I took my daughter to the orthodontist today, and all seemed well and good until we got to the $2000 down payment part, and the initial $300 payment that has to be paid whether or not we have insurance, plus the 150-200 dollars per month after all that. This makes me wonder why we even HAVE dental insurance. What I would like to know is how some of you have handled this issue, or if you even think that a child should go through with something like braces. I looked into invisaline, but couldn't find any price estimates online. They do look more comfortable, but claim that she must be 14 to start. Anyway, I need any helpful tips and advice that you all can offer. I'm sure that we can gather up that kind of money over time, but I'm just wondering if we really have to, or if there are other alternatives.
I found a Dr. Turner in Odessa, who is only going to charge us $500.00 down payment for the braces, with much lower monthly payments as well. HOotie hoo!
I feel your concern. My cousin had braces in middle school about 12. Her teeth looked great when they took them off. But because she kept growing all through high school and her teeth shifted again so here she is in college needing more braces. So there is no point to getting them right now because she will need them again in the future. I would hold off a couple of years.
I needed braces as a chold. But my mom always said "theres nothing wrong with your teeth." looking back i realize my mom was a cheap tightwad who didnt like to spend money on what we needed but on what we wanted. I had to get braces on my own when i was 21 and i had to wear them twice as long as i would have worn them as if i was a child. I still had a baby tooth in the front and had to have that pulled and i wont bore you with all the details. But anyway, as an adult who had to wear them i would recomend that you do as the dentist recommends because i resent my mom for not fixing my teeth. Especially since we were military and it would have been free. I spent $4500 on doing it myself. They let me pay $88 a month though. I loooove going to my dentist. The ladies in the office are so nice. In case you want to get a second opinion and talk to them about payment plans the number is 210-33-smile. He is dr moore. Consult is always free. Very friendly...
As for my son, he is 8 and his dentist told me he will need braces. I do plan on getting them asd soon as he gets his adult teeth.
Have you shopped around so to speak? My daughter needed braces and it was 600.00 down and 150.00 a month for two years. If I were you I would call different offices. I don't have dental insurance. It seems to me that price is very high.
I currently have braces and see Dr. Richard Woehrle @ Central Texas Orthodontics on WS Young across from the Texas National Guard Armory. He is great it cost me under 300 for the xrays and molds and then I pay under 150 per month with my last payment being the month I get them off. I have to wear them for a total of 25 months and only have 9 more to go. Wonderful man and wonderful people who work in his office. Give them a call and get the first consultation free... Best of luck to you and your daughter.
Invisalign is MUCH more expensive, and because they are removable they require a lot more self discipline to continue. If I could have popped my braces out when they hurt - well, let's just say that I wouldn't have straight teeth now.
That said, do your kids qualify for Medicaid or CHIP? I know Medicaid covers braces, if you can find an ortho in your area that accepts it. I'm not sure about CHIP - but 2000 would make it worth looking into, if they qualify.
I would talk to another orthodontist, or her dentist, about whether or not braces are really a good idea right now. I was told that my 10 y.o. daughter could wear braces now for about a year, for appearance's sake, but would need braces again when she hit 13 or 14 for her permanent teeth. That, to me, seemed like a waste of money.
If your husband has a Medical FSA available at work, that might be helpful too. Most orthodontists offer a pretty substantial (think 25%) cash discount if you pay the whole thing up front and you don't have insurance. A Medical FSA lets you set aside a certain amount for the year, and you submit for reimbursement as you incur costs. The money is taken out of your (his) check pre-tax (which can add anywhere from 5 to 30% to the value) and is available (usually) from the beginning of the year. Then it is deducted, automatically, every month or week or whatever the pay schedule is.
My son's dentist has payment plans for everything over $250 (including braces). I would talk with the office manager of your current dentist first to see if anything can be arranged and if not look around your town and see if any other dentists will help you with this. Your not the only person that would have trouble making this kind of down payment so I'm sure there are other options. As for the age, I'm sure you could wait a few years before she has them put on, but I would ask the dentist about this as well.
My nearly 13 year old daughter had her braces put on about a week ago. I had called as many orthodontists as I could find and pretty much everywhere, you will have a substantial down payment (I paid 1375.00)as well as monthly payments (188.00). Capitol One has a dental financing plan that does not require a downpayment but you will have interest. The doctor we settled on (Dr. Lunardon in Hobbs)is great and with the time difference, she doesn't have to miss much of any school. My dental insurance was only going to pay for her records, x-rays and initial consultation all of which Dr. Lunardon provides for free anyway so the insurance is pretty much useless as far as orthodontics go. The invisalign run between six and seven thousand (last I checked anyway). I definitely think that braces are a worthwhile investment that the kids will thank us for later on in life.
