Pay for braces at 18

Mysterious Gurl · 07-31-2007, 07:01 PM

Heya!!

I was wondering ... does anyone know if I'm expected to pay for braces now I'm 18? My Dentist wanted me to have braces and reffered me to a specialist, however I heard nothing from the specialist and they wrote me a letter to say I have missed two appointments I never knew I had! I have complained but nothing was done and my Dentist has moved, so I have to go "private" now. Will I be expected to pay? I'm 18 and I live in the UK. I don't feel I should have to pay because my Dentist has decided to move. Also I don't want to go private because it's to expensive and I can't afford their asking price nor can my parents.

MG x

patch2006uk · 07-31-2007, 07:38 PM

If you are still in full time education, dentists, opticians and prescriptions should be free until you are 19. If you are working and have left full time education, you may well have to pay.

Try and find an NHS dentist to refer you on, and see if you can go about it that way, rather than go straight for private, which will have a fee attached to it.

And if the appointment slips were lost in the post, tell them you never received them. They can't hold you responsible for not going to something you didn't know was happening!

Bonzophuebes1 · 07-31-2007, 07:41 PM

Doesnt the UK have socialist medical care. I thought everyone had access to care, there may be a copay but hmm. i dont know. And well, yes, if you dont have that and your Doc moved, you would have to pay, he has a life as well.

Mysterious Gurl · 07-31-2007, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patch2006uk

If you are still in full time education, dentists, opticians and prescriptions should be free until you are 19. If you are working and have left full time education, you may well have to pay.

Try and find an NHS dentist to refer you on, and see if you can go about it that way, rather than go straight for private, which will have a fee attached to it.

And if the appointment slips were lost in the post, tell them you never received them. They can't hold you responsible for not going to something you didn't know was happening!

Hello, I told the specialist who I was reffered to that I never recieved a letter the both times they sent one. However all they could say was "Well it says on our computer that you missed an appointment twice". I never even knew, I tried explaining but they wanted to reffer me to a specialist since my Dentist moved. It's just I can't afford £600 plus an additional £100 fee for a check up. I'll try finding an NHS Dentist. I imagine I'll have a long wait though. I'm 19 in March.

Thanks for you reply!

MG x

agent · 07-31-2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonzophuebes1

Doesnt the UK have socialist medical care. I thought everyone had access to care, there may be a copay but hmm. i dont know. And well, yes, if you dont have that and your Doc moved, you would have to pay, he has a life as well.

Dentistry is more complex than medical care. NHS dentists are like gold dust.

If you are going private you will have to pay. Are you at uni? Check around there for recommendations and such.

Mysterious Gurl · 07-31-2007, 07:57 PM

Hey!

I'm in College doing A-levels. I don't want to go private, it's just that my Dentist company said I will have to now my Dentist has moved away. I'm going to find another Dentist, I just wondered if I had to pay. It's just I have gaps in my teeth and I want them straightening. Also it's very uncomfortable to chew with gaps there now. Thats why I requested braces and my Dentist agreed I should have them and reffered me to a specialist. I got told I would recieve a letter to say when my appointment would be and it failed to come, so they sent another and that failed to come. When I rang up, they are saying I failed to meet the appointment, but I never knew I had one. I argued my case but they wouldn't accept it and told me I had to go private. I just can't afford it. I'll try another dentist and see how I get on.

MG x

patch2006uk · 07-31-2007, 08:06 PM

Where in the country do you live? If you're London-ish, you could have real trouble finding a dentist on the NHS. I'm Birmingham based, but my family dentist is in a little town, and that wasn't too bad to swap to. It really depends on where you live as to how easy a new dentist will be to find.

It's a pain that your dentist moved in the middle of this really. Unfortunately, your free dental care runs out when you turn 19, so if you can't sort it before next March, you won't have much choice but to pay.

You might need to go back and try to explain about the lack of appointment notification. Ask to see managers, threaten writing letters to people, kick up a fuss. That is the best way of dealing with the NHS today! Might be worth one last try.

Something I just found online, not sure whether it is accurate. Anyone have experience of this?

"I am a student -- do I need to pay for NHS treatment?

Students who are 19 years of age or older do not automatically receive free dental NHS Dental Care. However, all students should apply for a HC2 Certificate through a HC1 form. You can pick up a form at the University Dental Practice or the Students Guild. The application process normally takes upto six weeks and is dependent upon your means. In our experience, we have found that most students who apply are successful. The HC2 Certificate also gives you free prescriptions and eye tests. It is only valid for six months and requires re-application after that time.

If you require dental care and have not got a HC2 certificate yet, you must pay for your NHS dental care. If you keep your receipts you can obtain a refund of your charges when you receive your certificate. The Advice Centre at the Guild of Students can give you further information."

Are you a student? This might be an option if you are.

Sorry I can't be more help

Mysterious Gurl · 07-31-2007, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patch2006uk

Where in the country do you live? If you're London-ish, you could have real trouble finding a dentist on the NHS. I'm Birmingham based, but my family dentist is in a little town, and that wasn't too bad to swap to. It really depends on where you live as to how easy a new dentist will be to find.

It's a pain that your dentist moved in the middle of this really. Unfortunately, your free dental care runs out when you turn 19, so if you can't sort it before next March, you won't have much choice but to pay.

You might need to go back and try to explain about the lack of appointment notification. Ask to see managers, threaten writing letters to people, kick up a fuss. That is the best way of dealing with the NHS today! Might be worth one last try.

Something I just found online, not sure whether it is accurate. Anyone have experience of this?

"I am a student -- do I need to pay for NHS treatment?

Students who are 19 years of age or older do not automatically receive free dental NHS Dental Care. However, all students should apply for a HC2 Certificate through a HC1 form. You can pick up a form at the University Dental Practice or the Students Guild. The application process normally takes upto six weeks and is dependent upon your means. In our experience, we have found that most students who apply are successful. The HC2 Certificate also gives you free prescriptions and eye tests. It is only valid for six months and requires re-application after that time.

If you require dental care and have not got a HC2 certificate yet, you must pay for your NHS dental care. If you keep your receipts you can obtain a refund of your charges when you receive your certificate. The Advice Centre at the Guild of Students can give you further information."

Are you a student? This might be an option if you are.

Sorry I can't be more help

Thanks for your post! That helps. I will complain again but I never won the battle last time. I'm actually moving to London in September lol! So that would be my luck really. I'll look into it. I just want to get braces fitted before I'm 19. I am a student but only a College student, not a University student yet.

Thanks

Mg x

patch2006uk · 07-31-2007, 08:30 PM

You're at the same point I'm at then! You waiting for your A level results?

You might be able to go and ask your local connexions service or CAB for some advice, and explain the whole situation to them, and they can advise you better than I can!

I'm not sure what those HC1 and 2 things are, but they might be worth googling and finding out whether they are specific to one uni, or whether they apply to a whole area or all students. I'm really not sure.

I understand why you don't want to have to pay for dental care. Opticians bills are what i'm not looking forward to personally!

I do think that going and being tough with the people at the dentist's where you didn't receive the appointment times might work as well.

All the best.

07-31-2007, 07:01 PM	#1
Mysterious Gurl Offline Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Gender: Female Age: 20 Posts: 926	Pay for braces at 18 Heya!! I was wondering ... does anyone know if I'm expected to pay for braces now I'm 18? My Dentist wanted me to have braces and reffered me to a specialist, however I heard nothing from the specialist and they wrote me a letter to say I have missed two appointments I never knew I had! I have complained but nothing was done and my Dentist has moved, so I have to go "private" now. Will I be expected to pay? I'm 18 and I live in the UK. I don't feel I should have to pay because my Dentist has decided to move. Also I don't want to go private because it's to expensive and I can't afford their asking price nor can my parents. MG x __________________ "Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you will land among the stars". Or my personal favourite: "If you want the rainbow ... you have to put up with the rain".

07-31-2007, 07:38 PM	#2
patch2006uk Offline Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: west mids, uk Gender: Female Posts: 136	If you are still in full time education, dentists, opticians and prescriptions should be free until you are 19. If you are working and have left full time education, you may well have to pay. Try and find an NHS dentist to refer you on, and see if you can go about it that way, rather than go straight for private, which will have a fee attached to it. And if the appointment slips were lost in the post, tell them you never received them. They can't hold you responsible for not going to something you didn't know was happening! __________________ do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup

07-31-2007, 07:41 PM	#3
Bonzophuebes1 Offline Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: If this is living, I am not affraid of death. It cannot be much worse. Gender: Male Posts: 450	Doesnt the UK have socialist medical care. I thought everyone had access to care, there may be a copay but hmm. i dont know. And well, yes, if you dont have that and your Doc moved, you would have to pay, he has a life as well. __________________ BoNzOpHuEbEs1 We must be the change we wish to see. Gandhi

07-31-2007, 07:57 PM	#6
Mysterious Gurl Offline Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Gender: Female Age: 20 Posts: 926	Hey! I'm in College doing A-levels. I don't want to go private, it's just that my Dentist company said I will have to now my Dentist has moved away. I'm going to find another Dentist, I just wondered if I had to pay. It's just I have gaps in my teeth and I want them straightening. Also it's very uncomfortable to chew with gaps there now. Thats why I requested braces and my Dentist agreed I should have them and reffered me to a specialist. I got told I would recieve a letter to say when my appointment would be and it failed to come, so they sent another and that failed to come. When I rang up, they are saying I failed to meet the appointment, but I never knew I had one. I argued my case but they wouldn't accept it and told me I had to go private. I just can't afford it. I'll try another dentist and see how I get on. MG x __________________ "Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you will land among the stars". Or my personal favourite: "If you want the rainbow ... you have to put up with the rain".

07-31-2007, 08:06 PM	#7
patch2006uk Offline Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: west mids, uk Gender: Female Posts: 136	Where in the country do you live? If you're London-ish, you could have real trouble finding a dentist on the NHS. I'm Birmingham based, but my family dentist is in a little town, and that wasn't too bad to swap to. It really depends on where you live as to how easy a new dentist will be to find. It's a pain that your dentist moved in the middle of this really. Unfortunately, your free dental care runs out when you turn 19, so if you can't sort it before next March, you won't have much choice but to pay. You might need to go back and try to explain about the lack of appointment notification. Ask to see managers, threaten writing letters to people, kick up a fuss. That is the best way of dealing with the NHS today! Might be worth one last try. Something I just found online, not sure whether it is accurate. Anyone have experience of this? "I am a student -- do I need to pay for NHS treatment? Students who are 19 years of age or older do not automatically receive free dental NHS Dental Care. However, all students should apply for a HC2 Certificate through a HC1 form. You can pick up a form at the University Dental Practice or the Students Guild. The application process normally takes upto six weeks and is dependent upon your means. In our experience, we have found that most students who apply are successful. The HC2 Certificate also gives you free prescriptions and eye tests. It is only valid for six months and requires re-application after that time. If you require dental care and have not got a HC2 certificate yet, you must pay for your NHS dental care. If you keep your receipts you can obtain a refund of your charges when you receive your certificate. The Advice Centre at the Guild of Students can give you further information." Are you a student? This might be an option if you are. Sorry I can't be more help __________________ do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup

07-31-2007, 08:30 PM	#9
patch2006uk Offline Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: west mids, uk Gender: Female Posts: 136	You're at the same point I'm at then! You waiting for your A level results? You might be able to go and ask your local connexions service or CAB for some advice, and explain the whole situation to them, and they can advise you better than I can! I'm not sure what those HC1 and 2 things are, but they might be worth googling and finding out whether they are specific to one uni, or whether they apply to a whole area or all students. I'm really not sure. I understand why you don't want to have to pay for dental care. Opticians bills are what i'm not looking forward to personally! I do think that going and being tough with the people at the dentist's where you didn't receive the appointment times might work as well. All the best. __________________ do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup