OT- How much did you pay for your child's braces?

[Kay1]

My son's were about $4,500 with a discount for paying cash. The insurance company paid $1,000.

 

[vhoffman]

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[disneysteve]

We have a medical savings plan with DH's job, but if we put the max in every month we will really feel a pinch. I know we could finance, but DH wants to try and do it this way, and not pay interest. The cheapest estimate so far was $4900

We are paying $3,750, which is our portion after the 20% discount through our insurance. So I guess that makes the total about $4,687.

Our orthodontist offers interest-free financing, so we're doing that.

 

[Praying Colonel]

DD had them on from 10/01-5/05. At the time our dental insurance didn't cover orthodonture, so we paid 100%.

We paid $2700 for everything--initial consult, braces, monthly checks, post-braces retainer, post-braces checkups, the whole thing. Ortho let us pay $100/month until paid.

Teeth started shifting again this year and ortho recommended getting them placed on again.* He did it for 0 additional cost to us and is also doing the monthly checks for free. Super guy. We feel lucky to have had him.





*--DD was born without an upper eye tooth, and he recommended she get a dental implant once the braces do their job and her pace of growth has pretty much slowed. We thought that was going to be last year, but then things started moving back after the braces came off. In order to make sure we had plenty of room for the implant to work, he recommended putting the braces back on for a few months. So after DD got her senior portrait, we got the braces back on and she's had them on for about 4 months. She's not happy with having them back on, but there's no way we're spending $2700 on braces and probably $1500-2000 for an implant and not having everything perfect.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I'm wondering how many of you would put your child in braces strictly for perfectly straight teeth? I know DH regrets not having braces for his bottom teeth (they are crowded, but no bite issues). We have insurance that would cover at least some of the cost.

We had that same issue with DS15. We had him checked out by the same ortho who did DD17's braces. He said braces were unnecessary and the only reason to do them would be for the slightest of cosmetic reasons.

We take our teeth seriously--DW had braces, DD has braces (for the 2nd time around--read above), and I needed braces when I was younger but my parents didn't get them for me (got them for my sis--one of the few things I hold against my parents), and will be getting some soon. We decided against them for DS. If the ortho had said they were even 1% necessary, we would've been all for it, but I couldn't see spending the $ and putting him through it if it wasn't necessary and it was going to take his smile from a 9.5 to a 10.

 

[luvsgrumpy]

Sorry this doesn't address the original question, but has anyone experienced any difficulties waiting to start the whole process until your kids were say 12-15 yr. old or so? DS10 needs them especially for his upper teeth, not sure about the bite situation but there is no way we will be able to spend that kind of money unfortunately at this time. Hopefully things will turn around in the next couple of years. (just in time for oldest DS to start college but that's a whole other story!)

 

[pigget74]

For the past 2 years we have been paying our ortho $64 a month for pre orthodontic treatment for my two older kids that will go towards braces if they need it. This is with a 10% educators discount that out ortho gives to all teachers. Anyway--son just got braces and they appplied $600 that we have paid over the past two years to it and insurance will cover $1000. We now pay $170 a month with no money down. So our total was $5400.

Now DD is a different story--we have had all teeth pulled except for the front tooth. They have even pulled two perm teeth and were waiting on 2 more teeth. THen we will have an expander and then braces. Whatever we pay prior to braces --- comes off the final cost. So we have paid close to $700 for pre treatment so far and then whatever the cost of the expander--they will both come off the final price. For example if they cost $6000-pre treatment - expander - insurance=final price. We really like the plan that we have.

 

[crjack]

$5600 here is Boston but that covers everything (visits, retainers,etc.) Our insurance covered $2000, we put $1600 down and we have 10 equal payments of $200 that are interest free. Most orthodontists offer payment plans so that helps. Ours only offered the interest free for 10 months but had other plans for much longer financing.

 

[pjlla]

South Central NH reporting in. The quote we received in November for DD (currently 11 y/o) braces is about $6,400. I was floored! It was much more than I expected. This includes headgear for about 6-12 mo and then full braces for about 18 mo. (No extractions needed.) THere is a small discount if you pay up front. So guess where DH's year-end bonus is going?? This doesn't include any starting consults, x-rays, or impression. I paid over $300 up front for those. Our insurance should pay about $2,000. ......................P

 

[DianaPrincessofWales]

Total cost for our DD 13 will be around $3200. Our insurance caps off at $2000 and we can make any amount of payments as long as we have paid in full when they come off. She only has about 2 months left so I'm starting to get excited to see what her expensive smile will look like!!

 

[Jennifer S]

Sorry this doesn't address the original question, but has anyone experienced any difficulties waiting to start the whole process until your kids were say 12-15 yr. old or so? DS10 needs them especially for his upper teeth

I'd like to know this too. We had our consult yesterday and the ortho said we could do an expander and four braces on the top teeth now or wait two years and do a full set of braces. If we start treatment now he will still need the braces later. DS is scared to death and doesn't want to do it. He's 10.

I have no experience with this and I'm not sure what to do

 

[MrsPete]

We're looking into orthodontists right now. Our oldest daughter will probably be fitted with braces next summer or next school year -- as soon as those last pesky baby teeth come out! The kid's going on 13! It's time!

Most of the estimates we're getting have been in the $5000 range, which is what most people here are saying.

Usually I'm a pay-up-front kind of girl, and we have the money to do it . . . but I'm considering payments. I've heard several people say that they weren't all that pleased with their choice of orthodontist, and either they were pleased to be able to switch mid-stream, or they were sorry that they were stuck because they couldn't walk away from the money they'd paid.

 

[DianeV]

Daughter turning 13 Friday just started expander on top and bottom for approx 3 months and then into top and bottom braces-- total for all $4300 and no consult fees etc..this price is for the xrays, pics, etc. We are using the Care Credit plan

 

[mamacatnv]

Sorry this doesn't address the original question, but has anyone experienced any difficulties waiting to start the whole process until your kids were say 12-15 yr. old or so? DS10 needs them especially for his upper teeth, not sure about the bite situation but there is no way we will be able to spend that kind of money unfortunately at this time. Hopefully things will turn around in the next couple of years. (just in time for oldest DS to start college but that's a whole other story!)

We waited until DS was 16, he still had baby teeth well into his 15th year. To me the advantage is that HE wanted to fix his teeth, HE does what the Ortho tells HIM, HE is responsible to brush, floss, rinse etc... I don't have to whine, nag and monitor what he eats and how he cares for them. HE schedules his appts. so as not to conflict with his ever changing schedule and now HE drives himself to the appt. I personally am so very glad we waited. The braces are due off in Aug 07 just in time for his Senior pictures which is his goal, therefore he is extra good.

Even tho they are still on the difference is amazing and my heart does a little flutter every time he smiles because they look so much better, $$ well spent IMO. He had a really bad case of fang teeth

 

[twoeeyy]

DD 14 is getting hers off tommorow

She started in 4th grade with the first phase. Out Ortho recommended to do hers in the two phase because he would be able to mover her teeth around as new ones came in therefor making room and not having to pull teeth. She now has a BEAUTIFUL smile that I can't wait to see in all it's pearly white glory tomorrow .

we ( our should I say very generous father in law ) paid just under 6,000. total.

 

[MommyMouse]

$5100 for DD. They estimate she'll have them on for about a total of 2 years. Ins. paid $1000 and we pay $170/monthly for the 2 years. If treatment goes past that time...no extra charge. Geez.....mine only cost $1500 in the 70's

 

[LMCT88]

Had 2 in braces at one point. Thought I would share when first started with the Orthodontist, she said they did it in levels, steps, phases or however she put it. I got a quote for well over 5,000 per. child. So we started, did the pallete spreader, headgear, bumper guard entire 9 yards, about a month or so later I was telling someone who was getting braces on her daughter and she couldn't believe the price I was paying. She suggested I see another orthodontist, well I figured ok why not no harm, well come to find out it was going to actually cost me alittle over 3500 a month, and she didn't agree with the first orthodontist having all that hardware, pallete spreader in my daughters mouth, (which she removed once accepting us as patients), she said my daughter was too young to go through that and she didn't see it warranted. My daugter was I believe 11 at the time. Needless to say I highly advise when they start talking phases etc. To get another opinion. By the way both my children are no longer wearing braces and have beautiful smiles. Sorry for being so long.

 

[fivefordisney]

This is a little bit of a different question, but ortho related. DD10 was just at the dentist and I asked about ortho. He said her bite is perfect, and ortho would only be needed for cosmetic reasons, i.e., if we wanted her teeth to be perfectly straight. Right now, the bottom front permanent teeth are crowded. The top teeth look OK so far. She lost a bunch of molars and canine teeth over the summer, so she has a lot of gaps on the sides and in back. Those teeth are beginning to emerge, but it's too early to tell if they will crowd. I had ortho at her age (my teeth were way worse than hers). My braces were off by age 12. We're definitely planning to go for an ortho consult (probably after some of the molars etc. have come in some more). I'm wondering how many of you would put your child in braces strictly for perfectly straight teeth? I know DH regrets not having braces for his bottom teeth (they are crowded, but no bite issues). We have insurance that would cover at least some of the cost.

I would definitely fix my kids' teeth--I want them to smile broadly and confidently! I also don't want them to have to wear braces as adults because they didn't get them as children...

I had horrible orthodontic work done when I was a child. Because of that, many of my teeth are bonded to close the gaps that were left because the clinic where my parents sent me pulled teeth that shouldn't have been pulled. I ask so many questions at the orthodontists. My DD10 is in an expander now and will probably have braces within the year...

 

[fivefordisney]

Sorry this doesn't address the original question, but has anyone experienced any difficulties waiting to start the whole process until your kids were say 12-15 yr. old or so? DS10 needs them especially for his upper teeth, not sure about the bite situation but there is no way we will be able to spend that kind of money unfortunately at this time. Hopefully things will turn around in the next couple of years. (just in time for oldest DS to start college but that's a whole other story!)

The way I understand it is that it really depends on which molars he has and whether or not you want teeth pulled. Before the 12 year old molars come in, there are more options regarding expanders and making more room in the mouth...

My DD10 missed an appointment when she was nine (we go twice a year) and I didn't sweat it because she had lost so many teeth that I figured the dentist/ortho wouldn't have anything to look at anyway. Well, it turns out that was a BIG mistake. The year between visits brought much change in DD's mouth. She had lost so many molars...

To make a long story short, DD is in an expander with only a 50% chance of it working enough to keep from pulling teeth. I am so bummed...but have definitely learned my lesson for the other two kids.

It really depends on each kid's mouth. My nephew who is only a week older than my daughter has only lost 8 teeth total and is no where near ready for orthodontic work.

Good luck!

 

[Chris]

DD11 needs braces, terribly, and we have no dental insurance. We have a medical savings plan with DH's job, but if we put the max in every month we will really feel a pinch. I know we could finance, but DH wants to try and do it this way, and not pay interest. The cheapest estimate so far was $4900, and that included everything including all appliances for 2 years.
Is that similar to what you have paid?

We paid 4200.00 for my son~his should be on for 22 months they said.
My dd <10> had her's put on and they said about 18 months for her and she was 3800.00 They are both wearing them now. Once they are done, or nearly done, the next 2 will be in them I'm sure.