Why is cosmetic dentistry not paid for by the NHS?

[geekman]

By cosmetic, I mean braces. Let me use my case as an example.

I was 15 when I had braces and they was working. But my dad missed an appointment due to a family emergency and we ended up being an hour late. The canceled the appointment at the orthodontists and I was removed from the treatment. I was referred again but at this point I was over 16 and was told I would have to pay for my treatment.

I've had to live with my messed up teeth at no fault of my own. It's not my fault my teeth are the way they are. I didn't ask to be born like this. I was in no position to attend an orthodontist appointment on my own without my parents so I am not in control if I'm late for an appointment with them.

It feels as if I've been thrown to the side, and unless I can fork out money I could never afford I have to live with messed up teeth.

I find it sick. Especially when the NHS are paying for cosmetic surgery in other areas. If a women is depressed with her breast size, the NHS will pay for it.

When I am depressed with my teeth - and I mean serious depression, and wanting to kill myself - I'm offered nothing. The money they've spent on giving me anti depressants for the past 10 years, because my depression is linked to my self confidence, which is linked to my teeth, could have been used to pay for the cosmetic treatment I need.

Every time I talk to a dentist, they push me away and tell me I won't get the help I need for free. I will have to pay.

Why is this? I find it frustrating. I've missed out on 10 years of my life because of my teeth, and I'll miss out on another 10 until it's too late for me to achieve anything in life. I have anxiety, I'm a secluded hermit that. All because of my teeth. I can't work because my depression and anxiety is linked to my teeth, and it's so bad that I have been signed off from working!

I just want normal teeth. I can't understand why me, and others in my shoes, are just left with no treatment.

I'd like to know, from other dentists, and people in other situations, why this is the case. Why do the NHS refuse to pay for cosmetic dentistry when it's actually needed?

 

[carole]

Hi to the forum.

I thought braces were on the nhs, maybe it is for people under 18. I will have to look this up. I am sorry you have been left like this and it has effected your life so much. I can understand how wretched you must be feeling after all these years.

Could you contact a dental school and see if they will treat you?

 

[geekman]

Hi to the forum.

I thought braces were on the nhs, maybe it is for people under 18. I will have to look this up. I am sorry you have been left like this and it has effected your life so much. I can understand how wretched you must be feeling after all these years.

Could you contact a dental school and see if they will treat you?

I'm unsure of what options are actually available to me. All I've ever been told is I will have to pay for it. I'm not sure about dental schools, I live in Birmingham, I wasn't aware dental schools could provide treatment.

I feel so lost. I will Google dental schools now.

 

[carole]

I am having treatment at a Dental Hospital at the moment, I know there is one in Liverpool, Sheffield and Leeds and they do treatment for everything. They are of course students under a tutors guidance, there are different levels of students but the ones I have met are lovely and so caring and wanting to help us.

If there is a dental hospital in Birmingham it might be worth giving them a try. You can enquire for free, you never know. You can also go out of your area, so if you could travel that might be a way. I don't know if you need to be referred by a dentist but if you do you could always see a dentist and ask them to refer you, I think your family GP can refer you too.

Good luck let us know how you get on. Try your GP for a referral. I bet he would as he is treating you for depression, they know how much this upsets you.

 

[biffo1963]

Possibly I've missed something here, but I'm not sure I understand why you are expecting this treatment totally for free ? Even routine NHS treatment isn't free unless you're on income-related JSA - or pregnant.

 

[mango]

I don't pay as I have a tax credit exemption certification due to low earnings

 

[geekman]

Possibly I've missed something here, but I'm not sure I understand why you are expecting this treatment totally for free ? Even routine NHS treatment isn't free unless you're on income-related JSA - or pregnant.

I don't pay for treatment. I'm unable to work due to depression and anxiety. Doctor has signed me of from work, and I have been for the past 5 years. I did put that in my original post.

 

[carole]

I hope you have some success with the dental hospital. Good luck

Biffo some people haven't got the money to pay the nhs charges which are far less than private ones. It could have even been that some nhs dentists don't do braces in the same way some of them don't offer rct's. They should offer treatments but some aren't cost effective to them.

 

[geekman]

I hope you have some success with the dental hospital. Good luck

Biffo some people haven't got the money to pay the nhs charges which are far less than private ones. It could have even been that some nhs dentists don't do braces in the same way some of them don't offer rct's. They should offer treatments but some aren't cost effective to them.

I'm chasing this up today. I'm going to call Birmingham University, as I know they have a first class Dentistry department from when I studied computing there. Not sure if they offer treatments to the public though.

 

[carole]

I would also contact your GP and ask for a referral too if it would help. I think all dental Hospitals treat the likes of you and me, they need to get experience from somewhere.

As you will know books are good and necessary to a point but a bit of practical experience is priceless. They deal with a whole load of different things in different departments in the dental section.

Don't push yourself to rush into this, do it when you are ready.

All the best to you and move at a pace that you feel you can cope with and in your own time. Nobody is pushing you into doing anything too quickly. At least now you have something to work towards.

Good luck

 

[geekman]

Just checked their website. I've been there before (non-cosmetic related). I know a lot of people that go there for emergency treatments as they have a 24-hour walk-in center.

I'm going to speak with my GP on the 31st.

Thank you.

 

[biffo1963]

@geekman - You said you had been signed off work, but you didn't say it was for five years. I understand now!

 

[biffo1963]

Biffo some people haven't got the money to pay the nhs charges which are far less than private ones.

Tell me about it ! I haven't either but I still have to pay them.