One of the main concerns for most patients or parents of patients who need orthodontic treatment is the cost.  As they are being told the costs, they ponder the amount of money that will go into the process of having a beautiful STRAIGHT smile, sometimes the eyes get a little glazed or glossed over and I can usually tell that sticker shock is starting to set in.

Unlike other dental treatments such as fillings, cleanings, or extractions, orthodontic treatment takes anywhere from a few months to as long as 2-3 years to accomplish the best possible results.  For the average 2-3 year treatment plan, a patient must go into the orthodontic office, sit in the chair for 45 minutes to one hour at a time and endure the next orthodontic adjusment without complaint.    Over 2-3 years that can be 24 to 30 visits (not counting any emergency visits that may occur), and countless minutes for a lifetime of beauty.  That’s a lot of chair time for one patient!

Think of orthodontic treatment like construction of a house, everything must go in steps.  The site for the building is selected, the architect lays out the design and the contractor begins the work.  All of this takes time and so does having braces.

Now as to the the cost of braces, just keep in mind it includes everything from the orthodontist’s working time: diagnoising the problem(s), forming a proper and effective treatment plan and his or her chairside procedures, the dental assistant(s) working time, the front desk personnel who schedules the appointments, the equipment and products it takes to keep instruments sterilized, and of course the braces and supplies it takes to get your smile perfect.  Oh and I almost forgot the laboratory time, supplies, and products that are used to make some of the apparatuses or other devices one may need during treatment.  When all of these things are considered, the cost is well worth the amount quoted.

Remember your orthodontist is creating your smile to not only be pleasing to the eye but function for your dental and physical health to last a lifetime and that should be reason enough to justify the cost.

I hope that I have been able to put a little more light into the cost of orthodontic treatment so that the cost will not become the deterring factor in you achieving the best possible smile.

As MC (Mastercard) says, braces $$$$$, a beautiful, healthy smile for the rest of your life, priceless.