How Much Do Braces Cost?

Introduction to Orthodontics

Orthodontics is a branch and specialty of dentistry. It specifically deals with anything that has to do with mispositioned teeth or jaws and correction of bite patterns that involves diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. It can also focus on the modification of the abnormal alignment, positions, and dimension of bones that house the teeth such as the jaws. This is called dentofacial orthopedics. Orthodontic treatment is done by straightening or moving the teeth to their proper position not solely to improve their appearance but also to achieve proper alignment and make them more functional. Although it can take too long, with the average being 24 months, it helps in the long-term health of the teeth, gums, and jaws’ by dispersing the biting pressure over all the teeth. The best-known orthodontic treatment is the application of braces. Since the cost is high and often not covered by insurance, orthodontics financing is used to pay for them over the course of treatment.

What are Braces?

Braces are dental tools that help in correcting problems with the alignment of teeth, such as crowding, or, having too many teeth in the same area of the mouth, and crooked teeth, or the misalignment and deformity of the teeth. These causes a misaligned bite, either an underbite, where the lower teeth extend outward and farther than the upper teeth, or overbite, where the upper teeth overlap with the lower teeth. A deep overbite is one which is more pronounced than a normal overbite would be. These dental tools are very expensive. They have different types, and their cost varies depending on what kind of materials are being used.

Different Types of Braces: Their Cost and Need for Orthodontics Financing

Usually, braces are worn in the teenage years. Like teenagers, adults also care about their appearance and wearing a “metal teeth alignment corrector” can greatly affect one’s look. Some people wear these to improve the appearance, while some wear them to correct teeth alignment. In some cases, people cannot properly chew due to their malformed and misaligned teeth. Worry no more because fortunately, the traditional “metal mouth” braces are no longer the only option for those who want to display perfect smiles. There are innovative braces that are almost invisible. There are also some procedures for applying braces that aim in “hiding” them and making them unnoticeable. Below are the types of braces with their average costs, advantages, and disadvantages.

1. Metal or Traditional Braces: $3,000 to $7,000

Traditional braces are the cheapest, oldest, and most common type of orthodontic treatment. They are made of metal brackets and wires. These brackets are attached to the front surface of the teeth. They are used with bands and arch wires or flexible wires which hold the brackets or bands in place to align the teeth. Some of these traditional braces are applied with rubber bands, which can be customized with different colors, or even metal ties that hold each bracket in place with the wire. They create pressure to align the teeth. Some orthodontists require their patients to wear headgear at night. These are devices worn around the head to provide additional pressure to the teeth. These types of braces are adjusted every four to six weeks to move the teeth into their proper alignment. However, they can also be uncomfortable and painful with every adjustment. Additionally, during this orthodontic treatment, certain foods can’t be eaten such as chips, nuts and other things that require more pressure during chewing because they may damage the brackets.

2. Clear or Ceramic Braces: $4,000 to $8,000

This type of braces is made with clear plastic or ceramic brackets which can make the braces less noticeable or even look invisible. They can come in tooth-colored ceramic, stainless steel, clear plastic, as mentioned before, or even gold. Although as effective as metal braces, they are also more expensive based on what kinds of materials they are made of. They are not any more comfortable as metal braces. They are also more brittle than metal braces and tend to stain without proper care.

3. Lingual (Incognito) Braces: as much as $8,000 to $10,000 requiring orthodontics financing

This type of braces is made of metal just like traditional braces. The procedure is different because they are placed behind the teeth to make them less visible. Compared to traditional braces, the treatment takes longer and is much more expensive. They are also difficult to clean since they are placed behind the teeth. They could influence speaking as they are more uncomfortable.

4. Self-Ligating Braces: $3,500 to $8,500

In traditional braces, elastics such as rubber bands are used to keep the wire on the brackets. In the self-ligating braces, brackets with “gates” are used to keep the wire in place. These “gates” are small door mechanisms which can be opened and closed during the monthly adjustment. Simply put, the usage of elastic or metal ties is no longer needed. Compared to other types of braces, they are less painful and are potentially a quicker treatment. Like ceramic or clear braces, they are available with clear materials, but the ceramic materials can stain, and they are also more noticeable if metal brackets are used.

5. Clear Aligners: $3,000 to $8,000

These braces are also known as “invisible” braces and do not involve brackets. They are made of clear plastic trays that fit onto the teeth. Like other braces, they also use pressure to align the teeth but in a gentler way. Patients wear the trays for a given time before moving onto the next one. A slightly straighter mold is worn with every adjustment to provide more pressure as the teeth slowly align. They can be removed whenever it is time to eat, floss, or brush, making it the most comfortable option. However, they should also be kept on for at least 22 hours a day for them to be effective. Also, the treatment takes longer than other braces. In other cases, the orthodontist can also put tooth-colored attachments on the teeth in order to hold the aligners in place. In-office brands such as Invisalign can be more expensive, but there are also at-home brands such as Candid which are cheaper. Aligners are not suitable for every patient, especially those with severe cases of teeth misalignment.

TGUC Financial and Orthodontics Financing

TGUC Financial has financing options for those with no dental insurance and bad credit scores. We submit your loan inquiry to multiple loan companies and provide you with the best rate.  Don’t delay your orthodontics procedure for financial reasons. We can help you with orthodontics financing to help you take care of your teeth. Contact us today.