Dental braces are devices used to align, straighten and correctly position teeth by exerting steady pressure over a period of time, usually one to three years. Braces typically consist of brackets (bonded to the teeth), bands and wires. However, some mild teeth problems can be corrected using a removable retainer.
Typical costs:
Traditional metal braces can cost $1,500-$10,000 or more depending on the severity of the bite and positioning problems that need to be fixed, the length of time the braces will be in place and whether the braces are on one set of teeth or both (upper and lower). For example, CostHelper readers without dental insurance coverage for braces report paying $3,000-$7,350 for traditional metal braces, at an average cost of $4,937.
Dental insurance may pay up to a specific amount for braces (typically $1,000-$2,000) if the patient is 18 years old or younger, but only once per patient (braces may need to be applied more than once). Dental insurance typically does not cover the cost of braces for adults age 19 and older, although some plans cover the initial office visit and X-rays. For example, CostHelper readers with insurance coverage for braces report paying $1,500-$8,500 out of pocket for traditional metal braces, at an average out-of-pocket expense of $3,407.
Expect to pay $2,000-$8,500 for braces with tooth-colored ceramic or plastic brackets, or self-ligating braces, which don't use elastic bands, like Damon braces. (While these types of braces usually cost slightly more than standard metal braces, they aren't used to correct severe bite problems.) For example, CostHelper readers without dental insurance for braces report paying $1,500-$7,800 out of pocket for ceramic or clear brackets or self-ligating braces, for an average cost of $4,572. CostHelper readers with dental insurance coverage report out-of-pocket costs of $1,550-$5,080, or an average cost of $2,570 for these braces.
Lingual braces, concealed behind the teeth, can cost $5,000-$13,000 or more. Lingual braces must be custom ordered, require more skill to install and don't work well on small teeth. Most orthodontists do not install lingual braces. Animated-teeth.com provides an overview of lingual braces.
The Invisalign company claims its tray system can cost $3,500-$8,000 but averages $5,000 nationwide. Instead of brackets and wires, Invisalign uses computer-fabricated clear plastic aligner trays; the patient switches to a new aligner every two weeks. Invisalign does not work for severe bite problems and some patients may still need traditional braces for a few months.
What should be included:
Braces are installed and supervised by an orthodontist, a dentist who specializes in moving teeth. They are typically in place for 1-3 years, and during that time the patient will visit the orthodontist about once a month for adjustments. WebMD.com provides a before-and-after photo of misaligned teeth straightened by braces (slide number 6).
To install braces, a metal, ceramic or plastic bracket is attached to each tooth with glue or a metal band; an arch wire runs from bracket to bracket, putting pressure on the teeth to move in the desired direction; and small colored elastics hold the bracket on the arch wire (although self-ligating braces don't need elastics). Medicinenet.com provides an overview of braces.
Additional costs:
Most orthodontists' prices for braces cover everything that's needed, including monthly appointments and a removable retainer once the braces are taken off. However, some orthodontists have additional charges for the initial visit ($100-$200), dental X-rays($10-$250), a set of retainers($200-$1,000, depending on the type) and replacement removable retainers (typically $100-$500).
Discounts:
Dental school clinics may offer reduced rates for services by supervised students or faculty.
Many orthodontists offer interest-free payment plans, with a down payment of 10%-33% of the total cost plus monthly payments spread out over the period of time the braces will be in place (usually 18-24 months).
ArchWired.com lists questions to ask a prospective orthodontist.
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
Posted by: Momof4 in Gig Harbor in Gig Harbor, WA.
Posted: December 15th, 2010 06:12PM
Type of Braces: Metal
Two daughters got braces, expanders and were possibly candidates for forsus appliance. Both were corrected with rubber bands instead of the appliance. The total cost was $10,500 insurance covered $1500 for one daughter. Now looking to have son and they want an additional $4900...
single mom with 1 11 y.o. that already paid $115 per office visit about 4 times, then 260 for xrays not included and the quote is approx $7330 for braces and retainer, but retainer adjustments are not included. I think this quote is overinflated so I am going to get a second opinion, January 2011
NO DENTAL INSURANCE. This price is all inclusive-visits, x rays, molds, bands, braces, adjustment, equiptment, follow up, repair, removal, first set of retainers..... the whole deal... treatment is going to include surgery to expose an impacted tooth and braces will stay on for at least 24 months, possibly 6-12 months longer. Oh and if we pay up front, we'll get a 5% discount. Sounds like a lot of work for our 12 year old daughter to be responsible for, but I know it will be well worth it, she really needs these.
slight unnoticeable overbite of front 2 teeth and a little crowding. Insurance will cover the other 1500.00. Don't know if this is a legit price or if I should seek additional opinions.
My insurance covered $1000 but everything is included from consult visit with xrays to the final retainer!!! So far we are pleased.....looking forward to end the result in 18-20 months.
Mine was supposed to be for 18 months, but I asked them to take it off after ten months because I noticed that the 2 teeth that I wanted to fix were already in place. I had to pay about 500.00 for early termination fee, so the total was 2,000.00 retainers included.
36 year old Braces for crowding on the bottom, overlapping on top, & overbite
Amount: $4,900.00
Posted by: a user in Savannah, GA.
Posted: April 1st, 2011 06:04PM
Type of Braces: Railroad--Traditonal Metal
I've had the braces for approximately 8 months and see big improvements. The estimated time to wear was 20 months, but it looks like the braces will come off after 13 months or so. I paid $500 down and the remaining are monthly payments of $185. The cost includes everything, xrays, molding, monthly maintenance, first retainer.
Military paid $1,500. total $5,200 This price includes inclusive-visits, x rays, molds, bands, braces, adjustment, equiptment, follow up, repair, removal, first set of retainers. Braces will be on for 24 months, 20% down payment of $680 monthly payment $127...will work with downpayment.
I thought the quote was high for regular braces, but the invasilign are the same price. My insurance will cover 2,000 and that price covers all visits and 1st retainer. After reading this site I feel better.
About $1,200 was paid by insurance. I have small teeth, big jaw bone and i press forward on my teeth when i swallow and spit... all this equals gaps, gap, gaps. I am on month 10 of 18 and see a hugeeeee improvement. I am happy with the results thus far and feel I paid a fair price and I really like my orthodontist.
Daughter has possible impacted upper tooth, overbite, estimate 30 month treatment, retainer included. No dental insurance, so out of pocket... expensive!
Posted by: Terry in Oakville, On, Can in oakville, Other.
Posted: October 17th, 2011 01:10PM
Type of Braces: metal
My son got braces. A few months into his procedure, one of his teeth starting going dark. Their explanation was the straightening may have damaged the nerve but could have been from a blow to the tooth which we denied. The braces are off now but he's had a root canal and crown on the tooth. He's obviously raised his pain threshold over something that we thought would benefit him in the end and questioned if he even needed braces to start with. Good luck trying to get the orthodontist to cover the extra work!
14 year old son getting braces in one week. covers everything, including permanent retainer at end of treatment. getting traditional metal as they're better. my insurance doesn't cover. paying 2000.00 down and 200.00 payments over course of 18 months. it's an investment for life. got 2 quotes...went with the higher one because we liked the ortho....she's a professor at loma linda university school of dentistry too.
Posted by: freshmen in college who can afford braces with no family support! in Gilbert, AZ.
Posted: March 23rd, 2012 09:03PM
Type of Braces: metal (both)
This all happened October 3, 2011..So I get a number from my dentist for an orthodontist. I called to make an appointment then GPS the location so I knew where I'd be going. The people didn't even know who I was or anything! So I knew I showed up to a totally DIFFERENT office. they set me up an appointment for that Monday. They tell me its going to be $4800 but they gave me a $600 discount! So I only owed $4200. I put $400 down that day to get them on then didn't have to pay till December! I now pay 159 a month for 24 months and that includes everything! My consoltation was free, retainer, treatment, everything included.! I pay all this out of my pocket...my insurance didn't cover it so I dropped them
Cost for braces quoted for my son is the same amount my nephew paid & my son only has front teeth slightly overlapped, minor overbite (eval by 2 orthodontists). My nephew had braces on twice due to issues with his teeth. We are quoted the same price as my nephew, $6700 for treatment????
My daughter had $6000 worth of braces and her teeth have since shifted but are still fairly straight. My son has already had phase 1 costing almost $2000 and will start phase 2 now. My son's bottom teeth are straight but the doctor insists they need braces so the top and bottom meet correctly--he is probably right or he might just wants a new car that I am helping him buy??
I got my bottom teeth done, it covered all my appts. sometimes once a week, a retainer and whitening for all my teeth. very pleased and it took only 8 months, the only draw back is they are not very comfortable to wear especially when eating. they also provided all the waxed I needed.
Two of my children had braces at a cost of $6,800 each.I think there was an intitial fee of $100 not included in this price. They both had upper & bottem braces, wore head gear and had elastics. One of them had a daily adjustment spacer for the top jaw. My son received a permanant appliance for his bottem jaw and a clear plastic retainer for the top. No Isuues for him. My daughter,(1st one), received both upper & lower clear plastic retainers to be worn indefinately. She stopped due to comfort problems. I'm worried her teath are shifting. I'm looking into replacing the retainers with the metal type for her. I don't care for the molded plastic ones.
my son is 10 years old, his braces cost $6,800.00 for upper and lower, he has an overbite. his braces are gna be on him for 36 months. i paid $500.00 down and i pay around $193.00 a month and there were a few other small cost added which brought the total up to $6,800.00 we have insurance, but it paid nothing but the initial office visit. im still wondering what we pay the insurance premium for. the dentist gave me a discount also. original cost was over $8,000.00
At first i was quoted a price for $5150. After calling a couple of parents that purchased braces & had referred me to this orthodontic. I called orthodontics office & told them i was offered less a year (2011) before during 1st consultation $4850. They
Looked into. They called me back & offered me braces package for $4650. The military's new policy for dental is MetLife. The insurance pays $1750. leaving with a balance of $2900. I put down $750 initial fee & will have monthly payment of $120 for two years. The key is to negotiate & get someone close to your home. This all happened this year 2012 not 2011.
I was told that if I start my daughter early (9) that she might not have to do phase 2. She had spaces and an overbite. I was charged about 2200 and insurance covered about $400 so I paid $1800. So brackets went in on front four top and bottom teeth when she was ten.Teeth were pulled. New teeth took a while to grow in. Then,a bite plate was put on. Later, head gear was given.Then bite plate broke and though there were two attempts to replace them (at a cost of $150)but my daughter never got it.When they placed additional brackets, the head gear didn't fit any more. The new orthodonist said this was fine, that she didn't need it right now for almost a year. Suddenly they want to start phase two and want to charge me $2800 to start that and an additional $200 for an appliance to fix her overbite.They say it'll be an additional nine months. So I went from "We'll start you off early so we might not have to do a phase 2 and she won't have to wear braces for very long." to "It'll be $2800 more and I know it's been two years, but it'll have to be an additional nine months." She is now 12. My new insurance does not cover braces so the $2800 will be entirely out of pocket.
My son has a cross bite and some crowding, he is getting braces on both upper & lower front teeth only. The price includes x-rays, moldings, placement, retainers, monthly visits, football mouthguard, up to 5 bracket replacements if broken and wax for comfort. He will need them for 12 months (14 max) our ins. is paying $1000 so total is $2500. This is 2012. I am quite happy with my price after reading all these posts!!
Total includes everything from x-rays, molds, records, retainer and retainer visits for 18 - 24 months. Had to provide min $800 down with 18 months of $227.00 payments. Daughter is 13.5 yrs with overcrowding & crossbite. Other quote was $5545 with upper jaw expander which we had hoped to avoid. Expensive smile, but deemed necessary for lifelong confidence. And trust me, she WILL be wearing that retainer to maintain her $5000 smile!
My 13 year old daughter went today for her 2nd consultation. 1st consultation was in a more expensive neighborhood- wanted to charge $5200 (w/o insurance-$4000 with). I went to the next town up for consult- They charge $3500 for 18 mos braces. Big difference!
30-36 months-get them when your younger! i'm 37 have never worn braces and just had them put in 1 week ago.No insurance. down payment of 2000 & monthly payments over 30 month period.x-rays wavier & office discounted 250. visits,retainer included.rnI chose to get them due to overbite,crowding & to make my smile fullier. I have impacted upper canine teeth that never came in (i still have my upper baby caninies lol) in about 9 months after orthodonist makes space i have to see the oral surgeon to have a "button" put on my impacted canines in my gums (ouch)and attached to upper brackets to pull! and if all goes well my baby teeth will fall out as my adult canines work there way in. not too bad , felt like i had canker sores on the 2nd day but now is ok, my lower teeth are bit achy though. Best decision I made. My son also has braces $4995 (22 mos to wear) insurance paid $2000-he has a small overbit & just need to be straighten.