Cost of braces | Imamother

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Cost of braces

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amother

Oak

Mon, Aug 17 2015, 9:00 pm

I took my son to the dentist to discuss getting him braces. The dentist said it would be around $5500. I'm in absolute shock. Braces are fairly common. How in the world do people pay for them? Is $5500 a fair price?

TwinsMommy

Mon, Aug 17 2015, 9:01 pm

I just got braces for the 3rd time (I'm 41 years old and a metal mouth!). I'm $3500 and when I finish payments it will be $4800 over 4 years, all told. I'd say $5500 is a bit high. Then again I'm in Cleveland where everything is less expensive.

amother

Dodgerblue

Mon, Aug 17 2015, 9:12 pm

It's hard to say what's "fair". What is the extent of the work being done? Some mouths require more than others. My issues were fairly straightforward and didn't require anything beyond the braces themselves, and I had them for about 2 years. My brother required a lot more work starting with a pallet expander at 8 and all sorts of contraptions before they even got to the braces, and the braces were some super duper fancy kind. He's 14 and still has them and the orthodontist projects at least another year maybe two. Now, I have no idea how much my parents paid for me or for him, but I imagine his work is going to come out to quite a bit more than mine did.

Amarante

Mon, Aug 17 2015, 9:28 pm

Hard to say what is fair because it depends on location as well as how much work has to be done. And not that quality always correlates with price - but at least in my experience the reliable dentists I have been used - and those specialists who have been recommended tend to be more expensive :-)

That said, for something like this, you should definitely get a second opinion from other orthodontist.

Unfortunately, good teeth are expensive which is why straight nice looking teeth are generally associated with middle and upper middle class. If you are in New York, you can get work done for slightly more reasonable prices at the NYU Dental School. The quality is good because the work is being supervised carefully.

Rebesq

Mon, Aug 17 2015, 9:40 pm

I've had 2 kids in braces. Both were about 5000 - 1 was 5000 around 3 years ago and one is now a bit more. I'm in a NY community.

SRS

Mon, Aug 17 2015, 10:25 pm

Sounds perfectly reasonable, although there is no reason why you can't shop around. People can best afford these big expenses by anticipating these expenses in advance and setting money aside for them prior to the surprise. Also, using an FSA account is helpful if your work offers an FSA account.

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