Why does my 14 year old daughter not qualify for NHS treatment

[Micky]

I moved with my family to Nicaragua in January 2022 and shortly after my step daughter had teeth removed and braces fitted. By April the work had fallen through and we had to relocate to the UK. I was back in the UK and had lost a lot of money and had to pay £20K (includes travel to Nicaragua and Miami just for visa purposes) for my wife and step daughter's visas which of course includes NHS surcharge.
We have been on a waiting list for about 6 months for NHS orthodontal treatment, having been referred by my dentist. Clearly now in 2024 my step daughter's braces need adjustment having only been adjusted once since 2022.
So, we went to the Orthodontist who told us that my step daughter's teeth didn't qualify for NHS treatment as her teeth didn't score accordingly on the IOTN scale. Yet, in the same sentence tells me that my daughter's teeth definitely require orthodontic treatment and i have to pay for it privately! I don't understand!!
I researched this and found on an orthodontist's website, which i hasten to add explains the IOTN very well, it states "If you score a grade 5 then you will have a health need for orthodontic treatment on the NHS".
"Examples of Grade4/5 -
A number of missing teeth"
Well, clearly my step daughter has a number of missing teeth. So why doesn't she qualify for treatment under the NHS?

 

[Dental cure and care]

In your stepdaughter’s case, it seems that although she has missing teeth which typically would suggest a higher score other aspects of her dental condition might have led to an overall assessment that does not meet the necessary threshold for NHS funding. Here are some possible reasons:

1. If her remaining teeth are relatively straight or do not pose significant functional problems, this could lower her score.
2. If her bite is not significantly affected by the missing teeth or if there are no associated health risks (such as difficulty chewing), this may influence her eligibility.
3. Different orthodontists may interpret the IOTN criteria differently based on their clinical judgment and experience.

It appears contradictory that your stepdaughter requires treatment yet does not qualify for NHS funding under the IOTN scale, it likely stems from a combination of factors related to her overall dental health and alignment rather than just the presence of missing teeth alone. It would be advisable to seek clarification from both your current orthodontist and potentially another specialist who can provide further insight into her specific case and explore any options available for private care or appeal processes within NHS guidelines.