Reply from WITNEY BRACE PLACE
Tue, 01 May 2018 09:16:41 +0100

We are very sorry to hear that you are unhappy after your son and wife attended an appointment at the practice. We always ask patients how they feel about their teeth and would they want a brace, because Orthodontic treatment is mostly about compliance from the patient and we do not want to fit braces if it is something the patient may actually not want. Unfortunately, the NHS set rules for us to abide by, with regards to what cases qualify for NHS funding. Dentists refer their patients to specialist practices such as ours, as Orthodontists are the only ones who can determine for sure if a patient qualifies for treatment. If a patient does not qualify for NHS funding (which usually is because they deem the case mild and cosmetic), sometimes they like to fund it themselves. We quote a reduced rate for patients under the age of 18 for a course of treatment, which actually is the same as what the NHS pays us to provide the treatment, if the patient were to qualify. Please be assured that regardless of how treatment is funded, we get paid the same fee. With regards to further consultation appointments, you are correct, the NHS doesn’t pay however, we never charge for them, so patients can return again if they wish for further discussions free of charge. If you wish to return with your son for a second consultation, free of charge, please do not hesitate to book in for this and we can go through all the information with you.