Having well aligned teeth is important not only for appearances but also for how long people’s teeth last and for physical health. Very few people have naturally straight teeth, but not everyone can have orthodontics in Weybridge on the NHS. That said, everyone under the age of 18 can have an assessment on the NHS to see how they stand on the NHS’s index of orthodontic treatment needs.
In order to qualify for treatment on the NHS, the orthodontic needs must be more than just an improvement in appearance. There needs to be improvement in dental health too.
Signs that your child needs an improvement to their dental health with orthodontics in Weybridge include:
- Significant crowding of the teeth
- Missing teeth
- Impacted teeth
- Protruding teeth
- Problems with the bite that are causing trauma or functional issues.
If your child’s issues are more cosmetic than functional then it’s unlikely they will qualify for NHS treatment. And, even if they do qualify, they may not be able to start treatment straight away as there are long waiting lists and only so much funding to go around.
However, all children who need it can have private orthodontics in Weybridge. Private treatment can usually start straightaway, saving valuable time, especially if there are issues with the jaw that need resolving. After the age of 18, although the teeth can still be moved, the jawbone has set hard and can no longer be changed in shape.
It is important to ask how long the waiting list is and then weigh up whether it is worth the wait, or whether treatment needs to start straight away and therefore should be private. Our orthodontists can advise you on this.
When can child start having treatment?
These days, it is recommended that children start having treatment earlier than in the past, guiding teeth into position rather than waiting until they are all in place and then repositioning them. With advanced imaging technology, we can look inside the jawbone and make accurate diagnoses as to how the teeth will erupt and draw up an early treatment plan. Children can have their teeth straightened by the time they are about to face adolescence.