How Much Do Braces Cost?
It can be hard to get straightforward information about the cost of braces. Being told “it depends” can feel frustrating, even if it’s true. Sure, it makes sense that it depends, but it’s also nice to know what the cost depends on, and what overall cost ranges one can expect.
Knowing the cost of braces is vital to fitting orthodontic treatment into your life. You should be rewarded, not given the runaround, for being thoughtful and practical about costs. Even though we can’t tell you exactly how much your braces will cost until you’re in a free consultation, we can give you cost ranges, influencing factors, and financing examples. Keep reading for key details that will help you financially plan for your best smile.
Take Me Out to the Ballpark (of Braces Costs)
Traditional metal braces are the most affordable option for orthodontic care in most cases. For a standard full treatment with metal braces, costs range between $3,000 and $6,000. That amount can feel like a lot, but hear us out! We offer plenty of options to make paying for treatment easy, from working with insurance to offering financing plans. We’ll get to that in a minute. First, let’s consider some factors that influence where your treatment will fall within that range.
The Complexity of Treatment
Every smile is unique. That’s why costs are so hard to estimate. In general, though, when braces correct mild crowding and spacing issues, the costs are usually lower. More advanced corrections, like correcting bite issues (overbite, underbite, crossbite) or impacted teeth, will be more expensive.
Length of Treatment
Tied to the complexity of treatment is its length. The more changes that need to be made to your smile, the longer the treatment will run. Most comprehensive treatments run 12-24 months. Longer treatments, or treatments with multiple phases, tend to cost more. If you’re only looking for a short “tune-up” or limited treatment (for example, just your front teeth), the costs will be on the lower end of the range.
How Patient Age Impacts Costs
Your age at the time of treatment can also be an important factor in pricing. Because teens are still growing, it is easier to make complex adjustments. This can speed up treatment and reduce costs.
Adults, on the other hand, may need additional restorative work for comprehensive treatment. Adults may find that extra time is required for the best results, which increases costs.
What About Clear Braces?
So far, we’ve discussed cost ranges for traditional metal braces. But what about clear braces? The ceramic braces that blend in with your natural smile do cost a little extra, however, due to more expensive materials. The cost of ceramic braces typically ranges from $4,000 to $7,500+. The same factors that affect the price of metal braces (complexity, length, and age) also apply to clear braces.
Fitting Braces Into Your Budget
The cost of braces can feel intimidating. Fitting orthodontic treatment into your budget can be easier than you think. Our team at Adirondack Orthodontics has lots of experience helping patients find payment plans that work for them. Here’s how we use insurance and financing to make healthy smiles affordable for so many people.
Save Money With In-Network Insurance
Using insurance is a great way to make braces treatment more affordable. We work with most PPO insurance plans to get you the lowest cost for braces. Here are some of our in-network providers:
- Aetna
- Ameritas
- Anthem BlueCross
- Cigna
- CSEA
- Delta Dental
- EBS
- Empire BlueCross BlueShield
- GHI
- Guardian
- MetLife
- United Concordia
- And more
If your plan offers an HSA or FSA, those funds can be used to pay for treatment, retainers, and more. Because HSA and FSA are pre-tax, you can save even more money on your new smile.
You can check with your insurance to see if orthodontic treatment is included in your policy. If decoding insurance company jargon isn’t your cup of tea, then we’ve got you covered. Just show us your insurance card during your free consultation, and we’ll handle the rest to ensure you get the best possible price.
Accessible Financing Options
In addition to accepting most insurance, we also offer great options for financing. One financing option many patients use is CareCredit. Applying for CareCredit is super fast–most patients in our office can apply in five minutes. If you’re approved, CareCredit offers $0 down, 0% interest financing for up to 24 months.
If you do decide to make a down payment, that would make your monthly payments more manageable. As an example, let’s say your total cost for braces is in the upper range, at $5,500. If your insurance covers $500 and you put $1,000 down, the remaining $4,000 could be spread over 24 months at about $167 per month with 0% interest. If you’d like to explore other monthly payment options, you can estimate monthly payments using this online calculator.
If CareCredit isn’t a fit for you, then talk to us about our other financing options. We don’t want financial concerns to get in the way of you and your best smile.
Check Out Our Discounts
There are even more ways to save at Adirondack Orthodontics thanks to our offers and discounts! We offer a pay-in-full discount of up to 7% for those who pay for all of their treatment upfront. As a way of saying thank you, we also proudly give discounts to first responders, healthcare workers, teachers, and members of the military. Check out our Offers and Discounts page to learn about even more ways to save!
Visit Us for a Free Consultation
We’ve covered the basics of cost ranges, influencing factors, and ways to make treatment affordable. Even with the information we’ve presented, you won’t know the actual cost of your braces until you come in for a free consultation. Your costs might be lower than you’d think, especially after factoring in insurance, discounts, and 0% interest financing.
So schedule your free consultation with Adirondack Orthodontics today! We’ll have you and your pocketbook smiling from your first visit.