Before Your Child Gets Braces, Consider These Five Factors.
When I look back at my 7th grade photos, I cringe. Not because I have metal in my mouth and acne on my face, but because these days I know how much braces and orthodontic treatments cost. Sorry about that mom and dad.
It may come as a surprise to know how much it costs to replace a retainer that ends up in the cafeteria bin.
As expected, both of my children required orthodontic treatment thanks to their mother’s genes. And I learned a few tips and tricks that will help not only your wallet, but your sanity as well.
1. Don’t be afraid to go shopping
Orthodontic treatment is big business. In fact, statistics show that 4 million people in the US wear braces , and about 75% of them are teenagers, which means that you probably have several orthodontists in your area who will be happy to treat your child’s dental needs. But don’t be afraid to look for the best price.
Most orthodontists offer free consultations, and visiting multiple offices will allow you to feel the friendliness of the office staff, the cleanliness of the office, and the orthodontist’s ability to improve your child’s smile. You, too, may be shocked by the difference in price.
2. Select an office near your home.
When it came to my kids having braces, one of the biggest surprises for me is how much time I actually spend in offices for appointments and repairs, such as dangling wires and broken braces. My son’s orthodontist is located in an unusual city center, about 20 minutes from our house and about 30 minutes from his school.
I quickly realized that a “quick” trip to repair a bracket could take almost an hour and a half, considering traffic, lounge time and repairs. And since babies usually need to be seen every 6-10 weeks for observation, you end up spending a lot of time reading People magazine in the waiting room.
If you choose the closest orthodontist to your home that fits your budget, you won’t regret it. Because the braces only seem to break when you are about to leave on vacation or Friday afternoon.
3. Ask about the possibility of admission before signing the contract.
Although we were satisfied with my son’s orthodontic care, it was difficult to make an appointment as the orthodontist and his staff divided their time between two offices during the week. Since the second office was almost an hour away, we were limited by the ability to make appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which sometimes got in the way of our chaotic life.
Ask your potential office manager not only about the availability of appointments, but also when they will schedule appointments during the day. My daughter’s orthodontist requires that certain procedures can only be done during the day, which means that I have to take a day off from work, and she needs to skip school time. Knowing ahead of time that the orthodontist has days off, evening and flexible hours of work should be a key factor in the decision-making process.
4. Determine what works best for your teenager: traditional staples or tray systems.
Braces are far removed from the gray metal braces we wore in the 80s these days. Nowadays, although metal brackets are still available, teens can also choose between ceramic (clear) brackets and tray systems. Since there are so many options and options, it is important to find an orthodontist who is honest with you about what will work best for your child.
If you have a forgetful teenager, removable trays that they have to replace every two weeks may not be the best option. While these ceramic braces look good in school photos and are less visible, they add several hundred dollars to your bottom line.
5. Ask about retainers while your child still has crooked teeth.
Braces are not cheap and investing in your child’s smile is an important financial decision. Once their teeth are perfectly aligned, you’ll want them to stay that way.
One of the mistakes I regret the most was not asking ahead of time about the types of retainers that orthodontists use after a lift. My son’s orthodontist adheres to removable retainers like the ones we all used as children, which I learned about when his braces were removed. Replacement retainers are not covered by our original contract and the cost of replacing one retainer is a staggering $ 250. In addition, his orthodontist suggests wearing retainers for up to 25 years, which means he has to track his retainers for ten years, which seems impractical.
My daughter’s orthodontist uses permanent retainers for both the upper and lower row of teeth. It seems to me that this is a better value for money and I wish I knew how to account for the cost of my son’s lost royalties in our budget.
Of course, every child’s orthodontic plan is different, but it’s best to know in advance what to expect when you’re about to grit your teeth and fork out for a big bank so your kids have straight teeth.