Hello, I'm new to the boards and have signed up especially to ask you all about my problem.

Well I got braces about 2 years ago, and the orthodontist who did my teeth was a very nice guy. BUT upon having my braces off I received a retainer, which was stolen (my bag got stolen and it had my retainer in it.)

Upon informing my orthodontist about what had happened he was very unsympathetic and told me that I would have to have a new retainer (costing £50!!) and my top teeth had moved slightly so the retainer would be a new mould and my teeth would no longer be straight(What a waste of a year and half wearing a brace then!)

Anyway I then told him that I didnt want to wear a retainer to hold my teeth into shape if my teeth had already gone back to the way they were before. So he told me that I would have to pay for a new brace for my top teeth (the bottom ones were perfectly fine before but he still made me wear a brace on them andf they havent moved) anyway he said it would cost me £1,500!!!! I said I'm a student I shouldnt have to pay, but he said that now that college is over and I'm 18 I'd have to pay.

I've heard of a HC1 form, which I got off my dentist today, only to be informed that it doesnt cover orthodontic treatment, but I've heard off numerous other people that it does!

I've heard that if im at uni then I can get funding for a new brace, is this true?

Can I get funding for a top brace only?

Do I need to apply for a student grant before I apply for the dental funding? And will how much funding I get depend on whether the government are paying towards my course?
Basically I just require information on what will happen about my situation, and whether I'm eligible for funding.