I've been trying to decide whether or not to go ahead with jaw surgery or not and have been constantly changing my mind. I had a review appointment with the orthodentist today, and I told him I hadn't decided, so we made another appointment for a couple of months time.
I did however ask him about cost... enquiring whether it would be covered by the NHS or not, if not how much, etc. To which he replied "We don't charge" "Everything's free" And the assistant was nodding her head saying the braces, the surgery, everything was free. They didn't directly reply to my question of whether or not it was covered by the NHS however - I just assumed at the time that's what they meant.
Now I've only just realised that the dental centre I was at (which I was referred to by the orthodentist whom I was initially referred to by dentist) is actually the Dental Institute for my university, and now I'm starting to wonder if it's "free" because the surgery would be carried out by students since they have a "free dental care" scheme for unregistered patients in the city where the work is carried out by a student supervised by senior staff.
I don't think I'd have any qualms about letting students carry out the orthodentics, but surgery sounds daunting enough as it is regardless of who it is carried out by.
Has anyone had any similar experience with this? Is it likely to be the case that it is indeed free because it is carried out by students? Or will it just be the orthodontics done by students?