Getting braces on the NHS if you're over 18

I’m with a NHS dentist.
I’m going to be 21 this year, so I don’t get free dental treatment anymore.
I want to have braces, but I’ve read on some sites that the NHS only give braces to people under 18 (who get free dental care) and that they don’t give them to anyone over 18.
Is this true? Would I have to go to a different dentist who was private, or would my NHS dentist give me braces that I’d be charged for?
I have an incorrect bite – My 4 back bottom teeth do not met up properly with the top ones.
I noticed a couple of years ago that I’ve only ever chewed on the left side of my jaw, and I grind my teeth A LOT presumably because of my bite (especially when I’m concentrating, e.g. writing, reading, watching a programme, shaving my legs...basically, a lot of time, daily) both of which can lead to lots of problems and damage with my teeth, muscles, jaw and even face when I’m older.
I went to my NHS orthodontist when I was about 15 and he said they would need to pull 1 of my back lower teeth out and the braces would move the other 3 forwards and inwards so they fitted properly with my upper teeth.
Would needing them for these reasons affect what a NHS dentist would say?
I’m also a university student, does this affect the cost?

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/nhs-dental-band-charges.aspx

I've just seen on the site above that you can get braces on the NHS for £204 (I guess that is for fitting the braces & they would charge me each time I went back to have them tightened, etc) BUT they only let people over 18 have braces for medical reasons, not cosmetic ones.
Would my incorrect bite count as a medical one or a cosmetic?

I’m with a NHS dentist.
I’m going to be 21 this year, so I don’t get free dental treatment anymore.
I want to have braces, but I’ve read on some sites that the NHS only give braces to people under 18 (who get free dental care) and that they don’t give them to anyone over 18.
Is this true? Would I have to go to a different dentist who was private, or would my NHS dentist give me braces that I’d be charged for?
I have an incorrect bite – My 4 back bottom teeth do not met up properly with the top ones.
I noticed a couple of years ago that I’ve only ever chewed on the left side of my jaw, and I grind my teeth A LOT presumably because of my bite (especially when I’m concentrating, e.g. writing, reading, watching a programme, shaving my legs...basically, a lot of time, daily) both of which can lead to lots of problems and damage with my teeth, muscles, jaw and even face when I’m older.
I went to my NHS orthodontist when I was about 15 and he said they would need to pull 1 of my back lower teeth out and the braces would move the other 3 forwards and inwards so they fitted properly with my upper teeth.
Would needing them for these reasons affect what a NHS dentist would say?
I’m also a university student, does this affect the cost?

I'd be interested to know what counts as medical vs cosmetic reasons - I've sucked my thumb since I was a baby and it's definitely affected my teeth, my jaw also clicks out

Hello everyone

I am a student looking for orthodontistry and was wondering how much is will roughly cost. Did you all end up having braces? If so, how much did they cost in the end? My teeth aren't too bad so i'm hoping this will reduce the cost but i'm sure this will diminish the possibility of getting treatment for free.
In addition, could you reccommend an orthodontist around the Kingston upon Thames/London area?
Thanks

What is the policy if you start before you are 18 but need the brace after you are 18?

I am on the waiting list atm and will be 18 next year. I am due to go to the orthodontist within the next couple of months and get a brace fitted however will this mean that when I am 18 I will have to pay for the continuation of my treatment?

Any info would be great cheers.

As far as I know, if the braces are fitted before your 18th birthday, treatment is free for the duration.

Braces are only free for medical reasons- I had a friend whose teeth were a bit wonky and she had to pay about £1200 I believe

She was 16 at the time

What is the policy if you start before you are 18 but need the brace after you are 18?

I am on the waiting list atm and will be 18 next year. I am due to go to the orthodontist within the next couple of months and get a brace fitted however will this mean that when I am 18 I will have to pay for the continuation of my treatment?

Any info would be great cheers.

As far as I know, if the braces are fitted before your 18th birthday, treatment is free for the duration.

Yep - I got told two weeks before my 18th that I needed to go have them fitted if I wanted them, cos I wouldn't be able to have them after I turned 18, and stupidly I said no

I can confirm what's been said above is correct. I started going to orthodontists when I was about 12 but they were awful, just delayed things and kept getting closed down. By the time I eventually landed with a good one who were ready to fit braces I was over 18. However, they counted this (add I had started visiting/getting consultations and having removals before 18 and it was through no fault of my own but the failure of NHS orthos) as starting under 18.

I am now 21, I will be 22 before I have my final free retainer check meeting with them. Had the braces off just before my 21st. So they definitely continue the full treatment even if you pass 18!

Xxx

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Ah, thanks a lot

Same here, the last dentist I went to kept telling me I was on the waiting list and 3 years later I got an appointment with the ortho but there were delays and then I moved dentist because they kept making clerical errors in terms of appointments, and then I had to go on a new waiting list.... luckily my new dentist and ortho seem a lot better