“I heard braces and Invisalign are expensive.  How can I afford to get braces or Invisalign?”

One of the most prevalent concerns parents have when they find out that their kid needs braces is the cost of treatment.  Orthodontic treatment typically ranges in price from $5,000 to $6,000 depending on the specific treatment necessary and the geographic area where you are seeking treatment.  There are also different aspects to treatment, such as the records (X-rays and pre-treatment exams), possible additional orthodontic appliances such as expanders, forces, etc., and of course, let’s not forget about the retainers!  What is a parent to do?  Don’t worry.  Fortunately, most offices now offer several payment options for their patients, making treatment affordable to almost everyone with any budget.  In addition, there are still insurance plans that can offer up to $3500 in coverage for braces and Invisalign, and now you can also use HSA (Health Savings Account) or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) to help cover the cost of the treatment.

Below is a list of the most popular payment options for braces and Invisalign:

• In-house payment plan/monthly payments: Many offices have in-house payment options that allow patients to pay an initial deposit and then pay off the remaining balance in monthly or quarterly installments.  Many of these plans are interest-free, so this is a very appealing option for many patients that do not or cannot pay in full.  Most of the time, the monthly payments can be set up on an auto-pay system, which makes this option very user-friendly and efficient for the patient.

• Pay-in-full: Many people do not like to finance things or do not like to have monthly payments.  A very popular payment option for braces or Invisalign is to pay in full for the entire treatment with cash, check, or credit card.  Most offices offer a single payment or a pay-in-full discount, often saving patients over $500 on their overall treatment cost.

• Third-party finance companies: Several popular finance companies exist that can help to make orthodontic treatment affordable for patients.  Most orthodontic offices can take a 5-minute application and get you a response immediately to see if you qualify for financing.  This is a very popular option for patients that may be tight on cash for a deposit or prefer to stretch the payments out over a longer period of time in order to lower the monthly payments.  Ask your orthodontist about financing for your braces or Invisalign.

• HSA or FSA: The Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account is a newer payment option that has been created for many working-class Americans to afford medical treatment for themselves or their family.   Many companies are offering these accounts to their employees in their open-enrollment period so that employees can form savings account that helps them to save pre-tax dollars and use them for medical expenses (including braces and Invisalign).  You should definitely ask your employer if this type of account exists for you at your job.

With all of the payment options that exist today, there should be no excuse for not taking care of your teeth and having a beautiful smile.  Call your local board-certified orthodontist today and schedule your consultation and let them show you all of your options so that you can start smiling with confidence today.