When you’re first considering metal or ceramic braces for yourself or your child, it can be hard to find immediate answers online. For a personalized estimate of orthodontic treatment, you’ll need to schedule a consultation with our Grand Rapids orthodontists.
The and orthodontic treatment as a whole can be difficult to predict without an oral exam because each patient’s needs are so different. However, asking is an excellent question because it allows you as the parent or patient to plan accordingly.
Here’s what you need to know prior to a meeting with our team so you have a better idea of what goes into calculating the cost of fixing bite issues and aligning teeth.
Factors That Affect The Cost of Braces
The price tag on braces can vary significantly from person to person, depending on individual dental needs, treatment preferences, and financial circumstances. While some patients may only require minor adjustments to align a few teeth, others may face more complex issues, such as correcting overbites or severe misalignments, which can extend the treatment timeline and in turn, increase costs.
The following may impact the overall cost of orthodontic treatment:
- The orthodontist you choose
- Length of the treatment
- Orthodontic appliances needed
- Your type of dental insurance
- Payment plans
- Financial assistance through nonprofits
As far as braces go, there are multiple different options that our orthodontists can introduce you to depending on the look you want, your exact dental situation, and budget. If you’re fine with the tried-and-true gold standard that is metal braces, they suit patients of all ages and bite issue severity while ceramic braces are the more toned down alternative with clear brackets and wires that blend in.
For something completely different but still proven to be effective, our orthodontists can recommend either Invisalign® clear aligners or lingual braces, the latter of which are placed on the backsides of teeth and aren’t immediately visible when you smile.
How to Pay for Braces
If you are worried about how you’re going to pay for braces, there are many available resources. First, you’ll want to check with your dental insurance company to see if your policy covers orthodontics for teenagers or adults.
Most insurance companies don’t cover treatment for people over the age of 18 so it’s always a good idea to figure out early on what you’re working with. Children are usually partially covered for braces with a lifetime maximum for each child. Be sure to check the specifics of your insurance policy before beginning treatment.
Despite how certain insurance plans are, it’s worth noting that adult braces are still very much encouraged and age should never disqualify you from getting them. As mentioned above, there are many alternatives to metal braces, such as Invisalign, if you’re not sold on how brackets and wires look.
Related Post → Why It’s Never Too Late for Adult Braces
Most orthodontists, including ours, are willing to create a payment plan that works with your budget if you need one. For example, it may be possible to space your payments throughout treatment or even extend them beyond treatment. Payment plans for orthodontics make treatment affordable for many families.
If you qualify as a low-income family, it’s also worth checking if there are any local nonprofits that offer . Straightened teeth can improve a child’s self-esteem and limit the impact of oral health consequences down the road, so many nonprofits have stepped in to help cover the cost.
Orthodontic treatment for children doesn’t have to be a financial hardship for your family. At the very least, scheduling a consultation with one of our orthodontists can help you get a better sense of the costs.
When to Consider Braces
The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends children receive an orthodontic checkup no later than age 7. Getting your child seen early by one of our orthodontists will help determine whether they’ll need treatment in the future.
Learn More → When Should My Child See an Orthodontist
If you know ahead of time that your child will require orthodontics, you can start saving money that much sooner. While you may not be able to save enough to pay the entire cost of your child’s treatment, it could still offset the cost significantly.
Wearing a Retainer After Braces
If you want to avoid misalignment after you’ve finished wearing braces or aligners, you have to keep wearing an orthodontic retainer. Being lax about retainer use can lead to you regretting it down the road. For the most part, tooth movement is preventable so it’s essential you use the tools we’ve given you.
In addition to wearing a retainer, regular follow-up appointments inside our Grand Rapids orthodontics office are also important as part of a comprehensive retention plan. These appointments allow our orthodontists to monitor the stability of your teeth and make any necessary adjustments to the retention plan if needed. We can also use our time together to address any emerging concerns.
Ultimately, you don’t want all that time, hard work, and money to go to waste by not wearing your retainer as suggested by our orthodontists. Your teeth will naturally want to shift back to their old position, but a retainer can prevent this!
Call to Discuss Orthodontic Treatment
As your trusted ,we are dedicated to helping you achieve your best smile. If you’re interested in learning more about what orthodontic treatment options are available for you and how much each will cost, feel free to schedule a free consultation with us online or give Armbrecht & Wierenga Orthodontics a call today at (616) 455-4800.
This blog post has been updated.