Question for people in the United Kingdom

[Chente]

Hi

I'm moving back to the UK this summer (was born there, moved to the states as a kid) to go to John Moores. My teeth are pretty bad, enough so that I've decided when I get settled over there I'm going to go through being an adult (I'm 21) with braces. My question is in regards to the national health system over there. There's obviously no such thing here in the States and I'm wondering whether they cover adult braces, or even braces at all. (After all, I guess you could say orthodontics is mostly cosmetic work except for extreme cases.) If it's only partially covered, how much is the patient expected to pay? I'll find out eventually obviously but I'm trying to put together some long term plans and it'd help me out. Thanks in advance.

[Dark_angel]

I get NHS treatment because i'm in full tiem education however due to bite problems i would probably recieve treatment free anyway. Although sometimes i feel going provate would have been a better option (if i could have afforded it) as private patients seem to get listened to more and dont have to wait.

If i had the choice i'd go private.

[Chente]

I figure with paying for school and a place to stay it'd take so long to save up for braces that the waiting list on the NHS couldn't be that much worse...but out of curiousity, how long did it take you guys to get your braces put in?

[LizzyG]

A friend of mine is having orthodontic treatment on the NHS, and he is 30, but he has (had) severe bite problems and needed jaw surgery in the first instance. I'm not sure how long he had to wait though. Another thing with the NHS is that as far as I'm aware, you don't get any choice in the type of bracket - they only use metal.

I am having my treatment done privately, as I didn't qualify for NHS treatment.

[Super Soo]

Hi

I'm moving back to the UK this summer (was born there, moved to the states as a kid) to go to John Moores. My teeth are pretty bad, enough so that I've decided when I get settled over there I'm going to go through being an adult (I'm 21) with braces. My question is in regards to the national health system over there. There's obviously no such thing here in the States and I'm wondering whether they cover adult braces, or even braces at all. (After all, I guess you could say orthodontics is mostly cosmetic work except for extreme cases.) If it's only partially covered, how much is the patient expected to pay? I'll find out eventually obviously but I'm trying to put together some long term plans and it'd help me out. Thanks in advance.

As far as I know it's free on NHS up to 16, partially funded up to the age of 18 and any older if it's for cosmetic reasons you have to pay around £750. I'm 26 and decided on the private option - my treatment including consultations and extractions at the dentist is costing £2500 altogether and so far my treatment has been excellent - friendly staff - appointments straight away.

Have only had brace for 5 days but I know it'll all be worth it in the end!

Good luck whichever option you decide!

PS. I went to John Moores too - You'll love it!

[Dark_angel]

Its free on the NHS up untill 18 if the person is still in full time education. And as someone else said i dont believe you get a choice in the type of brackets used but i dont mind my metal.

It took me about 7 months to get an appointment with an NHS orthodontist but they couldnt treat me as my case is severe so i had to join another waiting list to see a consultant at a specialist hospital. So it probably took about a year and a half from referal to first orthodontist to having my braces put on although it took so long because of the complexity of my case.

If i had the choice it'd be private all the way unfortunatley im a full time student trying to pay my way through college / university so i cant afford it.

[kel]

Hiya,

I am a mature student who has just got braces on the NHS. I had to wait about 9 months to get a consultation and then another two to get the braces on.

As a student (I am not sure about international students) you are intitled to fill out a HC1 form (get it from your dentist). This states how much, if anything, you need to pay towards dental treatment in any course of treatment. This is apparently what you pay towards your orthodontic treatment too.

You need to get your dentist here to refer you to an NHS orthodontist and then see what they say. But if you do manage to get onto the NHS and like me are not entitled to the HC1 help then the most the NHS are allowed to charge changes each year, this year being £375, and that is for the course of treatment.

But saying that I think that there are certain criteria you need to meet and that is up to the ortho to decide with guidelines they are given, although I believe that to the ortho my teeth had problems that I hadnt really noticed because we tend to look from a cosmetic viewpoint, whereas they look at different things.

Hope that helps!

Kerri

[cookie]

My braces are on for purely cosmetic changes - I am having my treatment done privately. It's costing £2400. I was referred to my ortho by my NHS dentist.

That said, if the situation in England is anything like it is in Scotland with regards dentists, you'll be lucky to actually get an NHS dentist let alone ortho.