DS has to get braces. Is $6100 too high, it sure seems too high!

[disneyfanforever]

DH and I took DS12 to the orthodontist for a consult today. The orthodontist said DS needs top and bottom braces as well as some type of expander for a couple months on the bottom. DS has straight teeth on the top but was told he needs braces to fix his bite a little.

The price was $6100!! Our insurance will only pay $1500 so we will have to pay out of pocket of $4600. Is that normal? Or is that way too high? Also, we do not live in a big city at all. We live in Arkansas for crying out loud.

What do you guys think? I am definitely freaked out about this. Thanks!

 

[Pennykay]

It seems way high to me, but I guess it depends on where you are. Here in Michigan we paid 2500 for the same type of work. Maybe you could check around locally.

 

[sparklynails23]

My son's were $2200, which included expanders

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Is this your first consult? I am going for consult number 3 on Wed. for my dd.

Can you ask around? That is probably the best advice I can give you.

6100 is very high, esp if your son has straight teeth on top!

My consults have been in the 4-5 range. My dd's teeth, bite, and other stuff are a huge mess.

Get more consults.

 

[shelbys mommy]

I had braces back in 93...it was $2500 then

 

[handinpocket]

Ours was 4800 and 5200 7 yrs. ago.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My oldest son had braces in two phases. I recall that each phase was in the $3000 range (so around $6000 for both). Our youngest has had his first phase already and I recall it also being in the $3000 range. He will have his second phase in another year or so. No estimate on that one yet.

 

[THE HAT]

Nope not high for all ds will be getting done. Our ds has had neck gear and expanders since this summer and just got his top set and expander put on. He will be with the expander for about 3 months. Long story short this will be a 3 year process. Ds' teeth are straight but he has quite an overbite. Our cost 6000.00 and no orthodontic insurance. We did it in 2 3000.00 flex spending payments.

Back in the 80's mine cost my parents 2500.00

 

[IMissEd]

That's close to how much it is here in Knoxville. My 12yr old DD just got hers on last week and they are $4600. She had an expander when she was about 8 yrs old and it seems like it was $1000. My insurance also pays $1500. We are applying it toward our Flexible Spending Acct, so it should help some with taxes.

 

[disneyfanforever]

Yes, this was our first consult. We are definitely going to look around since you guys here have been able to get them so much cheaper. I know this guy we went to today is good as several of DSs friends use him, but that price seems so high to me. Thanks for all of the info!

Edited: Just saw some of you guys are paying around $6000 so maybe it's not too far off after all. I definitely hope we can find them cheaper, but I guess if we can't we are just going to have to bite the bullet and pay it.

 

[nexttrip4us]

Well...a year ago, my DS got his braces put on for $4800...not 6 months later my niece started her braces and it was $5300...we live about 45 min from a major city in the midwest...in our own smaller town it was probably closer to $4500 but I was more comfortable with driving to a larger city to an ortho we had a lot of experience with.

Good luck! These kids better came out with some BEAUTIFUL smiles!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, this was our first consult. We are definitely going to look around since you guys here have been able to get them so much cheaper. I know this guy we went to today is good as several of DSs friends use him, but that price seems so high to me. Thanks for all of the info!

Well if he is "good" I would be willingly to pay more for that. However I would still shop around.

I went to one consult and the ortho refused to give a solid quote. He tells me "they don't do that". He gave me a base price that he was going to change after I signed up to get the braces.

I tell him that is a first. I never heard of not getting a quote (even if it is a couple of days later). He tried to pretend I was stupid and that "everyone does it that way". Yea right buddy, I have been around the block.

He was also very rude, overbooked in his office, and he came in 20 mins late thru the front door with a whole room full of patients.

I mean I asked him a question about money and he turns to me and says....."I only do teeth". What a jerk.

Their office called me a couple of weeks ago to schedule her braces. I told them I was not going with their office because I did not feel comfortable there. The gal says, OK then and hangs up.

So bottom line....be picky but be smart and get someplace good.

 

[Bluestars]

Ours were $4500, but we got a discount for paying it all at once and for paying before the end of the month. We ended up paying $3850.

 

[MAKmom]

I'm Paying $4000.00 for top & bottom for DD13 she got the top on last week.

 

[VillageMama]

We just had a consult today for our second child. Just like our first (who got his braces off this past October), it will be $5500 for two years worth of braces. (Palate expanders and such are extra.)

After our second child is finished with braces, we have two more children who need them. Then there is my toddler and unborn baby, who will likely need them, too. We have wide feet and crooked teeth.

All told, we'll have paid this orthodontist some $30,000 for braces for all of the children. It makes me want to cry and pull my hair but the end result is so worth it.

(I literally cried in the ortho's office when I learned that children #3 and 4 would need braces, too.)

 

[iwrbnd]

All 4 of my kids will get braces or already have them!
The bill is usually 4,000-5,000 and we live in the midwest.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

My first was $4200 - we paid his upfront. Our second doesn't need them. Our third is $4800 - we decided to do the payment plan - they don't charge interest - no point laying it all out.

It is what it is.

We LOVE our orthodontist and it is well worth the money - we'll be in treatment for at least 2 1/2 years - it comes out to $140 a month or so.

I would think $6000 would be high - even by Long Island standards - and we did get a second child discount. But, they may have to do things on your child they don't have to do on others.

I would get a second opinion.

 

[klj27]

That is in line with what we are paying. My daughter has full braces and a herbst appliance. She will get the herbst off after 12-15 months and the braces will be on a total of 36 months. After that she will get top and bottom retainers to keep the teeth in place.

Our total is $6380, but we paid another $200 to get clear brackets since she has to wear them for so long.

 

[ORMom2Four]

I've had two teens in braces.

That's just about the price we paid for each of them......I think DD was $5600 and DS $5800.

We just had an ultrasound of our twins, and they were each sucking their thumbs. DD17 says, "Oh boy, two more who will need braces!"

 

[sunshine1178]

We paid $5000 for my dsd's braces in Arkansas. Now we're paying another $5500 in Illinois because the guy in Arkansas did it incorrectly. Her mouth is worth more than some cars.