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Orthodontia (a post for parents with young children)


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Posted

A number of posts in a thread concerning finances and children discussed orthodontia -- the need for it (real, perceived, and otherwise) and the cost.

 

For those who are early on the parenting journey (say with children five or younger), my one bit of advice would be that if it is at all possible begin saving for the expense now. Even if you and/or your partner have a job with an orthodontia benefit, it is generally for an amount well below the actual cost. For example, our allowance is currently $1,500. (It was $1,200 when our son was being treated.)

 

As for whether or not braces are required, I would say this: If your regular family dentist recommends a consult, take it seriously. A mouth that seems utterly fine may have bite issues that will haunt the patient later. For example, it was always abundantly apparent that my oldest and youngest would need braces, but our middle child appeared to "luck out": Year after year, she was told, "Looking great!" In fact, she was with her younger sister when the latter had her ortho consult, and the orthodontist declared the middle child "Lucky, indeed!"

 

And then subtle changes in her mouth and bite occurred, which they began tracking a year ago and finally decided, "Get this looked at," and -- Voilà! -- she's in braces.

 

For the sake of comparison -- since so many people ask, "How much?" and "Where do you live?" -- the cost for my oldest was about $4,200 for conventional braces. This did not include the extractions that were prescribed. The results were B+. At the time, the children saw a pediatric dentist. The orthodontist was not part of her practice, but both were all right with extractions to achieve certain results.

 

In the seven or so years between his treatment and the youngest's we not only moved out of the city (although remained in Chicagoland), we also moved the children to the dental practice at which my husband and I were patients. Not only do they not favor extractions, the ortho we chose once our youngest received her "It's time for the ortho consult" mandate avoided them like a large lollipop. My youngest enjoys an A+ outcome. Treatment crested $5,100, although she did not get "conventional" braces but rather the Damon system with the significantly smaller brackets (to say nothing of the significantly shorter treatment time!).

 

(Again, since people often wonder about cost, I'll add that we received two other cost-of-treatment projections, $4,500 and $4,800, from other reputable orthodontics practices, one of which insisted extractions were necessary.)

 

We returned to the practice for our middle child. They were surprised to see us, but one look in her mouth told them the story. Fortunately, we were offered a 5% family discount. They also offered the same 7% PIF bookkeeping discount that was offered when our youngest was being treated.

 

These discounts are both common and significant and help explain why I'd urge parents of young children to begin saving now. An HSA is one way to develop this savings, as is the old-fashioned envelope system.

 

While I'd prefer neither to enter nor to begin a debate about the need for orthodontia, I can certainly understand when folks indicate that it's just not possible, or that much of orthodontia is optional or cosmetic only, or that even if there is a concern, the child can redress dental wrongs in adulthood. I think that the first point is one only the parents can determine, but the latter two? If you trust your child's dentist and the orthodontists with whom you consult have no affiliation with said dentist, then surely it's more than "just looks" that they plan to address, right? As for attending to dental concerns in adulthood, well, it's even costlier then, particularly given that unaddressed bite issues create wear and decay that may otherwise have been avoided.

 

And while I'm on the subject of expenses some parents don't see coming, if at all possible, put money away for wisdom tooth extraction. Although there are a few dentists who think it's an unnecessary procedure, extraction is often prescribed because of crowding concerns and potential decay. Better to be prepared now.

 

Finally, urge your teens and young adults to use their retainers! Most orthodontists are now quite direct about the lifelong need to use retainers, so let your college students, for example, know how important it is to keep using the night retainer. At $350 to $450 a pop to replace, encourage care habits and savings habits that will help them keep up this maintenance when they are on their own.

 

Oh, dear. I see I said, "Finally," when in fact I have one more thought: Proactive, preventive health care is far easier and less expensive than remedying problems. When we invest in habits of care (annual physicals, regular dental cleanings and exams, common health screenings, etc.), we serve as models to our children.

Posted

:iagree:

I needed braces as a child, but my parents refused to ever pay for braces again after my older sister's experience. (She didn't wear her retainer and her teeth began to shift back within a year.)

Fast foward:

I had jaw surgery and braces 20 years ago (as a young adult) as a result of not having my bite corrected as a child. I will have a lifetime of jaw problems due to this.

If we have to live on beans and rice for years, our child will have braces if needed.

Posted

Great post. We started the work for dd to get braces a few years ago. She got 5 teeth pulled, got spacers put in, she was to get braces in 2 years, here we are 4 years later. OUr financial situation changed. SHe still needs them, she is missing teeth, the spacers will need to come out, she has teeth coming in where they shouldn't etc. I am looking at taking her to the university for them. The ortho students will put them on and tighten monthly as part of their learning. It costs about 1/2 what it would to go elsewhere. ex only has $500 towards ortho care on the health insur he has the kids one. Thankgoodness oldest has good teeth with no need for braces.

 

I also agree with the retainer comment. My aunt got braces as a young adult, never wore her retainer and had to get braces again as an adult because they all slipped alignment again from no retainer. At the same time I had braces for 4.5 years. I made the ortho remove them at 4.5 years even though my teeth were not done moving because I was tired of them. I never wore my retainer and my teeth never slipped alignment.

 

All of that to say when you factor in a cost for braces make sure you have a cushion in case it takes longer. If you have stubborn teeth that do not want to move, and /or your child needs a more intensive procedure first but you can't afford it, or opt not to do it, you should count on the braces being on longer.

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