$6000 for braces UPDATE: See Post 72

[SandraVB79]

OP, I've read all the answers now.

Get a second (and third, fourth, whatever) opinion.
And set up some priorities.
Do you want him to have a good mouthfull of teeth or the perfect mouthful of teeth?
I wore braces. And my teeth are good now. But certainly not perfect.
But as my parents put it: 1000s more for that last millimeter? Nope, isn't going to happen (+ I didn't want to suffer that much longer either).

It's not because his teeth are different from the "perfect" teeth that therefore everything has to be corrected.

 

[DebMcDonald]

Our four year old is going to the ortho on Monday, as she has an extra front tooth, super numinary (sp). Our 14 year old just got hers off 6 months ago. She had her first consult around 9 I think and he followed her every six months until she was ready. She had a tongue thrush or something meaning her tongue pushes against her front teeth. Her braces were around 4700 and we had to put down $1200 up front and then had monthly payments of $175. My ex-husband didn't pay a thing and I decided that in the long run it would cost me more to take him back to court than what I was going to get in the braces, besides we're out of state and it's taking time off of work more than once as I'm self employed.

I would also recommend a second ortho opinion and a third if necessary.

 

[PlutoPony]

Agree with the 2nd opinion.....Your dentist should have seen some of this coming on without a doubt. And that really does beg the question - does your son really have the problems the ortho found? If he does, CHANGE DENTISTS! Given that this has come out of the blue, I would get another opinion to see whether the dentist or the ortho is closer to the truth here, as well as an idea on costs. Don't be surprised if another ortho gives you a much different treatment plan, look first at their diagnosis of the problem. You really do want everyone to agree on what's wrong, but different treatment plans aren't uncommon.

DS did begin having uneven wear on his permanent teeth when the front ones came in (VERY crowded mouth) and the ortho had us go back to the ped dentist to have 6 baby teeth pulled when he was around 10. He just wanted to buy a little more time for DS's mouth to grow before beginning treatment. Tooth wear is something to react to so if that's happening you probably do need to stop that as soon as possible. Braces started for DS at 12 and he's progressing as expected. Occasionally we talk about how lucky he is we can spend the money on braces, but I"m not sure he believes that yet

Good luck

 

[twoeeyy]

As far as the price goes just under 6,000 seems right on track.

Our DD got her braces off in 2006, it cost us ( well, actually FIL ) just under 6,000.

Her teeth are now beautiful .

 

[NMW]

Braces are really, really a lot of $$$. My oldest is 11 and his braces (36 months of treatment is the estimate) were $5800 plus $270 for the records fee. There are two "big" orthodontists where I live that pretty much everyone goes to. I picked the one that my dentist referred us to because I know several people that have used her and were very happy. $5800 may seem like a lot but it covers all appointments, retainers, headgear, etc. Pretty much everything is coverd and they don't care if the treatment takes more than 36 months, we won't have to pay more.

Our ortho gave us the option of 20% down and then 36 months of interest free payments, $110 I think. We can also pay it sooner without penalty. So, that's what we did. We also could have finaced the entire amount through a medical payment plan that had interest.

The bottom line is that the difference in my sons mouth is amazing! We are 2 years in-1st year was just braces on top with headgear. He had a severe over-jet. The braces actually changed the shape of his face! I can't imagine what he would have looked like if we hadn't done anything. My husband cliams he would have looked like Cleatus the slack-jawed yokel from The Simpsons. I have no doubt he's correct.

 

[kfeuer]

I wish ours covered 50%--my crummy dental insurance only pays $1250 if you choose an in-network ortho, $1000 for anybody else. That's it. And the only in-network orthos are part of chains where there's a dozen orthos in the same office and the continuity of care seems doubtful at best.

I'm about to have to take my 7-year old for his first consult and this thread is making me

 

[HM]

Get a second opinion.

When I started looking for my son, the first ortho we went to said it would be about $6000 and he'd probably need surgery as well as the braces. He seemed like he knew what he was talking about but I was worried about the costs and the surgery.... So, I started asking around and found two people that recommended another ortho. When we went to see her, she was much more optomistic about his needs and didn't really think the surgery would be necessary. She also charged $4700. We went with her. He had his braces for two years and now has lovely teeth. Never needed the surgery...night gear for 6 months did the trick.

My DD now is seeing her and has had some different issues. She's scheduled for 2 1/2 years at $5200, but they said to could still only be two years. The one thing that was tricky were two adult teeth that were blocked by her other teeth from moving down. In two months one has already has space made and broken through the gum and the other is moving down. She thought this would take six months or might need some oral surgery (which is now a no).

So, yes, get other opinions. Even if you have to drive a lot further....you may be more happy with another ortho. Since you dentist never mentioned the things that the ortho you saw did, it may be that those aren't as big a deal as he's making out and you'll want to know for sure.

 

[chris1gill]

My son's teeth were eerily similar to your story. However, with his bite, his bottom teeth were hitting the roof of his mouth where all the nerves were and very quickly he was in agony & instead of pushing it off, the ortho had to act faster. We had been seeing the ortho on a pretty regular basis for monitoring because DS's mouth is so small and his teeth were so crowded..... but at the time I was unaware of the overbite issue, until the pain started (and it started in one fell swoop), the took out the teeth and put in the retainer all in about a weeks time.

DS had ten teeth removed, 4 of them adults & he's been in braces for 3 years and he's still got another year to go....

Our ortho let us pay the bill over the first 3 years & they didn't charge any penalty for doing so.... the bill was roughly similar to what you're mentioning with the exception of the oral surgeon which added some $$ to the bill...

 

[Saturn Tire]

My DD braces treatment was about $5300.00 and that was 5 or 6 years ago. Our insurance paid 1/2. Probably not surprising they want $6000. We made payments on the balance.

I would see what another ortho would want for it though.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

DD10 needs braces. Her teeth look terrible. I went to the orthodontist that everyone goes too. $5800 total for everything. They allow 24 months worth of payments. I have to come up with a huge down payment- I am using my stimulus for the down payment.
I am afraid to use the FSA since DH is a contractor and I don't know how that will work when we change insurances when he changes jobs.

It can really work in your favor. My DH was laid off in April one year, and we had allocated $1000 into the FSA for the year. Of course, we'd only put a few hundred in my April, though. When I called the plan to see what I had to do to get our remaining $$ sent to us, they made it clear that ALL of it was our money. Yup, the entire $1000! That's how the law works, apparently. The company takes that risk when they let you sign up for it I guess? Well, I had to show $1000 worth of medical costs by the end of their plan year (ended Dec. 15th or some random date), but it was no problem since we had our DD that year and our hospital payment alone was like $450...add in our regular medical and perscription copays, and we got our $1000 check in the mail no problem! I swear, if DH ever thinks he's going to get laid off in the future, I'm going to have him max out the FSA

 

[snowbunny]

2nd opinion, definitely.

I took my DD to one ortho (used by one of her friends) for very slight crowding on the top, she has beautiful teeth, and was told 2 years in braces on the top.

Took her to another one (older and much more experienced) and he said she doesn't need braces, her mouth will grow a little and her issues are too minor for correction. Boy was I happy I got a second opinion!

BTW her friend who still goes to ortho #1 has had her braces on for 3 years (they were supposed to be done in 2).

 

[TaraPA]

Just made DS10's 1st ortho appt. today after being referred by our dentist. These numbers are scaring me! I do have dental insurance but no clue what they pay for ortho, if anythng. I was all ready to call the landscaper today too, to put my order in for 8 more trees. I guess that money is gone now! Maybe we need an ortho support thread (or ortho payment support thread!)

 

[tar heel]

I want to point out that "impacted" does not necessarly mean there was anything wrong with the adult teeth. It just refers to the fact that the teeth are still in the bone. Removing the baby teeth will encourage them to pop out. It sounds like your general dentist doesn't really know much about orthodontics. That was the case with my son's, too, but we started seeing the ortho when he was pretty young. It was the ortho who advised us as to when to remove baby teeth.

Good luck. We paid about $5,000, which is just a huge amount of $. My son is 20, and his teeth look great in spite of the fact that he probably doesn't know where his retainer is and only wore the headgear once or twice.

 

[Taja]

Definitely get more than one opinion from an orthodontist.

While I have no expertise in the area, I did discover (while working at a dental lab--long story, not relevant) that for many dentists and orthodontists today the standard for dentistry is perfect teeth. As another poster mentioned, that may not be the goal with your DS--it may be a mouthful of healthy, good teeth that may be just slightly imperfect.

So talk to at least one more orthodontist. Discuss the first orthodontist's finding with your current dentist. Possibly consult with another dentist.

 

[Mic]

We have three children in braces right now, and $6000 does not sound at all out of line with current prices. My dentist, though I love him(he's my neighbor), is not very progressive like our old dentist was. Our first dentist no longer accepted our dental insurance for cleanings, but he pointed out to me during our last visit, when our second daughter was 5, that she would need a laser procedure in his office when her permanent teeth started coming in. When I mentioned this to our new dentist a year later, he said I would need to go to an orthodontist for that, which our dental plan covered none of. So I went back to the old dentist for that one procedure, and I credit him with her being the only one of our four children who did not need braces. All of my children were late teethers, and our dentist did not pull any teeth to relieve the overcrowding until I insisted he do so. We paid $4500 up front for three sets of braces($1500 each child), and make monthly payments to the orthodontist for the balance. We do not pay interest, and we were allowed to spread it out over 30 months rather than 24. My ex-husband has never paid child support or any medicals for my two oldest daughters, so I feel your pain. Since your son's father will not have to deal with the orthodontist, you should get a second opinion, and go with the one you feel most comfortable with. Just be prepared to fight for his share of the cost...he will probably resist paying regardless of where you go. My oldest daughter is a sophomore in college, and still wearing braces. Her goal is to have them off by her 21st birthday next year. By getting your son braces now, you will have them paid off just in time to buy him a car and insure him We were not as smart!

 

[imsayin]

I think ortho's can be pretty aggressive when it comes to pulling teeth. DD14 just had 7 baby teeth pulled in early January (cost $2,000!, but luckily insurance covered all but $200). She gets her braces in 2 weeks. The braces will be $5200, insurance covers $2,000. If all goes well, they will be gone in 22 months.

 

[MrsPete]

My dentist didn't quite hit the nail on the head with my daughter's ortho needs either. I've known for quite some time that she's going to need braces -- emphasis on NEED; her issues go beyond cosmetic. The dentist kept telling me, "Wait a little longer" to take her to the orthodontist -- then when I finally took her, the orthodontist said the treatment would've been easier if we'd started it a year or more earlier (certainly not impossible, by any means, and no damage has been done -- she just could've been done a little faster if she'd been in slightly younger). Remember that the dentist isn't a specialist in alignment.

You're right to consider the ortho who's most convenient to you; you'll be making LOTS of trips there and back over the course of treatment. However, I agree with the majority here -- get at least one more opinion! That'll allow you to start treatment knowing that you've investigated it thoroughly, and you'll know that you're making the right choices.

Finally, $6000 sounds about right for extensive brace work -- that's about what we expect to pay by the time we're done. My daughter's mouth has multiple problems (not the same as your son's, but still extensive), and she's in for a great deal of work.

 

[littlelulu33]

I work for a orthodontist and to me $6000 is high. The first orthodontist I worked for his highest range was about $5400 and that was for a very bad case and at the orthodontist I work for it's about $5000. Where in Michigan are you I also live in Michigan and may be able to give you another orthodontist to try.
With the flex spending thru your DH job, before you do it next year there are questions to ask. Some flex spending ask for your contract because your contract will start this year they will not pay. Some do not care when treatment started and will pay. Also you can check into if the orthodontist has a dental credit card. Some offices offer that may be interest free for so many months. What I have told people is if your office allows it is that it may be interest free for 6 months--pay your down payment with that. If you have have other questions you can PM as of now I am too new to PM. I have lots of info if you need it.

 

[crisi]

Do get a second opinion, and if all he has is a small overbite, many of us have lived with those for years - ask what the long term prognosis is for leaving it. My parents didn't have dental insurance so all three of us never got braces for our small overbites and misalignments. And while it would be nice to have straighter teeth, a small overbite isn't doing us much harm.

 

[Mickeys.friend]

I PM'd you...hope it helps...

LIZ