Past, current, and future Jaw Surgery patients Unite!
Faceache
Member
Hi all.
Has anyone managed to get clear brackets on the NHS? I've told my ortho I'd be willing to pay for them but she was a bit vague; she wasn't sure if you could combine NHS treatment with, what would effectively be, private ( if you paid)
Anyone had any experience of this?
RachelM
Member
Simple answer is you can't get clear brackets on the NHS. You would have to have your orthodontics done privately but would be able to have the surgery on the NHS.
I'm 34 and do a lot of public speaking for work so really wanted clear brackets but couldn't get them free so decided to just go with it and embrace a full tin grin. I quite like them now! Having then taken off in about 8 weeks though. Going to be strange as I've got so used to them!
In terms of logistics, it's easier to have eveything done on the NHS as it'll all be ing the same place but if you really want to have clear brackets, it is possible but does cost about £4000
kscott
Member
In my orthodontists there were lots of pictures on the walls of the clear brackets and 'invisible' braces... it may be worth asking again?
However, I agree with Rachel, having metal brackets seems a small price to pay for free treatment!
I had mine from the age of 16 at the end of high school, all through college AND through the entire of university. If I'm honest, people don't really notice them as much as YOU think they do. They really don't. They are just a part of you.
As my mum has chanted for the past 5 years;
Embrace your brace!
THECW
Member
hey rachel, congratulations on having your braces taken off in 8 weeks. I was wondering how many months post op did you have to wait to have them taken off?
Faceache
Member
Kscott- yes I totally understand what your and Rachel are saying about free treatment and metal brackets. I am grateful that I don't have to pay 10s of thousands of pounds.
BUT, being a teacher, I would prefer clear brackets!
RachelM
Member
@THECW, it'll be about six months post op when I get my braces off. I had them for eight months pre op (although I was told I was going to need them for 18 originally!).
@Faceache, I completely understand you not wanting metal brackets but you would get used to them very quickly. If you can afford clear ones then get them but I do a lot of work with kids in schools and they neveer even comment about my mouth full of metal. It's down to how you feel about it I guess.
@kscott, my NHS orthodontist has pictures of clear brackets and invisalign on his walls too. It's just taunting patients as neither are available on the NHS!!
momo lee
Member
Isn't there an option to pay for the difference between clear and metal braces?
I'm not from the UK so I'm not sure how NHS works, but I paid for the difference so I ended up paying 400 pounds for 6 clear brackets (which was the only thing I had to pay for).
RachelM
Member
I did ask and you have to have them done privately. A lot of NHS orthodontists also have private practices though so if you ask, you can go stay with the same person who would have been doing your orthodontics on the NHS for free but just pay them. This can help with continuity as they are so used to working with a specific surgeon. The NHS don't accept payment for a 'top up' of services such as a private room or clear brackets. You get what you're given or go private!
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