One of the most common questions patients ask is ‘what is the cost of orthodontic treatment?’ With many other orthodontic practices charging $6,000 to $7,000 (and sometimes more), it pays to understand the costs involved. And, if you have a child who required “Two Phase” or “Early Intervention” treatment, the fees can go even higher.
Before the sticker shock of what others are charging has you feeling blue, we want to explain the finances of orthodontics and how ALTA SMILES can save a LOT of money. Why would you want to overpay elsewhere?
Breaking Down the Cost of Orthodontic Treatment
While most orthodontic providers provide an overall cost for treatment, you’ll want to understand everything included in the price before committing. It’s important to make sure there are no hidden fees, so ask if the following items are included in the total quoted estimate:
Braces or Aligners
This line item includes the evaluation and treatment plan, along with the materials. For braces, this includes brackets, archwires, and elastics. For aligners, it’s a series of customized, removable trays.
Routine orthodontic visits
Once your braces are bonded or aligners are fitted, you’ll need to visit your orthodontic center for check-ups and adjustments. These visits occur approximately every six weeks over an average treatment time of 18 months.
High-Tech Equipment
Orthodontic practices make many investments to provide high-quality patient care, including high-tech equipment such as 3-D intraoral scanners. At ALTA SMILES, we also have a sophisticated One-Step BondingTM process that uses computer algorithms to determine the precise placement of brackets and bonds them all at the same time.
Emergency Visits
While emergency visits are not typical, they can happen. Your orthodontist should be ready to respond, and that is usually in the total treatment cost.
Retainers and Follow-Up Appointments
Braces or aligners are just the first step on your orthodontic journey – we want you to have a beautiful smile for life! Find out what type of retention is planned. Also ask if retention and follow-up visits are included in your overall orthodontic fee as well.
Palatal expander or bite correction appliances
These custom-made appliances are sometimes needed before orthodontic treatment to make room for the teeth to move into their perfect position.
At ALTA SMILES, the above items are spelled out in the full cost of orthodontic treatment. In addition, you have an expert team who is always on your side to give you an excellent patient experience! Our orthodontists provide insight to certified providers, your treating dentist, backed by our best-in-class support model. In addition, highly trained dental assistants and orthodontic care coordinators will help answer any questions or concerns.
Getting the Best Value from Your Orthodontic Treatment
Is it possible to get high-quality, high-tech orthodontic care at an affordable price? That’s our ultimate focus at ALTA SMILES locations! We have our own dental lab and use a treatment method that saves time during appointments. This usually save patients about 15%-25% on their treatment costs compared to other orthodontic offices. And if you have orthodontic coverage through your dental insurance, your out-of-pocket costs may be further reduced. After applying applicable insurance reimbursements, you often can see the total out-of-pocket expense decreased by 30-40%!
You can also cover the cost of orthodontic treatment by paying with pre-tax funds through a Flexible Spending Account, saving you even more. ALTA SMILES providers offer interest-free plans to those who qualify, with the option to spread out payments over the treatment time. Third-party financing may also be available if you need a more flexible timeframe.
ALTA SMILES: Affordable High-Tech Orthodontics to Fit Your Life!
At ALTA SMILES, we’ll work with you to maximize your savings and make orthodontic treatment affordable. All the while giving you the best orthodontic treatment experience possible. Contact us to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today!