Cost of Braces?

[ssrmouse]

Today, my kids went for their 6 month check-up with an orthodontist.

The Dr. says my 10 year old is ready for full braces. She will probably wear them for 2 to 2.5 years. Estimated cost: $5000 to $5500.

The Dr. says my 8 year old needs braces on the bottoms only, to make room for a tooth to come in. She will probably wear these for up to 1 year and maybe need full braces later, maybe not. Cost $1250.

Do these costs sound reasonable to you?

 

[SC Minnie]

Yes. DD had braces 4 years ago and the cost was ~$5000.

 

[njmomtoone]

Today, my kids went for their 6 month check-up with an orthodontist.

The Dr. says my 10 year old is ready for full braces. She will probably wear them for 2 to 2.5 years. Estimated cost: $5000 to $5500.

The Dr. says my 8 year old needs braces on the bottoms only, to make room for a tooth to come in. She will probably wear these for up to 1 year and maybe need full braces later, maybe not. Cost $1250.

Do these costs sound reasonable to you?

Yes, it does. We took my son, age 8 for a consult and was told he would need 4 on top and a few on the bottom. He would wear them up to a year, then full braces around age 12. I am concerned on the time in between getting Phase 1 off and then the full braces. I am hoping the teeth don't shift.

 

[dawson5]

I think it really depends on what they are doing and how long they will be on.

My middle DS just had his braces put on in November. He will be in them from 18 months to two years--provided he does as the dentist asks, makes all appointments and wears his rubberbands. Cost $4100, before our dental allowance, this includes all dental visits, retainer and mouth protectors. I took him to a different orthodontist when he was 12 (he's 15 now, 14 when they were put on). That dentist said we could fix the upper teeth (he had a gap) at a cost of $1800, I forget how long they would be on. He would have used $800 of our dental allowance for this, leaving $200 that could/would be used for the full braces. He had four baby teeth yet and was completely comfortable with putting him in braces for a bit with a 50/50 chance of him needing them again after the adult teeth came in. We walked away from him, his prices were reasonable but we thought he saw us as a boat payment.

ETA: Cost is only a small part of this. You need to feel comfortable with the dentist and confidence in what he does. My neighbor let one dentist in town take care of three of her four daughters. The last one is a sophomore in college right now and back in braces because of this orthodontist. Ask around to friends and make sure you like what you see and how they were treated.

 

[mjkacmom]

Dd14's was $6300, and I don't have estimates yet for the other 4 who need them.

 

[melmar136]

DD has had hers now for almost a year...most likely will have them 6-12 months more and it is $5600. Insurance paid $2000 of that.

 

[LaDonna]

seems about average too me with what I've been researching.
When my kids were in elementary I was told to look into braces, went to several orthos and was worried about the money since we didn't have much, the last ortho I saw told me straight out that you really don't have to get them now and could wait till all their baby teeth had fallen out......I took his advice(didn't really have the money anyways) and am glad I waited, my kids teeth have actually gotten straighter on their own as more teeth fell out and now the one child I thought needed them the most doesn't need as bad! Luckily I switched Dental insurance too and will only have a $500 copay!!

 

[momto2inKC]

Yep, sounds about right.

 

[LisaNJ25]

My kids were right around $4200-4400 and insurance covered $2000.

My daughter had to go though phase 1 and than now on phase 2.. full braces.. insurance wouldnt cover phase 1. Poor girl is going to be 12 this summer and doesnt have her front teeth.. she is going for surgery next month to have brackets nad chains attached to them to gradually pull them down (they are up in her gums)

My son we waited till he was 14 to get them on. I was told whe he was younger that he needed multiple phases.. it all worked out fine waiting till he was older to get them once. Only reason I went thoguh the 2 phases with my daughter is because the issue with her front teeth.

 

[kldmom2000]

Only $1250 for just the bottom? I think *I* will be getting a 2nd opinion for my 10 year old dd .... we just had their ortho consult and my 10 year old DD needs braces on just the top 6 front teeth..... $2990!!!! I thought that was a bit steep for just 6 teeth!!! The orthodontist didn't give me a quote on my 8 year old because she needs to go to an oral surgeon first to get a frenectomy before a final quote can be made on braces. I was told though that she'll need a full set as she has large gaps between most of her teeth and a noticeable overbite

I'd say your quotes are pretty good

 

[ZandZsMom]

My kids were right around $4200-4400 and insurance covered $2000.

My daughter had to go though phase 1 and than now on phase 2.. full braces.. insurance wouldnt cover phase 1. Poor girl is going to be 12 this summer and doesnt have her front teeth.. she is going for surgery next month to have brackets nad chains attached to them to gradually pull them down (they are up in her gums)

My son we waited till he was 14 to get them on. I was told whe he was younger that he needed multiple phases.. it all worked out fine waiting till he was older to get them once. Only reason I went thoguh the 2 phases with my daughter is because the issue with her front teeth.

My DD10 is 13 months into phase one (coming off in May)...She also had the bracket and chain to pull down a tooth with 4 baby teeth extracted. She went last month for an impacted adult tooth extraction. They couldnt do the other side yet as they needed a cat scan to decide which tooth would be best to take. We are waiting to have this next one scheduled and they told us she will need to do the bracket chain again.

The thought of the bracket and chain made us cringe. So wanted to tell you that it wasn't as bad as it sounds. The exposure of that tooth was uncomfortable for about 2 days but the actual bracket and chain was not bad. DD's tooth came in rather quickly. Good Luck

 

[Redheadmom]

My 13 year old daughter had them put on last summer, a full set. It cost us $5000, insurance picked up the first $1000. That is the going rate around us.

 

[njmomtoone]

Only $1250 for just the bottom? I think *I* will be getting a 2nd opinion for my 10 year old dd .... we just had their ortho consult and my 10 year old DD needs braces on just the top 6 front teeth..... $2990!!!! I thought that was a bit steep for just 6 teeth!!! The orthodontist didn't give me a quote on my 8 year old because she needs to go to an oral surgeon first to get a frenectomy before a final quote can be made on braces. I was told though that she'll need a full set as she has large gaps between most of her teeth and a noticeable overbite

I'd say your quotes are pretty good

We were quoted $2600 for Phase I. That is for 4 on the top and a few on the bottom.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

My eldest daughter had her braces on in May, prior to her senior year in high school. She got them off this past January. Now she wears the clear, $250, upper retainer at night. My youngest daughter had her braces put on in October, with a palate expander. She is in eigth grade. The cost was around $6000, each. Both kids are one time only. I'm not much for the phase one, phase two thing.

 

[lwright11]

DS (12) is getting his braces on next week. He will be getting top, then a bite plate, then bottoms. Total process will take 30 months. $5640 is our quote. Insurance will cover $1500. This price did not include the xrays or the teeth that have to be pulled (2 baby, 1 permanent impacted) , etc. We have to see an oral surgeon for the other procedures. I'd say your price is right in line with the "normal" that I've found in my research.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

My kids go to the same orthodontist, and of course have the same insurance. It is my understanding that if they accept your insurance, there is a contract price anyway. So our contracts all have "full" price, then full price with insurance reduction, then the portion the insurance covers. In our case, the insurance only covers $1,500 lifetime maximum per child. So DD's regular full prices are $4,100- $2,600 out of pocket for us after the $1,500 insurance. DS needs two phases, and the palate expander plus braces is about double the cost of DD's. His contract price is $7,600- $6,100 out of pocket for us after the $1,500 insurance. So in the end, our out of pocket costs are MORE than double for DS, since he will hit his lifetime max before he even gets to Phase II.

I think the "full" prices without insurance were around $4,800 and $9,800. Also, my kids started treatment in different years, so the contract prices with the insurance company changed. Once you start the contract, you are locked in.

 

[collegejunkie]

my braces were $6500. i had them for 2 years.

definitely glad i'm going into dentistry

 

[NewCrew42]

Today, my kids went for their 6 month check-up with an orthodontist.

The Dr. says my 10 year old is ready for full braces. She will probably wear them for 2 to 2.5 years. Estimated cost: $5000 to $5500.

The Dr. says my 8 year old needs braces on the bottoms only, to make room for a tooth to come in. She will probably wear these for up to 1 year and maybe need full braces later, maybe not. Cost $1250.

Do these costs sound reasonable to you?

Yes, actually I thought it might be a little higher now. DS got braces 4 years ago and they were $5500.

DD has had Phase I and Phase II braces. Phase I $2200, Phase II $3000.

DS now has a beautiful smile! So worth it.

You may want to ask about a cash discount, if you can pay cash upfront or a second child discount for your 8 year old.

 

[KAYLI'S DAD]

I have had mine for 6 months and just paid them off. Mine where $5800. Im 30 so I dont know if they are more or less for kids. Dr. said I should only have to wear mine for 12 to 18 months.

 

[nsmith]

We live just outside of Phila near the University of PA, they have a graduate orthodonist clinic that we used for both of our children. The cost was $2600 each and they both just had them removed. Great job, huge savings. Neither child had terrible teeth and I looked at it as cosmetic and could not see paying twice as much.