So how much do braces cost?

[TxJasmine]

I know this is a nosy question...but I really have no idea because the last time I worried about them was when I was a kid (many decades ago !)

Yesterday my 8 and 9 year old kids went to the dentist, and I found out that they both needed braces badly (yes, I was expecting this!) So my question is - how expensive are they? I really have no idea. $2000, $5000, $10000? I know my insurance will cover some of it, but probably not nearly enough! Also, how do you go about finding an orthodontist? I'm not sure I'm crazy about the one recommended by the dentist (too much mass marketing and advertising for my tastes), so I thought I'd ask other parents I know whose children have already been through this.

Any advice or suggestions you all can give me would be greatly appreciated! I'm sure there are lots of DISers who've been through this!

 

[huckster]

all depends on each case but i was told by my friend hers sons cost 1800.00 plus visits till off

 

[Serena]

My oldest dd's was about $4,000. That included everything, including any surprises along the way.

 

[MAC3]

My DDs (2 yrs ago they were put on) 5,000.00.

 

[huckster]

oh each of my children were told this to at a young age never did get them their teeth are fine, they said one doesnt have enough room for adult teeth and one was told they had a crooked bite. we opted not to get them and wait and see as they grew they are grown and have beautiful teeth.

 

[anne60]

My son's were $4000. He had them for 2.5 years.


Shop around and definitely talk to other folks. You are going to be spending a lot of time and money, so it is worth some investigation. I brought my son to 3 orthodontists, and they all pretty much had the same opinion. I brought my daughter to 3, and got 3 different opinions. I am still struggling with what to do!

 

[TwinMom7]

We just started this process about 6 weeks ago. Our total is $5,300 - spread out over the next two years. Our insurance only paid $675 of it.

 

[tar heel]

About $5,000 in our case, and insurance only covered $1,000. This included a couple appliances, headgear, braces, retainer, etc. We've finished paying (hooray), and the braces should come off in a couple months.

 

[Towncrier]

I'll know more later this afternoon when DD Sarah gets her braces. Yikes. We aren't sure how much (if any) our dental insurance will cover.

 

[RitaZ.]

My DS got his braces over a month ago and we paid $3700. It would have been $4K, but if we paid cash, we could receive a $300 discount. DS's treatment will be for 2+ years, and the retainer isn't included in that price, so we will have to pay $300 for that when the time comes. Our insurance covers $2K lifetime maximum.

My DS's friend also has braces and his orthodontist charges $5K. From what his mom said, her office is VERY fancy; I guess somebody has to pay for all that. My son and his friend have identical braces, except for the color of the brackets.

 

[lisalynn]

My DD is in the process right now. Her palate was too small, so had to have an expander placed first (in August) & the top braces will go on next week. The bottom ones will go on after the expander comes off in January or February. Total cost $6000. Checked around on prices before we started the process & the costs ranged from $5,800-$7,000. We went with the orthodontist that DD was most comfortable with. I think that is a big factor, you're going to be putting in a big time commitment with this Dr., so you need to be comfortable & happy with him/her.

Best of luck!

 

[denisenh]

Mine are $4800, 2 DD's were $4000. each. Our dental insurance covered none of it. One DD to go.
Good luck to you!

 

[shelbyjosh]

DD9 got hers on 8/03. I believe our total bill was around $2500. This is Phase 1. She only has brackets on the top and bottom front 4 and bands on the back 4. She wears headgear at night. She will get Phase 2 around 12-13 and that will be more $$. He says by shifting them now will prevent them from getting pulled later. Our ortho is great and I have complete faith in him. She is due to get them off before Christmas.

 

[candykisses]

Around $3300.00. That was for everything. If additional retainers are needed they cost $100.00. We've already purchased 2 additional ones.

 

[SeaSpray]

DS(now 16), needed only top braces and his cost around $2000, including retainer.

DS13 has top and bottom braces, and his cost around $3600, and that includes the retainer once the braces come off.

 

[BUCKEYE MICKEY]

At what ages do kids get braces. My 9 year old DD has an appointment for next week. My sis says it's too soon. I had to wait 6 mo for this appointment, I just want to know what i'm in for.

 

[kasar]

9 years old is not too soon. They like the kids to start as their teeth are just coming in. I guess it's easier to put them in the correct position to start than to have to move them once they're in. Especially if you think your DD may need a palate expander or something, the earlier the better.

Back to the original question, we're in braces right now for both girls. Our orthodontist splits the treatment into phases. We're in phase 2 for DD11 and in a holding pattern before phase 2 for DD10 (waiting for a few more teeth to come in). Each phase ran around $3000. So, we've got $12,000 worth of hardware in our house! I think the orthodontist is putting our name on his new island in the Caribbean! LOL

 

[Lisa AF]

I think the orthodontist is putting our name on his new island in the Caribbean! LOL

kasar, my ortho's island is probably near your drs.! My oldest daughter needs one set at 4500 and my younger needs two phases at $4500 and $5200. Then add tounge thrust threapy on top at $70 a week. We did get a discount for paying cash.
They better smile at me for the rest of my life!

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I think mine was $2700 when I got them (about 13 years ago). No clue how much they are now.

 

[brerrabbit]

TxJasmine -

I see your from Texas although I not sure what part. I live in the Houston area and I used to have a dentist who talked a lot. When I mentioned my son needed braces he casually asked me how much was it going to cost? I told him they had quoted a figure of $3,900 for the full treatment. He said oh okay thats right thats the current price. I asked him what do you mean thats the current price? He then explained that the area orthadontists and Dentists had agreed "unofficially" the the going rate for the treatment would be $3,900 and everyone in the area would charge that. I don't know if they still do that but when we looked around suprisingly enough everyone in our area was charging the same thing. So the long answer to your question is that four years ago it cost us $3,900 and our insurance paid a lifetime maximum of $1,000 per person for ortho work so in the end it cost us $2,900 out of pocket.