Cost of braces

[MichelleRenee]

I went to my orthodontist and it looks like I will have to have regular braces. I am not thrilled, but I am happy to be on the road to fixing my teeth.

The total cost for the braces, all appointments while I have them and all repairs will be $5270. For the clear braces it is an extra $300.

Does this sound like a reasonable cost or should I be getting another opinion? The office I went to is great. I am tired of unprofessional medical offices and rude doctors and staff, so I would like to go with them jus based on that... but I really wasn't expecting it to be that expensive for regular braces.

I called my insurance company to be sure of what they cover and it is $1000 max, so they will cover $1000 of it. I have to pay 20% down and then interest free payments to the office until it is paid off. Does this pricing sound right?

[PinkMartini]

I, too need braces (at 25 :( ) and was quoted $5500 (for everything as well).

[MichelleRenee]

I will be 25 in June. I just looked it up and the price is average. I am kind of glad because that means I can go with a great doctor without feeling like I am paying too much.

[May27JnJ]

If you go to a hospital that has students, 4th years, right before they graduate you can get a really good deal. Our around here is VCU/MCV and it's $2800. And that's even if anything extra is needed. Most places quote you to start. Then they'll see what else you'll need while they're in there. I don't know if every where has a place like that, but it's definitely cheaper. I went and I loved it. But I didn't wear my retainer, so I have to go back. (I'm 21)

[Hello Kitty]

DH's quote was $4500 through Sears Dental. That was for clear braces. He's almost done and is soooo happy to have them off. I've forgotten what his teeth looked like before.

[gumball]

I was quoted $6000 for clear braces, but when my ortho found out my insurance won't be covering any of it they knocked it down to $5800. Every little bit helps!

[AmandaLeigh]

I believe that my braces in high school were around that much, and that was 12 years ago. I would just check to determine what is included in the price. Does it include retainers and all visits? What if you need them for longer (or shorter) than the orthodontist estimated? Will those affect the price? My orthodontist garunteed the price, so if you needed any extra work, it was at no extra cost. I would especially check on the retainers because those can be very expensive.

[MichelleRenee]

It includes the retainers and is a guranteed price, even if I have to wear them longer than estimated.

[cela-bela]

I'm 27 and got braces this past November. Let me just tell you now, the first couple of weeks absolutely SUCK. I couldn't chew anything and the inside of my mouth was one giant ulcer. Once you get past those first few days though it's pretty much a piece of cake. I started seeing results within the first month so I was really excited about that (I had a huuuuge gap between my 2 front teeth). To answer your question, mine were 5000$ plus 300$ for ceramic braces up top, so that's pretty close to what you were quoted. I also had to pay an 800$ administrative fee which covered x-rays and the moldings. My insurance paid 3000$ and we're on a monthly plan for the rest.

[cela-bela]

Another thing, if you do get ceramic braces DO NOT get the clear colored ligatures to go on them because they will stain a nasty yellow color if you drink a lot of coffee or soda. I learned that the hard way unfortunately. I stick to white or tooth colored ones now.

[MichelleRenee]

If you go to a hospital that has students, 4th years, right before they graduate you can get a really good deal.

This is great advice. Thanks! Luckily there is a school that has an orthodontic clinic very close to where I live. I left a message and hopefully they will call me back today.

[jennylou]

Michelle - will you PM me (or post here) with that school?

My teeth aren't horrible, in fact they were always great. My dentist told me in high school that my wisdom teeth didn't need to come out b/c I had plenty of room. Um, yeah - he was wrong. I did have one removed last year (probably would have done them all but I was pregnant and it was a local) and that has relieved the pressure enough that they aren't still shifting on the bottom, but my teeth have definitely moved since high school as my wisdom teeth came in and pressed against my molars.

And, while they bother me, I can think of other things I'd rather spend $5k on...

[JenniferEC]

I got braces for the second time four years ago. Since this was my second time, the ortho gave me a discount. I had clear ones on top and metal ones on bottom and paid $3500. That included everything - office visits, retainer, x-rays. My insurance paid nothing so we put 20% down and paid the rest monthly. It was so worth it since wearing them while in elementary school was a waste.

Another thing, if you do get ceramic braces DO NOT get the clear colored ligatures to go on them because they will stain a nasty yellow color if you drink a lot of coffee or soda. I learned that the hard way unfortunately. I stick to white or tooth colored ones now.
So true! I learned pretty quick that mustard stains them very easy!

[MichelleRenee]

jennylou:

I found the school(s) at the ADA website. Here are the two in Ohio. One is Cleveland and the other is Columbus. I am checking out the Cleveland one, obviously. I will let you know once I get a price range from them.

OH
Case Western Reserve Univ. School of Dental Medicine
10900 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106-4905
Dean: Dr. Jerold S. Goldberg
Phone: (216) 368-3266
Accreditation Status: Approval without Reporting Requirements
Last Accreditation Visit: 2002
Next Accreditation Visit: 2009
Web Address: www.case.edu/dental/site/main.html


Ohio State University College of Dentistry
305 West 12th Avenue;
PO Box 182357
Columbus, OH 43218-2357
Dean: Dr. Carole A. Anderson
Phone: 614/292-9750
Accreditation Status: Approval without Reporting Requirements
Last Accreditation Visit: 2006
Next Accreditation Visit: 2013
Web Address: www.dent.ohio-state.edu

For anyone else looking for a school this is the website where they are all listed by state.

http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/programs/search_ddsdmd_us.asp

[May27JnJ]

This is great advice. Thanks! Luckily there is a school that has an orthodontic clinic very close to where I live. I left a message and hopefully they will call me back today.

Oh you're welcome! I hope they will work out! I loved it! I have to go back since my wisdom teeth made everything crowded again (And not wearing my retainer correctly) but I will definitley go back there for them!

Let me know how it goes.

[bunny nose]

Wow- I didn't know they cost so much. I am so happy now that I used to have great insurance that covered it all. All I had to pay for was the $300 for the clear braces because they were considered cosmetic.

Good luck to you all. It seems like forever when you get them on, but the results are so worth it.

[Tara07]

Speaking of the cost of braces are ridiculous. My orthodontist want $ 4680 for my braces. I have TMJ, overbite, clenching and grinding. He also wants me to pay $600.00 future amount for a device that I will have to wear for the rest of my life because I grind my teeth. This guy is here is Elkhart County in Indiana. I just dont know, if this is something that I would be willing to pay for, or even have the money for it right now. Plus there is a
$ 1000.00 maximum, but it is only for people 18 years or younger. Why cant this be available for adults.

[gumball]

Plus there is a
$ 1000.00 maximum, but it is only for people 18 years or younger. Why cant this be available for adults.

I've wondered the same thing! As I mentioned before my dental insurance isn't covering anything to do with the braces. Then I find out the other day that my health insurance will not cover the extractions for my impacted wisdom teeth either! I need to have the teeth removed before I get braced. This is turning out to be very costly for me! :eek:

[SingleWhiteFemale]

I had braces for almost 10 years. My original ortho stunk, after 6 months or so he kept my retainers. So my teeth shifted, his response was "well, initially I told your parents when we started your teeth wouldn't be perfect." What garbage! They were nice and in line. He put the bottom brackets on again. No retainer this time. Shifted again. I went back to the dentist who paid to have him in her office, my contract was with her, and they sent me to a good friend of hers.

A year or so, top and bottom, regular metal braces on the fronts of my teeth, a top retainer and bottom wire, with a "professional discount" was around $2700 (the original dentist picked up the tab. Apparently, lots of people were not happy with the original guy!). I only really had one tooth askew on the bottom, and just had the top teeth pulled in (they were already in perfect line, just pulled them back).

If you're going through this again, I suggest looking into a wire that is glued onto the teeth instead of a retainer, for the bottom teeth. I wanted one on the top, and am still thinking about it, but the problem is they tend to break on the top teeth because they're bitten off/knocked off by the bottom teeth. I love mine, and knowing I'll never have to get braces on the bottom again is worth it!

[Tara07]

My fiancee was beside himself when I told him the price for them. Even without my insurance it is going to be outrageously expensive. We are in the process of trying to buy a house and planning to have a baby next year. So should I just wake up in pain every morning or should I just pay it?? They gave me 3 options to pay for it:

1st option: $1680 down and 125/mo for 2 years

2nd option: if insurance covered $1000.00 i would only have to put $680 down and still would be 125/mo for 2 years

3rd option: Go on a financing plan with Capital one with the APR being from 1.99% to 23.99% interest rate, for about 5 years.

I just dont know if all of this is worth it.

[jennylou]

Michelle - thanks for that info - maybe I'll get them done someday! Did anyone call you back?

[MichelleRenee]

No, they haven't called me back yet. I thought maybe last week was Spring break or something.

I am going to try calling again today.

ETA: I just called and got a hold of someone. She said that the fees start at $3800 and go up from there but for an accurate quote I would have to come in for a consultation.

I might go in but I'm not sure. I couldn't use my insurance if I went through them so I am not sure if it would save me money in the long run - especially if I have to drive to Cleveland for all my appointments.

[May27JnJ]

Ew. Gosh! Mine here is so much cheaper. Atleast you got an answer.