According to Germa A. et al. (2010), the socio-economic status of a family can dictate if a child will receive orthodontic treatment. Money and cost can be a huge deterrent in obtaining orthodontic treatment for a child. This is unfortunate, and at Ivanov Orthodontic Experts, we are serious about working around your budget so that we can provide your child with the treatment they need.
If your dentist or orthodontist has recommended children’s braces for your little one, the next question most people want to know is how much do braces cost for kids? Do a simple internet search for how much do braces cost for kids? Cost of braces for kids? And how much are braced for kids? This will all lead to a variety of answers. Why so much variability? That’s because braces are very individualistic things. The needs of your child may be different from the needs of another child.
How Much Do Braces Cost for Kids?
So the more research you do, the more numbers you may well find. Some kids may require extensive orthodontic correction while others require very little. Because of this, prices can fluctuate quite wildly and it is a primary reason why it’s best to talk with your orthodontic office if you want to know for sure.
There are a whole host of things that can affect the pricing such as the age of the child, the severity of the correction needed, the time scale involved, the type of braces utilized, how much insurance will pay, and even the small price variabilities between different offices. These can all play a part in determining the ultimate cost and affect the answer of how much do braces cost for kids?
Children’s braces
Although we will get into some more specifics, there is a simple way to find out how much your children’s braces will be or at least to have a very good idea and that is to schedule a free consultation with your local orthodontic office. Many high quality orthodontic offices like Ivanov Orthodontic Experts offer free consultations. These free consultations are an excellent way to be able to ask all the questions that you want to know, from how long will the treatment times be, to, of course, how much will it cost? You can even discuss payment methods like orthodontic insurance plans, payment plans, credit cards, cash, or a combination of all the above.
These free consultations can help put a lot of patients’ minds at ease concerning the cost because although when talking about the cost initially, individuals may realize when they can take an expensive orthodontic treatment and spread it out over the course of many months, it feels a lot more manageable. This gives you a peace of mind about the quality, the speed, what can be expected for the treatment, as well as the cost.
These are all important reasons to have a free visit with your orthodontic office. But now to the real question, what are some of the variables when it comes to the costs and what can they run generally?
The Average Cost of Braces for Kids
The first thing to know is that not every child will need braces. If your child is younger than 7, discussing the needs of braces may not be necessary as braces are best utilized when permanent teeth are coming in and so between the ages of 7 and 11 are usually the prime age for getting braces installed.
As mentioned, the cost will vary significantly but according to the American Dental Association, the cost can be anywhere from $3,500 to $6,500 dollars. Although some places give a wider range of between $3,000 to $8,000, the one posted by the American Association of Orthodontists definitely covers the majority of all cases.
So this of course gives an answer to how much are braces for kids but it doesn’t tell the whole story. As mentioned before, a variety of things can increase or decrease the cost involved for your children’s braces.
Ways to reduce braces cost for kids – visit early
Probably the single biggest thing you can do to make sure that the cost of your child’s braces stays low is to simply visit your orthodontic or dental office early to find out any needs that your child may have before they become a problem. The longer teeth have to grow into the wrong positions or set incorrectly, the more time it will take for orthodontic treatment to work. However, if you’re able to catch these issues at the very beginning, it can significantly decrease the number of treatments, the amount of treatment time, and can make it far easier for your pediatric orthodontist to be able to give your child not only a beautiful smile but teeth that contact at the right areas which can help reduce many dental infections or diseases over their lifetime.
The number one tip is to make sure that you visit early and visit often as this can save you significant money in the long run later and keep problems from becoming more expensive.
Braces for children – orthodontic insurance
Orthodontic insurance may confuse individuals. This is because while they may have dental insurance, not all dental insurance will cover orthodontic work. Orthodontic work is a separate type of insurance that should often be added to dental plans in case of the need for orthodontic care.
You may be thinking to yourself – I do not have orthodontic insurance – what should I do? There are a couple of things you can do. Number one, you could simply get orthodontic insurance. Dental insurance is not overly expensive and depending on where you work you may have the option of buying it and having your work contribute part of the costs to it. This is something you should talk with your HR team about and find out about some of the benefits that your work may have that you’ve never before had to think about or utilize.
Also, depending on your income, you may also qualify for some state care and assistance. Depending on what state you live in, there are a variety of programs run by the government and subsidized by the state that can help provide orthodontic care to low-income individuals who meet certain criteria. Talking with your health and human services representative in your area could help point you in the right direction for finding out if you qualify for any of this insurance or even free orthodontic care.
Children’s brace
Making sure that you avail yourself of early services, the variety of insurance and resources that may be available at your local state, your work, or even local levels can all help ensure that your child gets the treatments they need. Getting regular orthodontic treatment can set your child up for a lifetime of success and can help them avoid needless pain and suffering that can come from undiagnosed and untreated oral health problems.
Protect your child’s oral future and protect your wallet by availing yourself of the free resources and a free consultation from your orthodontic office. With so much to gain and so little to lose, what is keeping you from protecting your child’s health and future?
Summary: Teenagers often have braces, but children also need braces. This should not come as a surprise to anyone familiar with braces. Orthodontists use braces to help straighten teeth and improve your alignment. Not all children require braces, and if you think your child needs braces, it is best to get an assessment from an orthodontist to ensure that your child receives the appropriate treatment.
If your child requires braces, the orthodontist will provide you with information, direction, and guidelines to ensure the best outcome and longevity of your child’s braces.
In general, the American Orthodontic Association recommends that children should begin their orthodontic treatment at about the ages of 12-14. During the teenage years, a child is still in the developmental phases, and during this phase of their life, orthodontists find it easiest to alter and modify the shape of your child’s face. This means that when your child uses braces according to an orthodontist’s guidelines, the changes will be more rapid, and this can save you time and money.
References
American Association of Orthodontists. (n.d.). Your Child’s First Orthodontic Check-up.
Germa, A., Kaminski, M., & Nabet, C. (2010). Impact of social and economic characteristics on orthodontic treatment among children and teenagers in France. Community dentistry and oral epidemiology, 38(2), 171–179. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0528.2009.00515.x
