Misaligned teeth don’t only affect your smile but also cause difficulty with eating, cleaning your teeth and in severe cases, speech difficulty. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for straightening teeth for both children and adults. Braces are a popular method of teeth alignment. They can fix many orthodontic issues within a short time.

But, many people often wonder how much will braces cost in the USA. Well, prices vary depending on the braces you choose, your location as well as the type of insurance you have. Research by the American Dental Association reports that braces cost averagely $4685-$6500 for children while adults pay approximately $4800-$7135.

But it’s essential to note that these prices may be higher or lower depending on your treatment period. Usually, treatment plans take approximately 24 months for most patients.

Factors Influencing the Cost of Braces in the USA

Types of Braces

Because there are different types of braces, how much patients pay for each varies. However, note that your choice of braces will be limited to the experience that your orthodontist has and your alignment problems. Since most specialists offer free consultations, we advise that you visit as many places as possible to settle on a suitable price and plan. Here are different braces types and their average costs.

Metal braces- these are the oldest and most affordable orthodontic treatment that is universally available. Although they’re highly visible, they offer fast alignment of teeth. They cost approximately $3000-$5000.

Ceramic braces-instead of metals, the material used is designed to match a patient’s teeth color thus reducing visibility. But, compared to metal ones, these are more brittle and without proper care, they stain noticeably. On average, they run from $2000-$5000.

Lingual braces are glued behind one’s teeth hence cannot be noticed. But as they’re hard to install and adjust, they are super expensive. Their price can range anywhere between $5000-$13000.

Invisalign- this technology uses plastic molds that are fitted over your teeth. One will wear each mold for a specific time and then exchange it. Patients can also remove Invisalign hence making it a comfortable method. The only disadvantage is that results take a long time and cannot be used in severe misalignment cases. Patients pay approximately $3000-$8000 for these aligners.

It is essential that individuals weigh out between the cosmetic value and how much time their treatment takes. Note that the cheapest method consists of highly visible braces. But these cheaper methods straighten your teeth quickly than most of their counterparts.

Age and Location

Children pay less money for treatments compared to adults no matter the location. The cost is lower than approximately 3.6%. On average, adults will pay $156-211 more than children for braces treatment regardless of the type.

Also, like any other consumer service, orthodontic treatment increases by the cost of living and population density. Individuals in urban areas will pay more for the same procedure than those in rural areas. For instance, an adult in Manhattan will pay around $6097 for a similar procedure that’s paid $4554 by someone in Lincoln, Nebraska. Experts advise individuals who live in major cities to consider getting treated with an orthodontist in smaller nearby towns or dental schools.

Length of Service

If you wear your braces for a long time, you’ll spend more than a person who wears them for a short period. But, how long you wear yours is dependant on the type of braces you choose, how serious your condition is as long as how well you support your treatment by practicing good habits. The average time of braces treatment is about 23 months. But, this period can be more or less. Here is the breakdown of how much patients pay averagely;

One year: Adults $2546, children $2457
Two Years: Adults $5091, children $4914
Three Years: Adults $7637, children $7372
Four Years: Adults $10183, children $9829

Some patients may also pay more than average due to preventable issues like breakages, slow alignments, etc. Individuals should avoid hard or sticky foods that shatter into the bracelets to minimize regular appointments. One should also keep their teeth generally clean.

Dental Issues

People with severe dental problems will pay more than those with minor issues. For instance, if you must get filling replacement or do a deep cleaning before braces are installed, you’ll pay more for these services. Also, in cases where you’ll require teeth extractions or wear a hedger before braces are glued, the cost will increase. One may also be needed to buy a retainer after removing braces to prevent their teeth from going to their original spot.

What Does Insurance Cover?

Finding an insurer to cover for braces can be difficult. Most dental plans don’t cover misalignment treatments like braces. If your plan doesn’t cover braces, consider purchasing a supplemental cost that will take care of the expenses.

Note that insurers set orthodontic treatment in ways that benefit them to the maximum. As such, many have a fixed annual amount that will be paid. There’s no lifetime maximum benefit with orthodontic insurance. This means that once you’ve used your yearly amount, there’s no further coverage. Most of the dental insurance plans cover for:

X-rays
Tooth extractions
Treatment planning and exam
Retainers and Invisalign

Before purchasing an insurance plan, one should read and understand their policy first. While there is no insurance for Invisalign or Lingual braces at the moment, you can get covered for the other two types of braces. The cost for metal braces with insurance is approximately $3407 while that of ceramic is $4572.

Tips for Reducing the Cost of Your Treatment

Shop around-visit different orthodontists to find one who is fairly priced.
Ask for discounts- many dentists allow negotiations. You should, therefore, take advantage of this.
Wear your retainer- the best way to avoid future costs after getting your braces removed is by wearing a retainer.
Practice good habits- avoid eating sticky or hard foods that can cause breakage. Also, brush and floss your teeth regularly.
Consider getting dental treatments from dental schools as their services are cheaper.  

Final Thoughts

Many factors are influencing how much you’ll pay for braces. But, some like breakages can be prevented by taking good care of your braces once they’re installed. Although this is an effective treatment, it is not cheap. It’s therefore essential that you take your time to think about the things we’ve mentioned above before getting this treatment done.