The Parent’s Guide to Braces for Kids

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05

How Much Do Braces Cost?

t’s time we tackle the brass tacks: what is the cost of braces for your child?

I know, it’s the elephant in the room and the question nobody really likes talking about. Most orthodontists get nervous about it, while most parents avoid the topic altogether for as long as they can.

If finances are the only thing standing in the way of a straighter smile and better dental health, most…

Are reluctant to admit it

Offer other excuses

Aren’t comfortable talking about it

…and then can’t be helped by the orthodontist.

Both sides have to learn to trust each other.

Remember, at your initial consultation—and every appointment after—the discussions are entirely confidential. Orthodontists are not Martians, by the way; we have kids, expenses, and family budgets just like you.

What Is a Reasonable Cost of Braces for Kids?

Different types of braces, including braces for kids, can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000. Most fall somewhere in the middle. To learn more about the cost of braces at Premier Orthodontics, click here.

Adjusted for inflation, these prices are actually less than braces decades ago, even as the technology and quality have advanced.

Plus, if you consider later costs you are preventing, it’s a bona fide bargain.

If you consider the cost of …

…then correcting a child’s teeth and bite with braces can be one of the best investments to avoid unnecessary future costs.

Your braces costs will usually include:

The Cost of Braces Compared to Every Day Items

Each year, we provide braces to countless patients. Even parents who initially balked at the cost of braces for their kids often tell us afterward that they feel undercharged after seeing the results.

While it’s never easy to part with such a sum, people do it every day for all sorts of less important things, like:

Their new designer handbag

Vacation to Disneyland

Suite of living room furniture

Many parents pay for orthodontic treatment outright with their favorite credit card (earning reward points in the process). For others, we offer interest-free payment plans, making the cost more manageable.

For perspective, many families pay more for cable TV or daily coffee stops than they would for monthly braces payments. And rather than a few hours of entertainment, braces offer your child a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime!

How Much Do Braces Cost When Using Health Spending Accounts (HSA) / Flex Spending Accounts (FSA)?

Pre-tax dollars from a Health Spending Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) can often be used to cover orthodontic treatment costs, including braces.

If you don’t have an HSA, it’s worth looking into one at www.healthcare.gov. FSAs, often set up through your employer, can also be used to reduce the out-of-pocket cost of braces.

TIP: How can you make the most out of your employer’s flex-pay plan?

First, make sure you understand how it works.

Second, set aside flex-spending dollars in advance of need, and if possible, make the maximum contributions.

Third, be aware of “family status changes” allowed by your plan that may enable you to change the amount being moved pre-tax from your paychecks to your account anytime during the year rather than just once at the first of the year.

IMPORTANT: Be aware of the balance and the loss of unused funds. In most cases, if you do not use these funds, you lose them, year to year. You usually have three months after the end of the calendar year to submit claims for eligible expenses from the previous year.

Dental Insurance or Orthodontic Insurance

These days, there are as many different types of health insurance plans as there are patients in my office…

I can’t possibly speak to your unique and personal insurance policy without seeing it first but, in general, my experience tells me that “most” insurance policies cover at least “some” of the cost of braces for your kids.

I realize that answer sounds very vague, but here are a couple of questions you need to answer before an insurance agent can help you determine what, how long, and how many procedures fall under your insurance:

I can only partially answer this question within this guide, but at your initial consultation our team will personally look at your insurance plan and make sure that we can maximize your insurance benefits to help cover the cost of braces.

In-House Financing & Loans

Many of our patients choose to take advantage of our in-house financing and payment plans to cover the coverall cost of braces treatment for kids.

We offer extended, interest-free financing that many of our patients take advantage of. You don’t need a credit check and you don’t have to go anywhere else to fill out extra paperwork.

We have payments plans as low as $97 per month. After treating nearly 15,000 patients, we’ve found we’re able to create payment plans that fit nearly any budget.

Obviously, a private loan from a family member can be an easy option. A lot of preteens’ and teens’ important orthodontic care is financed at the Bank of Grandma and Grandpa.

What If You Really, Really Can’t Afford the Cost of Braces For Your Kids?

I have compiled a list of ten ways you may be able to substantially reduce the cost of braces for your kids

1. See if you can save a little extra by paying in full.

Most orthodontists offer a pay-in-full discount that could save you several hundred dollars on the cost of braces.

2. See if your local dental school has an orthodontic program..

While you will be spending a lot more time in the chair as a teaching case, if you have the time, it might be well worth the wait because you can save up to half the cost of braces.

3. Get your flex spending dollars in order with your employer.

If you set money aside in a flex plan, it may be “tax-free” but it comes with some stipulations: namely, you have to use it before the end of the year or else you lose it.

4. See if your husband or wife has an insurance plan that covers the cost of braces.

Be sure to enroll in the plan with enough time to spare before your child needs braces, so that the procedure is not denied by your insurance company due to a waiting period.

5. Ask for flexible financing options.

When you boil it down to the basics, your orthodontist really just wants to help you.Your doctor spent way too much time in school not to love what he or she does. He or she will probably be thrilled to help you finance your treatment or find another way to afford the cost of braces.

6. Do you have multiple kids in treatment?

If so, take advantage of that fact and see if you can get a family discount.

7. If finances are extremely tight, you should check out the organizations that orthodontists have created to help provide pro-bono care, such as SmilesChangeLives.org.

There are even more foundations like this if you have a cleft palate or other facial anomalies.

8. Military, schoolteachers and firefighters sometimes receive special courtesies in dental and orthodontic offices.

As your doctor if there is a discount for first responders or educators.

9. Got taxes? Good! Why not use your tax refund to help pay for treatment in full and ask for pay-in-full discount?

In some areas, you can save as much as 10 percent on the cost of braces for kids by simply saving your pennies and paying the entire bill at once, up front.

10. Ask for more flexible financing, through a third-party credit company like Lending Point, CareCredit, or by using in-house financing through your orthodontist.

Most orthodontists will allow you to split the amount into easy monthly payments. You might be able to stretch the monthly payments out over a longer period to make each payment lower.

Most of the time your monthly orthodontic bill is lower than your cable TV or cell phone bill!