Just as the title says. I’ve checked a lot of orthadontal websites, none of them seems too keen on putting the prices right up there. I understand it probably varies patient to patient, and most of them seem to offer a free consultation.
But if there are any knowledgeable dopers out there on the subject, about how much am I looking at here? I’m 22, so i assume my jaw is done growing. I think I’d only need the top row straightened, as the bottom looks fine.
Also I’ve still got all my wisdom teeth. They dont bother me, but I wonder if they would have to be removed to make room in my mouth.
Feel free to add any personal experiences about costs, as well as what it is like to be an adult wearing BRACES :eek:
My personal experience: I had top and bottom braces put on at age 29. In 1995, this cost me $2880. ($3200 for the treatment - 10% discount for paying a lump sum up front, as opposed to monthly installments). Treatment was supposed to last 18 months, ran over 3 years, as my bite never quite got “perfect”. The teeth were straight, he was just fiddling with the bite. I said it was good enough and had them taken off the month before my wedding.
Nowadays most braces are transparent and aren’t really that noticable, unless you’re in one of the stages where you lisp and drool while talking. Fortunately, I only had 2 periods like that.
Hey, that’s exactly what happened with me only it was in 1999 at age 32. I think my cost was around the same (I paid in installments). They always say 18 months, it always takes waaaaay longer.
In 2000, we paid $2800 for our younger daughter’s orthodontic treatment, which included a palatal expander and upper braces. In 2002, we paid $5000 for our older daughter’s treatment, which involved full braces, top and bottom, and retainer. I imagine a fairly minor adult treatment would be much less.
You might also check to see if there is a dental college near you. Both of our kids got braces at one and I have since recommended the same place to numerous neighbors. All went the dental college route and all were happy. The cost is about 1/2 of what you would pay to a regular orthodontist.
Don’t worry about getting substandard care with an untrained student. At the school we went to all of the DR’s in training were significantly supervised by their professors. I was very impressed by the level of care. Both of the Dr.'s who did my kids braces gave us phone numbers to call 24/7 in case of complications/pain.
There are some dental discount plans taht offer up to 50% off orthodontic care (if you get it done at a general dentist). If you aren’t comfortable doing that (I can’t blame you if you aren’t, some General dentists are really inept in my experience) you can still get a discount plan and save 25% at a specialist. Or try a student dentist like sinjin said.
I got braces about a year ago (I’m 41) and the total estimate was $2,800. Part of that was covered by our dental insurance, plus we got another discount because we paid for it all up front.
I then paid $360 extra for ceramics on the top teeth so they’re less noticable. My orthdontist didn’t recommend the invisible type for my problem, plus that kind wasn’t covered by the insurance - and they cost, IIRC, about twice as much.
My treatment is supposed to take 18 months (glares at ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness and tremorviolet) and it’s been just over a year. I’m sick to death of them already. I can’t wait to get them off. When I had them as a kid, I had a horrible overbite and they were terribly crooked, and I had them on for four freaking years. This time just the bottom teeth were moving a bit out of line and the orthodontist said my bite was ‘off’ a little. They’ve moved a lot already, so I hope I can stick to the 18-month guideline.
I asked my dentist about Invisalign recently (removable, clear plastic braces that fit over your teeth rather than being glued on). The estimate was about $2500 to straighten both top and bottom, which is apparently comparable to standard braces. I don’t need much work done, though–I already had a lot of orthodontic work done as a kid.
Keep in mind that you may need additional orthodontic work, not just braces–when I was a kid, I had headgear, a bite plate, a retainer, the works. And, as you mentioned, the wisdom teeth may need to come out.