How Can You Make Children's Orthodontics Costs More Affordable?

Many parents are shocked when they discover just how much it will cost to get braces for their teenager. The cost of such treatment can easily be as much as $5000 or more, and many families find it difficult to afford these costs. However, it is important to make sure that your child is able to receive the orthodontic treatment that he needs.

Finding a way to afford these children's orthodontics costs can take some planning. It is not something that you should leave until the last minute, or even until your child pays his first visit to the orthodontist. You need to start saving as soon as possible so that you will have enough set aside for braces.

If you start saving at an early age, you will find it much easier to put aside enough money to make braces more affordable. For example, if you start putting an extra $20 into savings each month when your child is born, by the time he is a teenager, you could have several thousand dollars in the bank. This will be enough to pay for a significant portion of the cost of braces.

You might be under the assumption that your dental insurance will pay for most of the cost of any orthodontic treatment that is needed. However, in the vast majority of cases, this is not the case. Most dental insurance policies pay for the cost of basic, preventative procedures, such as examinations and cleanings.

Any major procedures that require the attention of a specialist are covered at a much lower rate. For example, your policy might cover 100 percent of the cost of a cleaning, 90 percent of the cost of an X-ray, and 80 percent of the cost of a filling. However, it might pay only 50 percent of the cost of braces.

In addition to this lower percentage, your plan is likely to have a maximum benefits limitation for major procedures such as orthodontia. In most cases, this will be a lifetime limit rather than an annual one. As long as your child is covered by your insurance plan, your policy will provide no more coverage for braces or other treatments once the lifetime limit has been reached.

Unfortunately, most plans have a fairly low limit, often no more than $1000 to $1500. Since braces can cost quite a bit more than this, you are going to have to pay for the rest of the cost on your own. This is why it is such a good idea to start saving for braces as soon as you can. Otherwise, you may have to come up with several thousand dollars on fairly short notice.

Talk to your orthodontist about ways to make children's orthodontics costs more affordable. They will be happy to work with you to come up with a payment plan that fits your budget. By doing so, you can make sure that your child is able to receive the proper treatment for his teeth.