Braces

Untill what age can you get braces free on the NHS? According to a booklet I picked up today you get free dental care up to the age of 18, but would this include braces? I have a friend who was refused them on the NHS as she is 16 so I was just wondering....

And also, if I was to come to a new dentist and already have braces would I get them tightened and stuff for free? And how often do you need to get them tightened?

Reply 1

Dionysus

I think you can get them free up to 18 if the dentist believes there is a medical need - i.e your teeth are appalling, whereas a minor cosmetic improvement might not be free.

Reply 2

midnight

as long as any treatment started before you were 18 then it's free on the NHS. I need an operation on my jaw and then braces and i've been seeing consultants etc... from when i was about 14 and it will all be free even though i'm 21 now. If you only need braces for 'minor' cosmetic reasons though they can refuse it even before then if the dentist doesn't believe it to be necessary

Reply 3

girl_in_black

Well basically there's quite a big overlap between my front 2 top teeth (about 3 mm) which is gradually getting worseand there is also a small overlap between them and the teeth next to them, although that isn't too bad. Would that be considered cosmetic?

I also have a tooth which isn't in line with the rest of my teeth at the bottom, although that I'm not too bothered about, so it would just be my top teeth, I think.

And oh yeah, I've not had a dentist for more than a year due to a shortage in NHS dentists in my area. Would that play a part in me getting them for free do you think?

Reply 4

SpideyMonkey

You have to start the treatment before you are 19, your teeth have to be pretty messed up to get them for free as well.

Reply 5

Leonidas

If there are only one or two teeth slightly out of line I highly doubt they would take you on as there are people out there with most of their front teeth completely out of whack who, to be honest, should be the priority, if not only for their personal development benefit.

Reply 6

laur*

the nhs criteria for braces is pretty exteme these days.

i never expected mine to be on the nhs at all (they cost £2800 if you're interested, £2500 because we payed it all in one go) but the orthadontist showed me the scale they use to determine nhs patients, the scale is smiles numbered like 1(good)-10(bad)...if you're like a 6 or above you can get them on the nhs, the 6 picture looked pretty bad in my opinion.

oh and chances are, if you were able to get braces on the nhs, you would have been involentarily referred to an orthodontist by your dentist.

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