Cost of Orthodontics

Updated on July 21, 2016
S.R. asks from Scottsdale, AZ
19 answers

I realize the cost of orthodontics is going to vary by person and by state, but I just need some general guidelines.
My dd is 13, and has been evaluated by an ortho., she will not need teeth pulled, just braces, rubber bands and retainer. I just need a general idea what others are paying for all of this. I believe the quotes we were given are reasonable, but I want something to compare to. Can any of you give me your down payment, what you pay per month an any add on fees like retainers, etc.?

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J.S.

answers from St. Louis on

My kids were 5k and that was 14 years ago. They took payments interest free. Everything was covered but if you break a retainer you have to pay to replace it.

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

My girls both had Invisalign. I paid about $5000 for my youngest and $4,000 for my oldest since her teeth were already pretty straight just not perfect. (She required fewer trays) I also had a cash discount since I paid upfront.

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M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

I'm hearing around $5k being average in my area as well. My middle son (11) needs them, and my dental insurance will cover half starting next month...we had to have it for 12 months straight for them to do that. So he will be going in for evaluations shortly.

Just go to a couple of different ortho's and see which one offers you the best plan with the best possible outcome. I hope your insurance covers some of it!

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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

My sons are $5800, nothing down, $170 per month

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S.S.

answers from Atlanta on

Two of my 4 boys have braces. Tri-Care for life just started a Delta Dental plan that costs us about $100 a month. It covers $1500 of the braces. Ours were $5,200 and $4,600

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Well, years ago for myself in the 70's in Western NY my Mom paid $1500 for 7 years of braces - she had it paid off in 3 years - I still had 4 yrs to go with all the metal in my mouth.
Our son had 2 yrs of braces in southern Virginia in 2008 and it was $2500.
It would have been more but we got a discount by paying cash up front.

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D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Health care plans that are affordable care plan compliant cover a substantial amount of the cost. I would look into that.

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L.U.

answers from Seattle on

Ours cost $5,600 for 2 1/2 years of braces on ONE kid. Does not count the 4 teeth that he got pulled.

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E.B.

answers from Beaumont on

$5000 around Houston, Texas. That includes everything. I think we had to put down $1500 and it was about $200 a month after that.

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R.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Approx. $6000 per kid. $18,000 on braces. Wow.

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V.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

I think it was around $4200 for my daughter. (not including pulled teeth, that is a separate charge from the dentist who did the work.) There was a discount for being a 2nd patient (our son also had them, but his were more b/c he needed an additional appliance), and dental insurance pays a portion of it (with a lifetime max of I think $2,500). After the down payment we made (a few hundred dollars, maybe $500? I don't remember now), and the estimated insurance, our payments for her are $94/month for 18 months. Son's payments were $117 for 2 years, with a larger down payment.

There are/were no add on fees for additional appointments (popped brackets, etc) or X-rays taken during treatment. It's all inclusive. Although, they warn you that if you (or your child) has a problem due to misuse, they might charge to make repairs (things like eating items not "allowed" causing a bracket to pop off)... but they've never charged or even hinted at charging for any popped bracket my daughter has had. And she's had several.

The retainer is included also (one time) but any replacements there is a charge. So do not lose it. Our daughter wore one before the rest of her treatment, waiting for teeth to come in, or fall out, or be removed, so we paid for that up front. The one she'll get when the braces com off will not be any additional charge. That includes lower permanent retainers.

Our son has high tartar buildup, so it wasn't recommended for him to have a permanent lower retainer (which has become standard), and he did lose the lower one. (later found it on the driveway, but way too late). We had to pay for the replacement. I think it was about $125.

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C.S.

answers from St. Louis on

$5,000 for 18 months. The insurance pays about $2500.00. I would have shopped, but I knew too many people that loved him. I was afraid if I shopped, I would be unhappy with bad results...kicking myself after the fact.

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T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Around $5,000 is average.

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J.C.

answers from New York on

Good that she is 13. Orthodontists are putting on braces too early now - often causing several treatments - and costing double. I'd say that anywhere from 3,000 to 8,000 should be expected depending on length of treatment and what is needed. You can and should shop around, too.

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C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

Where we live it costs $5,000 to $6,000 for braces. Ugh. It's so expensive.

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C.B.

answers from Sacramento on

I'm fascinated reading the prices. I also paid between $4500- $5000 for each of my daughters but they got theirs off over 5 years ago.

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C.B.

answers from Reno on

My daughters first set was about 5000 and my insurance paid 1000 (that is lifetime amount from my insurance) . She is getting her second set on and it is 4800. I will put 1000 down and about 153 a month.(my ortho does not charge interest) It includes everything braces, retainers and visits. Sadly my daughter inherited my teeth and jaw., hoping my son will not need braces. lol
We live in Nevada

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Around $5K in my area (Massachusetts). Insurance covered 50%. I think we paid 1/3 of our portion up front and then paid the balance monthly over the course of treatment, which was around 18 months. I think the retainer was included. My SD opted for clear brackets so that was an additional $250. Given that that was a cosmetic choice, we had her pay that extra charge herself but she was older than your daughter is and had a job so she could easily afford it.

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N.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

We went to 3 different docs. One in Tulsa, one in OKC area, and one in our town. All of them were within a thousand of each other.

$5000 was the absolute least expensive and that one I wasn't sure about. I felt like the one that was $5600 was the actual best deal.

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