4 Tips For Making The Cost Of Braces More Manageable

Posted on: 17 May 2016

Most parents want to do whatever they can to ensure that their child has a straight, beautiful smile, but it is not uncommon to worry about the cost of orthodontic treatment. While braces and orthodontic appointments can end up costing thousands of dollars, there are several things that you can do to make braces more affordable so they fit in your family's budget. Use the following tips to make the cost of braces for your child more manageable:

Call Your Dental Insurance Company

Most dental insurance companies do not cover the full cost of braces, but some plans will pay for a portion of the treatment. Before looking for an orthodontist for your child, call your dental insurance company to see if your current plan pays for any percentage of the cost of braces. This can potentially save you hundreds of dollars or more, and then you can choose an orthodontist who accepts your insurance plan.

Seek Orthodontic Care Early If Needed

Braces are commonly put on in early adolescence, but there are situations where a child may need orthodontic treatment before he or she even has all of his or her permanent teeth. If your child's dentist mentions that he or she has spacing or palate issues that need to be corrected, it is in your best interest to seek orthodontic care as early as possible. These problems can often be corrected at a young age when teeth are still growing in, which can reduce the length of time your child will need to wear braces in the future and thus lower the over all cost.

Ask About Payment Plans

Payment plans are one of the easiest ways to make the cost of braces more manageable for a family's budget. Many orthodontists will allow patients to make monthly payments-- since most kids wear braces for a few years, you can make small payments each month over the course of your child's treatment until your account is paid off. To maximize your savings, look for an orthodontist who offers a payment plan without any interest or finance charges.

Consider Going to a Dental School

Dental schools often offer braces and orthodontic care at a greatly reduced rate compared to an orthodontist's office. The students who perform the treatments are about to graduate from dental school, and all work is supervised by a licensed orthodontist in order to ensure that your child gets the proper care that he or she needs.

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Anyone who provides a service specifically for the youngest among us knows that treating kids must be approached very differently from treating adults. Children are not like adult patients. They require a dental team that makes children feel safe and secure at every appointment. The pediatric dental staff also needs to understand how to work with parents as well as young patients. As a pediatric dental hygienist and a mom, I understand that specific needs of children when they are visiting the dentist. This blog will explain exactly what kids need from a dental staff and will give options for making the dental office a welcoming environment to children. We can give a whole new generation healthy smiles by making pediatric dentistry the best it can be.