Orthodontic treatment can be costly, but there are several ways to finance it. The most common way is to set up a payment plan with your orthodontist. Most orthodontists provide payment plans that let you spread the cost of treatment over a few months or years. If you have health insurance, contact your provider and find out what your plan covers.
Credit cards for healthcare, such as CareCredit, offer specific lines of funding for medical care, such as orthodontic appliances. This is a great option if you need to pay for the entire procedure upfront, but make sure to check interest rates and have a payment plan in place. Another option is to look into programs that offer free or reduced cost orthodontic treatment. Smiles Change Lives and Smile for a Lifetime raise funds and receive voluntary support from orthodontists to provide free or reduced cost orthodontic treatment to qualifying children. While not all children and young adults may be eligible for fully covered orthodontic appliances, there are also ways to significantly reduce the cost of orthodontics through insurance and other programs. It's important to note that many dental insurance plans help cover the cost of orthodontic treatment.
Unlike dental insurance programs, dental savings plans offer discounted services for paying plan members. Some dentists and orthodontists may offer discounts as an incentive for patients to pay the full bill in advance. You're sure to find an option to fund your orthodontic appliances that's best for you and that gives you plenty of reasons to smile. Orthodontists receive specialized training beyond that of dentists to become experts in the art of orthodontics and in creating beautiful smiles. Talk to your orthodontist about when to start treatment with braces if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
While it may seem intimidating to entrust this procedure to a student, this work is usually done under the supervision of a licensed orthodontist.