One of the questions we hear most often is ‘how much do braces cost?’ The price can vary depending on the patient’s individual needs. An initial consultation is required to determine an orthodontic treatment quote; that is of course if orthodontic treatment is required.
The good news is that Maitland Orthodontics is happy to provide all-inclusive treatment quotes. That means that everything from initial fitting of the braces and regular adjustment visits to the removal of braces, retainers, and post-treatment follow up for up to 3 years are all included in the overall fee. As well as there being no hidden expenses along the way, we offer payment plans to help you spread out the cost.
Orthodontic treatment and private health insurance
If you have private health insurance you may be entitled to claim a portion of the treatment cost back from your health fund, but because every case is different, it’s important to check with your fund prior to starting treatment. If you don’t currently have any cover, you’ll need to weigh up your options to determine whether it will be more cost effective to continue treatment without or with health insurance. It is important to be aware that private health insurance benefits and limits do vary from fund to fund and you may need to serve a 12 months waiting period before you will be eligible to claim a benefit.
Orthodontic treatment is an investment
Orthodontic treatments are an overwhelmingly positive investment in one’s future health and happiness. A confident smile has the potential to be one of the best and most memorable assets. It certainly has very good impact on many aspects of one’s life.
What you’re paying for Braces
One of the expenses that the orthodontic fee will cover is the cost of the braces themselves. Braces are quite intricate, with three parts that work together to achieve results.
There are the brackets, which are attached to the individual teeth with a special glue and are made of surgical quality stainless steel or white ceramics; the archwire, which links each bracket and is used to guide the teeth into place; and the ligature elastics which lock the archwire into the brackets.
As well as your braces, you might also need adjunct appliances such as a jaw expansion plate or a bite correction appliance as part of your orthodontic treatment. These are high quality pieces of equipment that are custom made.
The material costs account for some proportion of the price you pay for orthodontic treatment, but are certainly not the only things covered by your orthodontist’s fee.
Regular orthodontic visits and your specialists time
Once your braces are fitted, you’ll need to visit your orthodontist regularly for them to check your braces are working as they should and make any necessary adjustments. On average you’ll visit your orthodontist every 6 to 8 weeks for a check-up whilst the braces are on, and every 3 to 12 months whilst you are wearing retainers. That adds up to 20 to 40 appointments over the course of your treatment, all of which are covered in your treatment fee.
Whether it’s a quick visit or a ‘major service’ where more work is required, your orthodontist, their expert team and high quality equipment will be on hand to make sure your treatment is successful.
Emergency visits
While infrequent, orthodontic emergencies can happen, and emergency visits to your orthodontist are also usually included in the overall price. You might need to make an emergency appointment with your orthodontist if you experience any sort of dental trauma, for example if you have an accident while playing sport that impacts on your teeth or braces. Additional unscheduled appointments to address minor issues like broken braces including wires are also usually managed without extra fees.
Retainers and follow-up appointments
Your orthodontic journey doesn’t stop when your braces come off. It’s likely you’ll need at least 2 years of follow-up care to make sure your teeth remain aligned and don’t slip back into their old ways! The follow-up treatment will initially involve fitting you with retainers to give your teeth the best chance of staying put, all of which is included in the original orthodontist fee.