,
been a reader on here now since june'05 but not had it in me to start a thread..... untill now .
ok here goes , ever since my early teens i have known i would need a brace, yet i avoided that fate through my teen years and into adulthood ,stupid i know, i guess it was the same old thought of wearing silver tracks in my mouth through my school years that put me off,
and now 15years on i'm still regretting it:(.
But now i want to push myself and do something about it , yes it's been years since i went to see a dentist and i'm unsure of where to start, another fear i have is that since reading these forums i've come to the conclusion that i may/will need jaw surgery as well because of underbite:(.
with so many questions in my head ,i just want to gather as much info as possible .
My first worry is cost's ,i've seen alot of uk dentists quote an average of £4k for braces for private , now i'm just wondering how many uk members on here have had adult braces fitted on the NHS? is it possible to get braces through them ? or do most of you just go private?
if done private how much did you pay?.
with regards to the jaw surgery ,would you have this done before or after you've fitted braces?
uk member needs help.
Moderator: bbsadmin
Hiya.
The availability of braces and treatment on the NHS is subject to one critical piece of criteria - THE REASON! If you are wanting braces for purely cosmetic reasons then you don't stand a chance, and would have to undergo treatment privately. However if you match the criteria for someone who needs treatment for non-cosmetic reasons, then the NHS will provide all the treatment you need. They usually do this by having a pre-treatment discussion and examination with you about what you feel is wrong with your teeth, how the 'problems' affect you in terms of speech, eating, and general function. They will then use their own judgement of the examination to decide whether or not you are eligible. The only time they will allow braces and treatment for cosmetic purposes is when you have young children at school who are ridiculed by the classmates for problems such as buck-teeth or facial deformities.
I have had both brace-work and bimax/genio work done on the NHS, and like I described, I had to undergo a pre-treatment screening. It was eventually decided that my anterior open bite was causing significant functional issues with eating, and that there was unacceptable levels of wear on my rear molars as a result. I had a brace fitted just over 3 years ago, and I underwent my surgery on October the 17th so I'm still largely in recovery at the moment.
Jaw surgery is just one piece of a larger jigsaw when it comes to orthognathic correction (the process of correcting a wide range of dental issues through jaw surgery). In almost all cases you need to have braces BEFORE surgery because the orthodontist needs to move your teeth into a specific position in order to be able to perform the surgery. In my case they actually had to make my tooth alignment WORSE in order for the operation to be a success, but now I've had the operation and my jaw has been moved it has made a striking difference and vastly improved the alignment of my teeth. I've now got about 12 months of orthodontic work left to move my teeth into their final positions, and then I'll be fitted with a permanent retainer (a device usually behind the teeth for holding them in their new positions), and the braces will be removed.
So the general rule of thumb is that the NHS will fund your treatment provided that both yourself and the orthos/surgeons believe that the surgery isn't just for cosmetics. If there is a genuine, underlying problem other than how you look, the NHS will come to your aid.
The availability of braces and treatment on the NHS is subject to one critical piece of criteria - THE REASON! If you are wanting braces for purely cosmetic reasons then you don't stand a chance, and would have to undergo treatment privately. However if you match the criteria for someone who needs treatment for non-cosmetic reasons, then the NHS will provide all the treatment you need. They usually do this by having a pre-treatment discussion and examination with you about what you feel is wrong with your teeth, how the 'problems' affect you in terms of speech, eating, and general function. They will then use their own judgement of the examination to decide whether or not you are eligible. The only time they will allow braces and treatment for cosmetic purposes is when you have young children at school who are ridiculed by the classmates for problems such as buck-teeth or facial deformities.
I have had both brace-work and bimax/genio work done on the NHS, and like I described, I had to undergo a pre-treatment screening. It was eventually decided that my anterior open bite was causing significant functional issues with eating, and that there was unacceptable levels of wear on my rear molars as a result. I had a brace fitted just over 3 years ago, and I underwent my surgery on October the 17th so I'm still largely in recovery at the moment.
Jaw surgery is just one piece of a larger jigsaw when it comes to orthognathic correction (the process of correcting a wide range of dental issues through jaw surgery). In almost all cases you need to have braces BEFORE surgery because the orthodontist needs to move your teeth into a specific position in order to be able to perform the surgery. In my case they actually had to make my tooth alignment WORSE in order for the operation to be a success, but now I've had the operation and my jaw has been moved it has made a striking difference and vastly improved the alignment of my teeth. I've now got about 12 months of orthodontic work left to move my teeth into their final positions, and then I'll be fitted with a permanent retainer (a device usually behind the teeth for holding them in their new positions), and the braces will be removed.
So the general rule of thumb is that the NHS will fund your treatment provided that both yourself and the orthos/surgeons believe that the surgery isn't just for cosmetics. If there is a genuine, underlying problem other than how you look, the NHS will come to your aid.
hi KriegeR well you've answered alot of the questions and thoughts i've had in my mind thanks, as you probably guessed years of never seeing a dentist means my teeth arent in good shape & along with what i would say is a very bad underbite which may also be the reason why my jaws lock if i yawn or open mouth to wide, i am now desparate to fix .
i think finding a nhs dentist in my area that will accept new patient's is going to be a hard task, as i currently live in same town in manchester as my sister and she has told me it's a 1year wait before that dentist will take on any more new patients, having said that i dont mind paying to see a private one for any filling/molar work i need ,just to get me used to sitting in a dentist chair again after all these years.
i think finding a nhs dentist in my area that will accept new patient's is going to be a hard task, as i currently live in same town in manchester as my sister and she has told me it's a 1year wait before that dentist will take on any more new patients, having said that i dont mind paying to see a private one for any filling/molar work i need ,just to get me used to sitting in a dentist chair again after all these years.
Hello again.
Your story is an all-too-familiar one with regards to skipping off the dentist. In my late teens and early twenties I was guilty of the same thing, and I didn't go to see a dentist for about 6 years. I was becoming more and more depressed at how much it was costing to visit my private dentist, so in the end I thought "Ah - what the hell?" and stopped going.
It was lucky that in my locality a new central dental surgery opened in 2000 and they immediately started accepting NHS patients onto their books. It still costs about £15 for a check-up but if you need anything doing, it's much cheaper than private.
I'm not sure if there will be a way to refer yourself for orthodontic assessment at your local hospital. I know my dentist referred me when she became worried at the 11mm open bite I had, and the fact that with my back teeth being the only ones touching, they were beginning to wear down very fast. It might be worth going back to a private dentist, explaining your situation, and then getting him to refer you to the hospital. I think my dad was once referred to an NHS hospital via a private dentist, so it's obviously worth a try. You'd obviously have to spend the cash to get your teeth checked out beforehand, but after that you should be OK.
As with anything involving the NHS, it doesn't hurt to try. Give it a shot and see what happens.
Your story is an all-too-familiar one with regards to skipping off the dentist. In my late teens and early twenties I was guilty of the same thing, and I didn't go to see a dentist for about 6 years. I was becoming more and more depressed at how much it was costing to visit my private dentist, so in the end I thought "Ah - what the hell?" and stopped going.
It was lucky that in my locality a new central dental surgery opened in 2000 and they immediately started accepting NHS patients onto their books. It still costs about £15 for a check-up but if you need anything doing, it's much cheaper than private.
I'm not sure if there will be a way to refer yourself for orthodontic assessment at your local hospital. I know my dentist referred me when she became worried at the 11mm open bite I had, and the fact that with my back teeth being the only ones touching, they were beginning to wear down very fast. It might be worth going back to a private dentist, explaining your situation, and then getting him to refer you to the hospital. I think my dad was once referred to an NHS hospital via a private dentist, so it's obviously worth a try. You'd obviously have to spend the cash to get your teeth checked out beforehand, but after that you should be OK.
As with anything involving the NHS, it doesn't hurt to try. Give it a shot and see what happens.
Hi there.
Just read your post. If you can't get a NHS dentist (which I know is very difficult) You could join a Dentist that runs a dental plan. Mine costs £9.90 per month and covers me for 2 visits per year and 2 Hygienist visits. Any treatment required is carried out at a discount. It might be worth looking into as an alternative.
Also there is a very good dental teaching hospital in manchester which may be worth looking into.
Good luck - Traceymay
Just read your post. If you can't get a NHS dentist (which I know is very difficult) You could join a Dentist that runs a dental plan. Mine costs £9.90 per month and covers me for 2 visits per year and 2 Hygienist visits. Any treatment required is carried out at a discount. It might be worth looking into as an alternative.
Also there is a very good dental teaching hospital in manchester which may be worth looking into.
Good luck - Traceymay
I'm not sure where you are, badbyte, but dental hospitals (Barts, Guys/Kings, Eastman/UCL in London, for example) will take on patients if their need is great enough. They will judge if this is the case - you might think your teeth are just crooked but that could be due to a whole host of underying problems.
Here are some criteria you'd need to fulfill to get free NHS treatment:
Barts: http://www.bartsandthelondon.org.uk/doc ... iteria.pdf
Guys: http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/servi ... ntics.aspx
There are (to my knowledge) dental teaching hospitals in Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford (showing my roots here) who will take on adult patients if their need is great enough. Edit - I've just noticed you said you live near Manchester - the University of Manchester runs the MSc course required to qualify as an orthodontist, which must mean they take on patients who requite treatment.
You will then need to get your own dentist to write to any such hospitals and refer you - you can't book yourself in for a consultation directly.
I know of which I speak - I am an Eastman patient, referred by my own dentist, and have had full braces and jaw surgery for nought pee. They took me on because of jaw assymetry, underdeveloped lower jaw and a complete overbite - but I just thought my teeth were a bit wonky!
Here are some criteria you'd need to fulfill to get free NHS treatment:
Barts: http://www.bartsandthelondon.org.uk/doc ... iteria.pdf
Guys: http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/servi ... ntics.aspx
There are (to my knowledge) dental teaching hospitals in Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford (showing my roots here) who will take on adult patients if their need is great enough. Edit - I've just noticed you said you live near Manchester - the University of Manchester runs the MSc course required to qualify as an orthodontist, which must mean they take on patients who requite treatment.
You will then need to get your own dentist to write to any such hospitals and refer you - you can't book yourself in for a consultation directly.
I know of which I speak - I am an Eastman patient, referred by my own dentist, and have had full braces and jaw surgery for nought pee. They took me on because of jaw assymetry, underdeveloped lower jaw and a complete overbite - but I just thought my teeth were a bit wonky!
Braced May 2005
Bimaxillary surgery Aug 2007
Debraced Jun 2008
Bimaxillary surgery Aug 2007
Debraced Jun 2008
thanks for all the replies again, made a few calls today mainly to orthodontic specialists in the northwest area and yes as i expected nhs work is only available through them if under 18,
was told to call nhs direct who told me that none of the nhs dentists in the trafford area were excepting new patients at this minute but they could put me down in the waiting list with the wait time being unknown
.
So what should be my next step ?, i'm thinking of just going to a local private dentist to carry out any general work and then to get myself on the nhs waiting list for a orthodontic specialist but the potential for very long wait may just put me back in to my shell where i'm happy to avoid the dentists chair and just keep holding things back.
was told to call nhs direct who told me that none of the nhs dentists in the trafford area were excepting new patients at this minute but they could put me down in the waiting list with the wait time being unknown
.So what should be my next step ?, i'm thinking of just going to a local private dentist to carry out any general work and then to get myself on the nhs waiting list for a orthodontic specialist but the potential for very long wait may just put me back in to my shell where i'm happy to avoid the dentists chair and just keep holding things back.
thanks for all the replies again, made a few calls today mainly to orthodontic specialists in the northwest area and yes as i expected nhs work is only available through them if under 18,
was told to call nhs direct who told me that none of the nhs dentists in the trafford area were excepting new patients at this minute but they could put me down in the waiting list with the wait time being unknown .
So what should be my next step ?, i'm thinking of just going to a local private dentist to carry out any general work and then to get myself on the nhs waiting list for a orthodontic specialist but the potential for very long wait may just put me back in to my shell where i'm happy to avoid the dentists chair and just keep holding things back.
was told to call nhs direct who told me that none of the nhs dentists in the trafford area were excepting new patients at this minute but they could put me down in the waiting list with the wait time being unknown
.So what should be my next step ?, i'm thinking of just going to a local private dentist to carry out any general work and then to get myself on the nhs waiting list for a orthodontic specialist but the potential for very long wait may just put me back in to my shell where i'm happy to avoid the dentists chair and just keep holding things back.
Kerry posted just the other day that she first just went for ortho (presumably privately?) and was then referred to the NHS because of needing surgery.I also forget if it is possible to pay out of pocket for orthodontia, but have any necessary surgery on the NHS. Hopefully someone currently in the UK can chime in.
It seems to be the case that private orthos working in the UK will take at least some under 18's on the NHS, but not adults. My ortho works that way. He doesn't offer any NHS treatment to adults. To get it I think you will have to go to an NHS hospital orthodontic department, and you'll need a dentist's referral for that. Why not phone a couple of private dentists and explain your situation, and ask if they are able or willing to give NHS referrals.
I think that broadly speaking the IOTN criteria are applied by standard orthodontists to children only - most adults will simply be turned away.
The teaching hospitals apply them to adults to see if they qualify for treatment.
Usual caveat applies- I could be wrong...
Badbyte, if it was me I'd sign up with a private dentist and ask them for a referral, just to get things moving. I had to wait for 2+ years after my initial consultation before my treatment started - the sooner you join the queue, the sooner it'll get sorted.
The teaching hospitals apply them to adults to see if they qualify for treatment.
Usual caveat applies- I could be wrong...
Badbyte, if it was me I'd sign up with a private dentist and ask them for a referral, just to get things moving. I had to wait for 2+ years after my initial consultation before my treatment started - the sooner you join the queue, the sooner it'll get sorted.
Braced May 2005
Bimaxillary surgery Aug 2007
Debraced Jun 2008
Bimaxillary surgery Aug 2007
Debraced Jun 2008
hey there, What i did was went to my dentist for a check up told him of my worries and he refered me to the orthodontis and i paid 80 to see him and he was fabulous, took x rays gave me a proper check up and gave me the choice of three opions
1 braces camoflauge my over bite and use rods rather than extractions
2 braces camfoflauge my overbite with extractions to make room
3 braces and surgery to correct overbite.
I chose option three because i hated my profile and the fact my chin was soo small it made me look like my nose was bigger than it actually is
after going away and coming back to see him i gave him my choice, so he said to me he was going to write up a referal letter to the hospital, after that about 2 weeks later i was back in and the surgeon Ms Mills came out to his practive to see me and give her thoughts.
she said she would have to do lower jaw surgery with braces to correct the problem, since then i have jst had my wisdom teeth out yesturday and well go back for a check up in two weeks, I will then see the hospitals OD and he will tell me when i can be braced !! I am vry lucky i went throught that NHS/PRIVATE OD as he was brilliant.
you can refer yourself to the NHS hunny, i would speak to you dentist tell them your not happy with your underbite and would like to see whats availible, very scary steps to take but very worth it i say x
1 braces camoflauge my over bite and use rods rather than extractions
2 braces camfoflauge my overbite with extractions to make room
3 braces and surgery to correct overbite.
I chose option three because i hated my profile and the fact my chin was soo small it made me look like my nose was bigger than it actually is
after going away and coming back to see him i gave him my choice, so he said to me he was going to write up a referal letter to the hospital, after that about 2 weeks later i was back in and the surgeon Ms Mills came out to his practive to see me and give her thoughts.
she said she would have to do lower jaw surgery with braces to correct the problem, since then i have jst had my wisdom teeth out yesturday and well go back for a check up in two weeks, I will then see the hospitals OD and he will tell me when i can be braced !! I am vry lucky i went throught that NHS/PRIVATE OD as he was brilliant.
you can refer yourself to the NHS hunny, i would speak to you dentist tell them your not happy with your underbite and would like to see whats availible, very scary steps to take but very worth it i say x
wisdom teeth removed under GA nov07 * Braced 8/2/08 * 2 premolars removed Apr08 * Adjustment 4 rebonding, 4 molar bands & new wire 4/7/08 * 31Jul wire change * 28 Aug last wire fitted and lower powerchain put on. 29th May moulds and x rays. 31st July Surgery date 
Hello badbyte,
Having just read your post i can understand exaclty what you are going through. Through out my teenage years i dodged getting braces either by my own doing or because i was ill in hospital.
Anyway the ball finally dropped a year ago and i decided that i really wanted to get somethin done about my teeth. First thing i did was get the number for my NHS orthodontic service. Why beat around the bush?? I contacted them and asked them about getting braces. They explained that i would need to get a check up so that i could show i was in good dental health for undergoing treatment.
Having not been to a dentist in about 6 years i wasn't registered. I tried getting an NHS dentist but to no avail. I phoned up the smae dentists again but this time asked about going private. I was seen the following week. My thinking was if you want things done you might as well pay for it!! That and the extra waiting would probably have put me off again.
I saw the dentist, had a hole filled and then saw the hygenist. They then refered me to the orthodontist as a patient who would have dental problems in the future as my teeth were overcorwded.
It took 6 months for my first appointment and a further 6 months to start treatment but i have started and i cannot wait to get my full braces on and get my teeth straightened. I am so looking forward to it.
The only thing i can say is don't give up. The NHS is slow at the best of times but don't be disheartend. Also if it helps to speed up the process do part NHS, part private. I am getting my orthodontic treatment through the NHS but everything else (hygenic cleaning, check ups, teeth removal e.t.c) done private. It seems to really speed things up.
Sorry if i have babbled on, hopefully this has been of help.
Let me know how you get on
Chalky
Having just read your post i can understand exaclty what you are going through. Through out my teenage years i dodged getting braces either by my own doing or because i was ill in hospital.
Anyway the ball finally dropped a year ago and i decided that i really wanted to get somethin done about my teeth. First thing i did was get the number for my NHS orthodontic service. Why beat around the bush?? I contacted them and asked them about getting braces. They explained that i would need to get a check up so that i could show i was in good dental health for undergoing treatment.
Having not been to a dentist in about 6 years i wasn't registered. I tried getting an NHS dentist but to no avail. I phoned up the smae dentists again but this time asked about going private. I was seen the following week. My thinking was if you want things done you might as well pay for it!! That and the extra waiting would probably have put me off again.
I saw the dentist, had a hole filled and then saw the hygenist. They then refered me to the orthodontist as a patient who would have dental problems in the future as my teeth were overcorwded.
It took 6 months for my first appointment and a further 6 months to start treatment but i have started and i cannot wait to get my full braces on and get my teeth straightened. I am so looking forward to it.
The only thing i can say is don't give up. The NHS is slow at the best of times but don't be disheartend. Also if it helps to speed up the process do part NHS, part private. I am getting my orthodontic treatment through the NHS but everything else (hygenic cleaning, check ups, teeth removal e.t.c) done private. It seems to really speed things up.
Sorry if i have babbled on, hopefully this has been of help.
Let me know how you get on
Chalky
i was qite lucky i first went to see the private orth in about april time then back in jult to see the surgeon at the orthos practice then i went on holiday so had to get an apointment for fh october and two weeks later i got my apointment for wisdom teeth removal and now i go back in another two weeks to see hospital ortho and get my brace date. it seems to be going really smoothly and so far the NHS have been reall good !
wisdom teeth removed under GA nov07 * Braced 8/2/08 * 2 premolars removed Apr08 * Adjustment 4 rebonding, 4 molar bands & new wire 4/7/08 * 31Jul wire change * 28 Aug last wire fitted and lower powerchain put on. 29th May moulds and x rays. 31st July Surgery date -
gwynneth23
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:11 pm
Hi there,
You asked how much it costs to have orthodontic work, if you do have to go private.
I've just started on this journey - I wasn't eligible for NHS work because it's just cosmetic. My teeth are crowded and so one of them is quite prominent at the front, sticking out. I finally decided I would quite like to have straight teeth!! I was already with an NHS dentist so he referred me.
I saw an orthodontist in Cardiff and he quoted me £2,800 for braces on the top and bottom teeth. I think my treatment is relatively straightforward compared with some of the stories I read on these boards! so I guess it could certainly be more than that, if you need more complex work done.
It was really only my top teeth that were bothering me, so I asked my dentist to refer me to someone different. They quoted me £2,000 for top and bottom braces, or just £1,400 for the top only. So that's what I'm having done! I have clear ceramic braces (metal ones at the back).
Hope that gives you some clue. I had to pay around £80 for each of the two consultations, as they both did xrays, moulds etc before they would decide what treatment was needed and give me a quote. I was a bit dubious about paying for a second opinion, but I was glad that I had in the end.
Best wishes whatever you decide!
You asked how much it costs to have orthodontic work, if you do have to go private.
I've just started on this journey - I wasn't eligible for NHS work because it's just cosmetic. My teeth are crowded and so one of them is quite prominent at the front, sticking out. I finally decided I would quite like to have straight teeth!! I was already with an NHS dentist so he referred me.
I saw an orthodontist in Cardiff and he quoted me £2,800 for braces on the top and bottom teeth. I think my treatment is relatively straightforward compared with some of the stories I read on these boards! so I guess it could certainly be more than that, if you need more complex work done.
It was really only my top teeth that were bothering me, so I asked my dentist to refer me to someone different. They quoted me £2,000 for top and bottom braces, or just £1,400 for the top only. So that's what I'm having done! I have clear ceramic braces (metal ones at the back).
Hope that gives you some clue. I had to pay around £80 for each of the two consultations, as they both did xrays, moulds etc before they would decide what treatment was needed and give me a quote. I was a bit dubious about paying for a second opinion, but I was glad that I had in the end.
Best wishes whatever you decide!