giramomma
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Feb 3, 2011 11:25:27 GMT -5
Posts: 22,093
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Post by giramomma on Sept 3, 2015 7:30:40 GMT -5
The second phase was $3,900 with insurance paying $1,000. She is so excited to be able to eat crunchy sticky foods again. Our ortho gives the kids a waterbottle filled with all the candy that they weren't supposed to eat when the braces come off.
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thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,749
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Post by thyme4change on Sept 3, 2015 8:07:13 GMT -5
My daughter already used up her lifetime ortho benefit, and it only covered half of the small appliance she has. It is just on the bottom, and just to keep the teeth in place until she can get real braces.
The finance person took me into a soothing, but professional special room, explained my insurance coverage, explained the cost of the appliance, and then laid out several different payment plans. If I recall, I think it was $1200. After 20 minutes of payment plans, I said "How much if I write a check right now?" 5% off, check written, done. Good to keep a cushion.
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imanangel
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 8, 2014 12:18:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,042
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Braces
Sept 3, 2015 13:27:44 GMT -5
Post by imanangel on Sept 3, 2015 13:27:44 GMT -5
I have one in braces now. He is 15. He has been to ortho consults in the past and we have always been told to wait. His teeth are now in and so it was time. The total for his braces was $4,400 and our insurance will pay $1750.
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zibazinski
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 16:12:50 GMT -5
Posts: 47,910
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Braces
Sept 3, 2015 15:17:45 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by zibazinski on Sept 3, 2015 15:17:45 GMT -5
I wish I'd waited. Got hosed on both kids. Phase one and phase two. Should have waited until end of elementary or in middle school.
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cktc
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 19, 2013 22:15:31 GMT -5
Posts: 3,202
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Braces
Sept 3, 2015 16:23:21 GMT -5
Post by cktc on Sept 3, 2015 16:23:21 GMT -5
I'm in braces for the first time now in my 30s. I paid $5500 for the braces themselves, then ~$500 for ceramic brackets, ~$800 for a distalizer (which allegedly speeds treatment), and had to have oral surgery to remove 3 impacted teeth ~$2300. I think it came out to about $10k total in dental work last year.
I wish I would have gotten them in high school, but spending my own money and waiting so long to get them, I do think I am a bit more appreciative and careful about maintenance than I would otherwise have been.
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Malarky
Junior Associate
Truth and snark are equal opportunity here.
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 21:00:51 GMT -5
Posts: 5,313
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Braces
Sept 3, 2015 17:39:18 GMT -5
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Post by Malarky on Sept 3, 2015 17:39:18 GMT -5
I had two in braces at the same time. Thank the goddesses for payment plan. And note, I paid the same amount of money for both, even though they had vastly different experiences. DS was a pretty simple fix. Two years, wear your retainer, you'll be fine. He didn't wear his retainer. I paid for a second, more expensive spring loaded retainer which he still wouldn't wear. So...suck it up Buttercup, any problems you have as an adult are on you. His bottom teeth stayed straight because he had a permanent metal retainer until he was 19 and had his wisdom teeth out. DD had serious problems. Her teeth were so crooked that when she smiled she could stick her tongue out through her top and bottom teeth. We had a meeting with the orthodontist after he examined her and did a computer model of where she was, what he recommended and where she would end up. Her ortho was able to look at DH and name the person who did his braces and where he went wrong. She was in braces for seven years. From second to eighth grade I took her once a month. They used baby teeth to anchor things as her adult teeth came in. They pulled baby teeth as needed to make room. She brushed and flossed faithfully. She still wears her retainer most nights because she just loves the way her teeth look and doesn't want to lose it. It was so worth it! Her teeth look exactly like he said they would if we persevered. She basically has DH's teeth and he is the poster child for what not to do. His teeth aren't hideous, but if I paid money for them, I'd be pissed. They pulled teeth to "make room" which wasn't necessary for DD because they "made room" as she grew. One of the biggest pluses...going into high school without dealing with braces. So many of their friends were just starting on the journey, and they were done.
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msgumby
Established Member
Joined: Feb 7, 2011 2:26:23 GMT -5
Posts: 438
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Braces
Sept 4, 2015 11:46:12 GMT -5
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Post by msgumby on Sept 4, 2015 11:46:12 GMT -5
We are paying for SIL braces (she is almost 15). Hers are 3500, but the doc is giving us a discount because we have to pay for the whole thing out of pocket and they are all friendly (live in a small town where everyone knows each other). MIL has no income or savings to pay so SIL is on Medicaid. One of her adult teeth never came down because of overcrowding, and if they don't fix it now, she will probably need extensive braces and oral surgery as an adult - and could have permanent damage to some of her teeth. But, Medicaid will not cover ANY of it because this is not considered a "serious" problem (needed to be missing 3+ teeth for them to cover it). So, we get to pay for it. I don't really want to, but we have the money and DH and I are not willing to risk permanent damage to SIL mouth over 3500.
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