Does your child have braces?

[JoyG]

I think I'm going to need to get braces for one or more of my sons. No big surprise because I had them as a kid (and for a long time if I remember correctly).

The dentist told us today we needed to take one of the boys to an orthodontist asap b/c he's probably going to need baby teeth pulled to make space in there.

How much are braces running these days?

Anyone have any experience with dental students doing the braces? We have a dental school nearby and I know that is a service they offer...I just don't know if this is something I want to have my kids do. If it was me, no problem...I'm just not sure I'm willing to take any risks with the children.

Opinions?

 

[ohiominnie]

I want to say my kids' were about $4500 each. Ds's were "cheaper" but only because we had already paid a chunk when he was 5 and had a palate expander. Apparently that counted towards the total treatment plan.

I'm not sure on the exact figure as I supressed it deep into my subconscious. Or maybe it was cuz I fell and hit the floor after the orthodontist told me the price and I knocked something loose in there!

I know it was a lot, but especially in my son's case, if he DIDN'T have it done he'd have a lot more money in dental bills b/c of his horrible bite and incredible overcrowding.

 

[Luv'sTink]

My son has braces and for phase 1 it was $4,000. Head gear, W arch, lip bumper, lingual arch (sp) and brackets on 4 teeth, 18 monts of care.

But today his regular dentist said he may not need a phase 2, Orthodontist said this also but said not to count on it because you just don't know.

 

[JoyG]

I want to say my kids' were about $4500 each.

OMG! It's worse than I thought!

 

[chager]

Nick's were $4750 before insurance. Insurance paid $1500. We are putting remainder on FSA. Most will let you put a down payment and make payments. I don't know if I would trust students with braces. It was bad enough trusting the ortho office I went to as a teen!!! I will say make sure you give Motrin before going. Nick is big enough he took 2. It really made a difference in the pain level right after.

 

[Horseshoes]

I would also suggest you get 2 opinions from orthodontists.

I took my son to one that has a huge practice, they wanted $5700. He would have braces and some piston like contraption that would move his bottom jaw forward ( to correct an overbite )

I took him for a second opinion. And for $4100, he will have a palate expander type of thing that will move his top molers back, then put on the braces to correct the overbite.

 

[Narnian_Princess]

I would also suggest you get 2 opinions from orthodontists.

I took my son to one that has a huge practice, they wanted $5700. He would have braces and some piston like contraption that would move his bottom jaw forward ( to correct an overbite )

I took him for a second opinion. And for $4100, he will have a palate expander type of thing that will move his top molers back, then put on the braces to correct the overbite.

I had to have braces and the piston-like contraption (that thing is MISERABLE, by the way), and we had to pay nearly $5000 I think, but w/Insurance we only had to pay just over $1000.

But it is good to get second opinions; the first orthodontist I went to said I would have to have teeth cut out, which I did NOT want. The second said that pulling teeth would deaden my profile (had no idea!) and that the Herbst (the piston-like contraption) was the way to go to keep a strong profile. Whatdyaknow, he was right! I have a pretty profile now!

 

[kendall]

Hmmm, I think DS was around $5000, and DD around $4000. Thank God for insurance and Medical Reimbursement Accounts. Now DS is getting ready for the wisdom teeth thing....

 

[mamacatnv]

I strongly recommend you get a couple of opinions - I got 3. 3 different courses of treatment, 3 different lengths of treatment and surprisingly the costs were within $500 of each other ($5000 to $5500) - I took the info to my dentist and asked him for his recommendation.

We ended up going with what is called the "Damon" system for the $5500. We are a year into about a 16 month adventure and I am so impressed with DS's teeth, I can't wait to see the final result.

I don't have a clue about the dental school but it would be worth looking into. Ask your dentist and call the school and ask for some referrals.

I did not have braces put on DS until he was 16. He had the last of the baby teeth pulled at 15. I am so glad I waited, I don't have to nag about brushing, what he can/cannot eat etc. he is the model patient, he wanted the "fangs" corrected and he is an active participant in his treatment. He does exactly what he is told as his goal is to get them off for Sr. Pictures in August/Sept. and we are right on track.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

When I read the title of this post "Does your child have braces?" - I instantly thought "What child DOESN'T have braces nowadays?" - I do alot of babysitting and EVERY kid gets braces. It's an absolute fact of life around here! It seems no child's original teeth are ever deemed perfect enough to avoid braces nowadays. Braces and all the accompaning appliances (palate expanders, etc) are in the $6000 range here, and prices are always rising!

 

[Barb D]

DD7 is in the orthodontic process, but she doesn't get the actual braces until summer. The first phase, which is supposed to last through elementary school, is about $3000. If she needs a second phase in middle school it will be another $3000. Insurance pays half. She should be totally done before high school.

 

[ZuZugal]

2 in braces right now

$4300 and $4600

 

[Kteacher]

2 out of 3 of my kids needed braces. The Delta Dental plan we had wouldn't cover any of the costs ( don't get me started on Delta ) The costs were close to $4,000.00 each. We paid a percentage up front, and then $150.00 per month.

 

[crz4mm2]

NOt any more. They are almost 20 and almost 27. But they did when they were younger. We were exception to the rule. Our ortho told us to WAIT til their permanent teeth were IN before starting the braces! We did and were very happy.

I think it is nuts to start in grade school and end up with two or three sets of braces before you are done.

 

[luvdzne]

DDs was about $4500. The insurance paid $1000 lifetime, we had to put $1500 upfront and $85 until it is paid off. I must say it is worth every penny because her teeth were very crooked and now with only having them on just under a year they are perfectly straight, they look beautiful.

 

[SC Minnie]

DD got hers about a year ago when she was in 6th grade. The ortho waited almost a year to put them on-- she still had some baby teeth and they let all but one come out on their own. She should get them off this fall.

Our total was around $5000. Insurance paid for $1500 and we are doing the monthly payment thing.

DD's case was a little different- she had a slight overbite due to a 'short' lower jaw. As well has missing a couple of teeth all together (the canines). They had to decide what was the best course of action- implants or reshaping her teeth that were there.

If she had been a 'normal' case and we had an dental school close I would not have hesitated to look into it.

 

[starwood]

I think I'm going to need to get braces for one or more of my sons. No big surprise because I had them as a kid (and for a long time if I remember correctly).

The dentist told us today we needed to take one of the boys to an orthodontist asap b/c he's probably going to need baby teeth pulled to make space in there.

How much are braces running these days?

Anyone have any experience with dental students doing the braces? We have a dental school nearby and I know that is a service they offer...I just don't know if this is something I want to have my kids do. If it was me, no problem...I'm just not sure I'm willing to take any risks with the children.

Opinions?

I had braces as a kid (a loooong time ago) and DS just got his braces off in November.

I had braces from the dental school and I'm not sure if it's the new type of braces but DS had a much easier time going to a real orthodontist. Our dental insurance covered 1500 worth of the bill - we paid around $2000 out of pocket.

We were told DS would need them for 2 - 2 1/2 years. He got them off after a little more than 1 year (so it depends on how fast the teeth move). He is now wearing a retainer and needs to go back in 6 months.

When you go to the dental school you get a different student each time you go. They are supervised by a teacher but basically they are on their own until they finish working on you and the teacher reviews their work (at which time they may have to redo something).

 

[JBurke]

My daughter just had hers put on last month.
The cost was $3800. My insurance is paying half of it.
She also had to have baby teeth pulled.