What do/did braces cost you?

[Piecey]

DH's were $5500 or somewhere around there.
Insurance paid $1000 and we paid $155/mo. interest free over the course of his treatment. He gets them off in 11 days! Woohoo!!!!!!! I will not miss the braces OR the payment.

 

[phred52]

If you can swing it, ask about a discount for paying cash up front. Knocked off 8% for us

 

[ceecee]

About 5000-6000 is the norm in this area. Area plays a large part in the cost. Get several estimates and referrals. Most orthodontists will do free consultations. Orthodontists also charge more than general dentists, play the extra it's worth it.

 

[J&K'sPrincessMommy]

Our oldests are gpong on the 10th and we are paying $3,100 after our insurance for phase 2. Younger DD is getting phase 1 (retainer) in 5 weeks for $1,485- no insurance coverage for that.

 

[elgerber]

My dd's were $5400, not including retainers, or the 4 teeth they pulled. She had them on almost 3 years, but that did not affect the price.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Caveats:

#1- This was a long time ago and

#2- I had really (like, the ortho once brought me in to meet a prospective patient's mother, showed her pictures of what my teeth used to look like then had me smile big for her and said, "This is what I can do for your daughter!") bad teeth.

My parents paid somewhere around $8000-9000 up front, with the understanding that all costs incurred above and beyond that amount would be gratis. I went over those amounts and my ortho worked for free for a year or two. But that was not just one set of braces, but something of some sort in my mouth from ages 8-15.

 

[WENDYDOTS]

Just had final consult with our 11 yr old DS-estimated cost was $6700 and two years of 'work' to complete the process...There goes our Disney trip for a while

 

[j's m]

DS15 is getting his put on next Tuesday. $ 4950 less 7% if paid in full that day (using my Disney Visa!)

 

[natenapril]

My DD's brces were $6500 and my insurance paid $1500. She will be wearing them for 2 years and them will have retainer (including in the above price) I had to put at least $1000 down before they start treatment.

 

[sjms71]

We are going on Tuesday July 6 to get DD 12 braces on. She's been going to the orthodontist since she was 7. So, we had phase I which cost us $1000 which was retainer and spacers and all kinds of stuff for the last 5 years. Anyway, braces cost $5800. The Dr. is deducting the $1000 we paid for phase I. Now costing $4800 minus $1500 insurance. Our balance $3300.

 

[JVL1018]

I had braces a couple of years ago-regular metal braces, no palate expanders or anything like that and total cost was $4250(includes retainers). I was lucky and had insurance that paid out for adult orthodontics, so $1000 of that was covered by insurance.

I paid $1000 cash up front and $125/month for 18 months, even though i had them on for an additional 6 months after that.

 

[patsal]

My kids did the 2 phase braces. rapid palate expanders at 7, full braces at 8, off then tweeked with full braces again at 12. Retainers as well. We call them the $10,000 mouths, insurance picked up half.

 

[dznyacct]

I had braces as an adult. When they were put on in 1996 the total cost was $3,600 and that was a very good price for our area. Unfortunately, the year AFTER they were taken off is when flex spending became an option at my employer, so all cost was out of pocket . It was one of the best things I ever did though .

 

[alwaysmom]

Oldest DS had them from 2000 to 2003 total. Cost was about $6200 total. Youngest DS had a permanent retainer put in 2006 for 1 year, cost was about $800. Fortunately our insurance covered the oldest fully (participating dentist), the youngest was mostly out of pocket (non-participating). We have already been told youngest will need full braces in a couple years. Can you guess which orthodontist we switched back to .

 

[hinodis]

DD's were $4,300. Considerably less then the $5,500 another dr. was going to charge us. The real kicker is the more expensive dr. said she would only need them for 9 months to a year and the less expensive guy said 2+years! AND I like the cheaper guy soooo much better. I say shop around!

 

[apnep]

My son is 12 and we have finally gotton the go ahead for braces. He is getting traditional metal braces and the cost is $4950. I was wondering how "average' is that price?

Let's see, DD9 started last year. Her treatment is supposed to be in 2 "phases" the first totalling $2000 out-of-pocket (with a $2K lifetime max coverage from insurance.) The second phase is $5000 but, her teeth look straight and beautiful to me, so I don't really think that we are going to do it.

My DS12 has been in a herbst appliance and braces since January. The total cost of his treatment out-of-pocket is $4500. (Same $2K from insurance.) Luckily that's it for him.

I have one more DS6 to go and maybe if I'm lucky I'll be able to afford some Invisalign for me. Personally, I think the whole insurance portion is a racquet for the orthos because I feel like they just jack up the price and stick you for that portion anyway, sigh...but at least my kids will have nice teeth.

Angela

 

[sunshine1178]

$5000 for two years. And another $5000 for a new set a year later because the first time left them crooked. Don't get me started.

 

[ceecee]

We do have an orthodontist in our area who always does Phase I and II. The dentist I worked for didn't agree that everyone needed that and so we no longer refer pts to him. It was like a joke that all the kids who had a space maintainer or another type of appliance when there, he started them early too like at age 6. He's also big on extracting teeth.

 

[apnep]

We do have an orthodontist in our area who always does Phase I and II. The dentist I worked for didn't agree that everyone needed that and so we no longer refer pts to him. It was like a joke that all the kids who had a space maintainer or another type of appliance when there, he started them early too like at age 6. He's also big on extracting teeth.

Age 6 is waaay too early! That's crazy...

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

I got mine for free because I worked for a dentist and his ortho friends did them as professional courtesy, but, I paid for my little sisters braces and even with a generous professional courtesy discount hers ended up being 5k (but she had a LOT done because her mouth was a mess).

My 5 yo is getting ready to start getting a few ortho related things done because she's a thumb sucker and they have already told me it's going to be costly. GRRRRRR!!!