When I was growing up, I longed for braces. My teeth were a bit misaligned, but not enough to warrant orthodontic treatment, which was a disappointment. I would often envy my friends who had shiny braces, playfully nicknamed “tinsel teeth.” I even went as far as bending paperclips to mimic the feeling of braces. It wasn’t just about having straight teeth; I thought braces were cool!
In retrospect, I wish I could return to that innocent perspective. Fast forward to today, and we’ve discovered that two of our three children need braces. One of them has minor alignment issues, while the other has a significant crossbite requiring extensive treatment. During our visit to the orthodontist for a consultation, I braced myself for a hefty bill, but nothing prepared me for the actual estimate.
The cost for our daughter was slightly over $4,000, and for our son with the crossbite, it was even more—just for the first phase of treatment. All told, we’re looking at nearly $9,000, not including whatever the second phase will cost.
We do have dental insurance, but the lifetime coverage limit for orthodontics is only $1,500 per person, which is typical. While $6,000—after insurance—is better than $9,000, it’s still a significant amount of money. How do families manage these expenses?
The orthodontist provides an interest-free payment plan or a 5% discount for upfront payment. While breaking the total down into smaller payments is helpful, it doesn’t lessen the overall financial hit. If this were just a cosmetic issue, we might consider skipping it. However, our son’s crossbite could lead to serious problems down the line, and our daughter’s misalignment could result in bite and wear issues in the future. It baffles me why insurance doesn’t cover more for orthodontic treatments when they are often medically necessary. Cosmetic procedures are one thing, but a large portion of children’s orthodontics is genuinely needed.
Reflecting on my own childhood, I’m grateful I never required braces. My parents were not in a position to afford such expenses, and I didn’t realize how financially burdensome braces could be until I received an estimate nearly equal to the price of a used car.
Sometimes, I wonder if I chose the wrong career path. Instead of teaching, perhaps I should have become an orthodontist. With a schedule like our local orthodontist who works only four days a week, I could have made a fortune straightening teeth and secured free braces for my kids.
But alas, those days are behind me. Instead, we’ll be tightening our budget, wishing that our children hadn’t inherited my husband’s dental traits, and calculating how long it will take to pay off their braces. We might even start nudging our kids towards a future in orthodontics!
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In summary, orthodontic care for children can be a significant financial burden for families, particularly when insurance coverage is limited. Despite the challenges, many families find ways to manage these costs, often weighing the medical necessity of treatment against the financial implications.