Tell me about braces...How much?

[hemispheredancer]

DD has her appointment for Phase 2 tomorrow, so I will let you know how long of a treatment plan she'll have and how much (and the PAYMENT PLAN!!!)

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

I'm 6 months into my three-year stint. Mine were $4,950 (with a cash discount of 5%). I have ceramics on top and System R brackets on the bottom. I like the metal ones MUCH better and wish I hadn't been so vain as to want the clear ones on top. You see them anyway, and the bottom ones have caused me NO problems. Plus, it's much faster to change the wire on the Rs than on the ceramics.

 

[FSUGrad97]

I got mine taken off in April, and I paid $4800, and my insurance paid $950. My payments were about $120 a month.

ETA: I was scheduled to wear them for 2 years, but my teeth did so well that I was able to get the taken off about 5 months early.

 

[popeyeohoh]

Well let's see. They are Dr.'s with all the medical degrees and the $ that goes with getting them. They see you once a month to every other month for anywhere from 1 to 8 years. The price includes all hardware and a replacement of said hardware the first time it's lost or broken. It also includes emergecny visits. And answering frantic phone calls when you have wire poking into your kids mouth and don't know what to do. And when it's all over, they tell you not to hesistate to call.....EVER.....if you have any questions regarding the teeth. As in in 2 years if you have a problem, give them a call. That's what they were paid for. Maybe our ortho was just awesome, but that's what my $$$ got me and I thought it was a pretty good deal.

_______________________________

Maybe in your orthodontic world but not mine. If my son is sick and cannot make an appt OH!!another 6 weeks!! And then the orthodontist does not have evening hours and works part time on Wednesday and Fridays. Right now he has a broken brace, See ya on July 29. My sons braces are paid off!! I am never late on a payment. My son has sat in a chair for 2 hours with his mouth open.

Could continue in this vein all night. Don't want to.

 

[Snowysmom]

Older DS's were $3600. Younger DS's were $4400. DH's were $4000. Older DS's orthodontist retired while DH was in braces and before younger DS had them. The doctor who took over the practice was more expensive but she was good. Insurance paid for $1000, $1500, $1500 respectively. It does seem like more kids are in braces these days than when I was growing up.

 

[gm]

it cost me $1800 total at the University hospital (where the dental students do your teeth)though you would have to have no cavities, etc and will need to do a full dental check up(no cavities) before they accept you but after that they do everything.

 

[belle&beast]

I'm 6 months into my three-year stint. Mine were $4,950 (with a cash discount of 5%). I have ceramics on top and System R brackets on the bottom. I like the metal ones MUCH better and wish I hadn't been so vain as to want the clear ones on top. You see them anyway, and the bottom ones have caused me NO problems. Plus, it's much faster to change the wire on the Rs than on the ceramics.

I agree- same situation except I'm a year into mine! Go with System R if you have a choice. Plus with ceramic certain food and drinks stain, so you have to be careful. I can live without coffee, but Diet Coke is tempting!

 

[clh2]

I would agree with several other posters. Make sure the orthdontist's location and hours, staffing work for you, your work and family's schedules.

I.e., My DD's orthodontist office has 2 locations, 3 orthodontists, and many techs. They have early appointments 1 day a week, and late appointments 1 day a week. They are not open on Friday's - ever, as they teach at a dental school that day. I love this office, but they are about 30 minutes from my DD's school.

 

[Luv'sTink]

For DS we paid $4000 for phase one. I hate to see how much phase two will be.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Well let's see. They are Dr.'s with all the medical degrees and the $ that goes with getting them. They see you once a month to every other month for anywhere from 1 to 8 years. The price includes all hardware and a replacement of said hardware the first time it's lost or broken. It also includes emergecny visits. And answering frantic phone calls when you have wire poking into your kids mouth and don't know what to do. And when it's all over, they tell you not to hesistate to call.....EVER.....if you have any questions regarding the teeth. As in in 2 years if you have a problem, give them a call. That's what they were paid for. Maybe our ortho was just awesome, but that's what my $$$ got me and I thought it was a pretty good deal.

As well, also part of the reason that braces are so expensive has to do with supply and demand. EVERYONE (especially in the USA) needs straight teeth nowadays. It's very much a "unsaid" class thing. People with money tend to have nice, pretty teeth, while poor people are more likely to have crooked, unattractive teeth. And your teeth are there for everyone to see, so everyone can see your class. This preference for the perfect smile is so ingrained into us, as we see it everywhere in the media, with all those blaring white, perfect smiles everywhere. And how many of you in professional jobs have a boss with crappy teeth? (Well, maybe some of you but every boss I ever worked with had straight teeth! ). To be sucessful, a nice smile becomes a necessity.

No one wants themselves or their child to have the many disavantage of a poor smile, so almost everyone needs braces (unless you are blessed with a natural perfect smile), and therefore the orthodontists can charge accordingly, since they know we will all pay it. They won the war a long time ago. Did I tell you that my ortho has a 2 million dollar mansion? No, I am not exaggerating - I saw his house!

I just got my braces off - I had them for over three years and had extraction surgery, too. My teeth aren't perfect, but much better. It was a grand total of over $9000 out of pocket with no insurance. I did it because I really felt I would never advance on the job unless I had the perfect smile that everyone else had. Just reading this post, I think you are all wonderful, caring parents for giving your children the wonderful asset of straight teeth and beautiful smiles - it's worth whatever the ortho charges!

 

[lyeag]

DD, who will be 14 this month, just got her braces off today. Her case wasn't all that bad so the total cost was around 3400.00. Insurance paid 1500.00. We had to put 20% of our cost up front when the braces went on and then we paid 77 a month for 18 months. Just wrote the last check today! We get her retainers tomorrow and I am sure she will have a few checks on them. Only other issue we should have will be to see if she will need her wisdom teeth out later if she has them.


Whew, one down, two more kids to go!

 

[Keli]

Ashli's were 4,300. They've been off nearly three years now.

 

[Annie68]

DD's were $4600. Well worth the money!

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughter is going to need them, they said they would start in 3rd grade which is good since I want to get it all going and paid for before I retire in 6 years..I can use my flexible spending account to pay for them plus once I retire I lose my dental coverage!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well let's see. They are Dr.'s with all the medical degrees and the $ that goes with getting them. They see you once a month to every other month for anywhere from 1 to 8 years. The price includes all hardware and a replacement of said hardware the first time it's lost or broken. It also includes emergecny visits. And answering frantic phone calls when you have wire poking into your kids mouth and don't know what to do. And when it's all over, they tell you not to hesistate to call.....EVER.....if you have any questions regarding the teeth. As in in 2 years if you have a problem, give them a call. That's what they were paid for. Maybe our ortho was just awesome, but that's what my $$$ got me and I thought it was a pretty good deal.

_______________________________

Maybe in your orthodontic world but not mine. If my son is sick and cannot make an appt OH!!another 6 weeks!! And then the orthodontist does not have evening hours and works part time on Wednesday and Fridays. Right now he has a broken brace, See ya on July 29. My sons braces are paid off!! I am never late on a payment. My son has sat in a chair for 2 hours with his mouth open.

Could continue in this vein all night. Don't want to.

I don't know who you saw--but I've had two orthodontists--private practice. I paid a little extra for that--but then I don't get treated as just another set of teeth. When I need to be seen...I'm seen.

Perhaps your ortho just isn't a nice one. But to stereotype the entire field as overpriced and not worth it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

As well, also part of the reason that braces are so expensive has to do with supply and demand. EVERYONE (especially in the USA) needs straight teeth nowadays. It's very much a "unsaid" class thing. People with money tend to have nice, pretty teeth, while poor people are more likely to have crooked, unattractive teeth. And your teeth are there for everyone to see, so everyone can see your class. This preference for the perfect smile is so ingrained into us, as we see it everywhere in the media, with all those blaring white, perfect smiles everywhere. And how many of you in professional jobs have a boss with crappy teeth? (Well, maybe some of you but every boss I ever worked with had straight teeth! ). To be sucessful, a nice smile becomes a necessity.

I think you assume incorrectly that it is just people with money.

I paid for mine myself and I wasn't rich.

I had bite issues--and when the teeth don't meet when you bite--it is a little more than a desire for straight.

(And my smile was visually fine)

 

[pat fan]

EVERYONE (especially in the USA) needs straight teeth nowadays. It's very much a "unsaid" class thing. People with money tend to have nice, pretty teeth, while poor people are more likely to have crooked, unattractive teeth.

You know, I'm sure you mean well by this, but it kind of irks me. My DS's have good teeth (one due to braces, one is just lucky) but I sure don't look down on anyone else, child or adult, if their teeth aren't straight. My teeth aren't perfect...my dream is to someday get braces for myself, but that doesn't mean I'm poor or classless (but I guess you would automaticaly think so if you met me ), it's just not my top priority right now.

 

[4chitlins]

My daughter gets hers on next week.They will cost 4200.00

 

[golfgal]

If you have a flex spend account you can flex the entire amount of the braces out one year and pay the whole cost upfront. Often a discount is given for that. We did it that way. Something to look into anyway.

 

[shep]

Wow...Lots of replies...lol

My estimate was for $4800(that was for everything, braces-retainer) and DW's insurance would cover 1/2..
So that makes the decision easier...

I am going on the 31st to get the top row, then later for the bottom...
They got to fix the overbite...