Today I had my appointment to assess my 'need for treatment' and whether I would be eligible to receive adult orthodontic treatment on the NHS. I was nervous but soon my name was called out and I was ushered to a dentist chair by a lovely dental assistant. I sat down and was introduced the orthodontist who owns the practice. He proceeded to ask me what my dental history was and after rattling off a long list of extractions, fillings and root treatment we finally got down to the assessment. I sat back nervously whilst being asked to open and close my mouth repeatedly, smile from the side, be measured up by a little metal ruler and listen to him shouting out lots of different numbers which the assistant noted down. The only parts I really caught were that I have an over jet of 4mm and that the aesthetic component of my smile was a 7 possibly an 8.
So eventually eventually I was informed that the crowding in my teeth that would be easy enough to fix, however the hardest part would be correcting my over jet and alignment. The orthodontist suggested that I may need a consultant orthodontist to carry out the work and so I have been referred to my local dental hospital for assessment there. I'm still unsure if I am actually going to receive treatment but I assumed from the fact that my treatment would require a bit of specialist work that perhaps I do qualify, but who knows, confused.com!
I was then left with two lovely ortho assistants who were to take photos of my mouth. For someone who never smiles open mouthed in photos this was extremely unnatural. I had the taken front on with no smile, side on with no smile, front of with huge teeth showing smile, close up front on with mouth retractor and close up of each side with mouth retractor.
Apparently my areas target for dental hospital orthodontic referrals is to be seen within 15 weeks, so I'm looking at up to the middle of July before being assessed again.
My advise to anyone thinking about a NHS referral for orthodontics is to ask as soon as possible, as it the process for assessment alone is a length one and that's not including treatment time.
Will update once I have my new appointment.
Keep on smiling :)
UPDATE: I just found this assessment guide online which gives the full detail of my assessment today, thought it may be useful to know exactly what they are assessing for.
