Nobody wants to overpay for something, especially if it’s something they aren’t going to use or are unsure if they even need. If you’ve been told that your child needs braces (or you need braces yourself), you’re probably wondering if they are fine without the mouth gear and how much braces cost in the first place. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at the price of braces, what they do, and whether or not they are worth the investment for your child’s teeth.
What Do Braces Do?
If you’re like most people, you probably assume that braces only work to shift your teeth back into a correct position to give your child a more regular smile. While braces do work to help improve the cosmetic appearance of your smile, they do much more than that. Braces help to fix our teeth alignment, which can help with:
- Trouble chewing, that can affect nutrition and eating habits.
- Difficulty speaking.
- Teeth spacing, helping to prevent against tooth decay and cavity formation.
- Bite problems.
- Confidence issues tied to tooth alignment.
As you can see, braces can have a significant impact on your mouth health and your confidence, which make them worth every penny for you and your child. But that leads right into our next question, which is how much do braces cost?
The Cost of Braces
For starters, there’s no standard price for braces, and the price will vary based on a number of different factors. For example, the type of braces you choose will affect the cost of your braces. In most cases, standard metal braces are the least expensive, and prices go up if you opt for clear braces or removable Invisalign options.
Price is also impacted by how long the dental professional believes your child will need to wear braces in order to achieve the desired results. Some patients will need them for only a few months, while other children will have braces for more than a year, and the maintenance that goes into caring for the braces will impact the total cost.
Another factor to consider is the severity of your alignment. If you need significant alignment work, some bracing options may not be available. Others will minor alignment problems may be able to transition to a retainer sooner, which again can help to limit the costs.
As you can see, the cost of braces will vary from patient to patient, but at Smiles For Life Dental in Bloomington, we do everything in our power to keep costs down and work with your insurance to help them cover their portion of the bill. Braces can cost a couple thousand dollars, but view them as an investment in you or your child’s oral and overall health. To learn more about anything related to braces, be it the cost for your individual case, your bracing options or payment plans, be sure to reach out to our clinic and we can provide you with more information. Contact Dr. Brooks’ clinic today at (952) 888-3200.