Son needs braces - Anyone recommend a good dentist in Northern Ireland???

Twiggy69

Hi,

My kids went back to school to-day. I had appointment for my youngest son to see dentist for regular check up. I got the land of my life when the dentist told me he needs dental braces. I cannot afford the estimated 4,500 euro. Can anyone suggest a less expensive option?

Has anyone experience of attending a NI dentist for this or other procedures?

Is there much of a saving? ( I would be travelling from Co. Wicklow)

Roughly, how many trips are involved?


Any advice will be much appreciated.

Kind regards,

T

davo10

Twiggy69,
The average period of time for ortho treatment is approx 2 years and usually orthodontist will want to see the patient every 6-8 weeks, so you will be looking at a lot of days off work/travelling over a 2 year period. You don't say what age your son is, if he is under 16 he is entitled to treatment in health board including ortho. when you contact them they may tell you about grading and waiting lists, visit the health board in person and bring a letter stating what day you visited and your request for an appointment and ortho assessment, get the person to sign and date it ( so they cannot say later that your son was over 16 before he came to their attention). Also consider the dental hospital at trinity, you might be lucky

futura123

unless he has the severest form of crowding or mal occlusion as it is termed, the hse will not place him priority and he could be waiting a long long time.
the northern ireland option might work if you lived near the border but reviews every 6-8 weeks over a 2 year period would negate any cost saving imo.
tax relief on orthodontic treatment also applies here, up to 41%. doesnt seem so bad then.
just a dentists perspective

Twiggy69

Thank you both sincerely for your helpful responses. I have contacted my local HSE office and they recommended I attend with my 10 year old son to the Emergency dental clinic locally. There hopefully the dentist will recommend he attend for the work required.

Regards,

T