The average cost of dental braces without insurance ranges between $3,000 and $12,000. Even with insurance, your out-of-pocket costs may go down to only about $1,500 or $5,000, depending on the type of braces you need.
Flossy understands the importance of straight teeth. Not only do they give you a beautiful smile, but they can also make it much easier for you to bite or chew without mouth pain and fight against tooth decay. This guide to the cost of braces will help you access the orthodontic care you need. Read on for tips to lower your out-of-pocket orthodontia expenses.
Your first question might be: Does dental insurance cover braces? Even with insurance, braces are rarely free. Here’s what you should expect to pay depending on your insurance coverage.
Many people look at their coverage and still wonder how on earth dental insurance works. Your health insurance will only cover braces if they’re medically necessary. While any type of teeth misalignment can potentially lead to dental problems, health insurance companies often don’t recognize this and only provide coverage for the most serious cases.
Health insurance companies use complex formulas to determine whether a procedure is medically necessary or elective. It can be confusing, and there are a few ways you may still have to pay out-of-pocket costs for braces before or after your insurance kicks in. Common out-of-pocket costs include:
* Premiums: This is the monthly rate for your dental insurance coverage, either paid directly or taken out of your paycheck. So even if your braces are covered, you’re still paying for that coverage.
* Deductible: Many insurance companies require you to pay a certain amount before your coverage kicks in. This is called your deductible, and the average amount for dental insurance deductibles is between $50 and $100.
* Annual Maximums: An annual maximum benefit is the highest amount of money your insurance provider will pay for your dental care in one year. Annual maximums often range between $1,000 and $2,000.
* Copays: These are fees that you pay per visit. Specialist visits, such as orthodontists, may have a higher copay than visits to your general practitioner. Copay costs vary by provider and plan.
* Exclusions: Your dental plan might refuse to cover certain conditions. While it’s illegal for health insurance companies to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, some dental plans may do so.
Although braces can be more affordable with insurance, once you take all of these possible costs into account, you may still pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for braces.
Without insurance, you’re responsible for the entire $3,000 to $12,000 bill for your braces, including the costs for pre-treatment tests, materials, installation, and follow-up visits. The silver lining is that your dental healthcare expenditures are tax-deductible, so don’t lose track of those receipts! You’ll be able to use them come tax season.
Unfortunately, that tax deduction only provides a slight boon, and you have to wait until tax season rolls around to receive it. Braces may still seem prohibitively expensive, but don’t panic - we’ll explore several options for making braces more affordable so you don’t have to put them off.
Several conditions for children and adults can only be corrected with braces. Braces may be the right choice if you’re experiencing any of the following conditions:
If you have too many teeth, or if your teeth are too large for the size of your jaw, you’re likely experiencing dental crowding. Overcrowding can cause dental problems like pain, discomfort, difficulty biting and chewing, and difficulty cleaning your teeth adequately. That last problem can cause even more issues like tooth decay, so it’s important to address the issue as soon as you can.
If you’re diagnosed with malocclusion, that essentially means your teeth are misaligned when you close your mouth. Malocclusion can manifest as an overbite, underbite, or crossbite. You may experience pain and discomfort even with mild forms of malocclusion, and in some cases, the uneven biting force may cause chipping or cracking. Researchers have also examined dental caries and its relationship to malocclusion, finding that malocclusion is linked to a higher risk of tooth decay.
Although rare, some speech impediments may be caused by uneven teeth. For instance, gaps between teeth can cause a lisp. Braces should be the first treatment approach for a speech impediment caused by dental problems.
If you’re dealing with any of these conditions, you have options for braces. Here’s a breakdown of the five types of braces to consider:
Perhaps the most common option for braces, metal braces has been available for over 100 years. Unlike the clunky options of days past, modern-day metal braces are small, comfortable, and require relatively little installation time.
Your dentist will put on metal braces by first installing brackets, which are small square structures holding wires in place. Dental glue placed in the center of each tooth attaches the brackets.
Once the brackets are in place, your dentist will connect the brackets with a thin metal wire. The wire is adjusted to be tight to gradually pull your tooth into correct alignment. You might need to come in every four to eight weeks for your dentist to tighten the wires.
Metal braces range in price from $3,000 to $7,000.
Wondering about your options for clear vs. metal braces? Ceramic braces use brackets made from a ceramic material. These closely resemble the color of your teeth, providing a subtler look than metal braces.
However, there are a few downsides to ceramic braces. They use relatively large brackets, and their color makes it more likely they will stain. Many adults, however, prefer ceramic braces to metal ones.
Ceramic braces cost between $4,000 and $8,000.
Lingual braces are a great option for those who aren’t enthused by the appearance of braces, since they sit behind the teeth rather than on the front. One downside, however, is that they might cause temporary speech defects like lisping. They also require a more specialized skill set to install, so many orthodontists may not be able to provide them.These specialized skills bring up the cost; the price of lingual braces ranges between $8,000 and $10,000.
Self-ligating braces are similar to metal and ceramic braces but have a different method for holding the connective wire in place. Instead of brackets, orthodontists use clips to hold the braces in place. This makes for easier adjustments and shorter appointment times.
A bonus to self-ligating braces is that you’ll deal with less pain. Studies of prevalence and type of pain during conventional and self-ligating orthodontic treatment have shown that self-ligating pain tends to be less intense than that of conventional braces.
Self-ligating braces cost between $4,000 and $8,000.
Clear aligners, or “invisible braces,” are transparent trays worn over the teeth for most of the day and removed for eating, brushing, and flossing. Night-only options are available, but these take longer to produce the desired results.
Clear aligners are ideal for those with mild or moderate dental problems. Since they do not need to be adjusted at the dentist, you can save some money on dental visits.
Clear aligners range between $3,000 and $7,000.
If you’re wondering where to find dental care for adults without dental insurance, or if you want help with the remainder of your costs after insurance, we have the information you need!
Some orthodontists offer dental financing through payment plans, which can be spread out over a long period. Depending on your orthodontist, these plans may have low interest rates or none at all.
A health or flexible savings account can allow you to use pre-tax income for medical expenses. Depending on your income tax rate, you may be looking at savings up to 30%.
Since orthodontists-in-training need to practice their skills, dental schools often offer services with discounts as high as 70%! And since these students are closely supervised by licensed orthodontists, you may end up with near-professional results.
If you still have questions about the cost of braces, read on to learn more!
The cost of braces includes not just the equipment itself but also your orthodontist’s treatment plan. Your price will include pre-treatment exams, x-rays and imaging, office visits, adjustments, and any emergency care needed.
On average, adult braces cost at least a few hundred dollars more than braces for kids. Since adult jaws are fully formed, your teeth won’t move as easily, so you would need braces for a longer period of time than most kids. Many insurance companies don’t cover braces for adults, so you may also have to pay for the entire cost yourself.
There are a few factors that will impact the total cost of your braces. You’ll pay about a few hundred dollars more if you’re an adult or if you need to keep them on longer (which might happen if your teeth are farther apart when you start). The type of braces you choose will also impact the price, especially if you choose braces that require more expertise from your orthodontist. You may also spend more on your braces if you live in an area with a high cost of living or if you don’t take good care of your braces.
Sources:
Why We Have So Many Problems With Our Teeth | Scientific American
Prevalence and Type of Pain During Conventional and Self-Ligating Orthodontic Treatment | PubMed
