Braces are not always covered
Braces are not always covered
People who don’t have a good health insurance coverage are forced to take money out of their pocket for medical treatments that could be pretty expensive. Insurance in the dental sector is one of the trickiest, as many are tempted to forgo it, in the hope that nothing bad would ever happen to their teeth to need such expensive procedures. More info here
In the case of straightening crooked teeth, this can sometimes be a healthy option and not a purely aesthetic one. There are two main types of treatment: traditional braces and Invisalign. If you want to know how much is Invisalign without insurance, this article is for you. It will provide you a rough estimate of the treatment cost, as well as, possible financing options you may have access to.
The Treatment and Its Cost
Invisalign is a teeth-straightening system consisting of a series of custom-made aligners which the patient needs to wear until teeth are gradually aligned to their correct position. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign trays are made from a transparent material, thus being virtually invisible. After the treatment is complete, the patient will need to wear retainers for the rest of his life, in order to prevent the teeth to migrate back to their old positions.
The cost of this treatment for both upper and lower arches costs everywhere between $3,000 and $5,000, depending on the severity of the case and on the financial policy of the dental clinic. Dentists can prescribe Invisalign to their patients only after they get their certification with Align Technologies, the company that invented this new technology.
Since dentists have to invest in their training, they will want to see a return on their investment, so this could also be a factor of influence for the treatment price. You must be careful and not rely on the first quote you receive. Its wise to ask for multiple quotes because this is a free market, regulated mostly by the supply and demand and you may discover dentists who are happy to treat you for cheaper.
Financing Options
Many dentists are happy to provide personal financing options to their patients. This is a method for attracting people who really need and want those treatments and who are willing to pay for them, but they find it impossible to save money up to the point where they have the whole needed amount. Ask your dentist about a payment plan. Even if the dentist doesnt provide such plans, he may know about financial institutions that do. For instance, third party financing companies like Capital One or CareCredit may offer financing for dental treatments.
As conclusion, if you need to have your teeth straightened from medical reasons, you have to decide for yourself just how much is Invisalign worth to you. Go speak with your dentist and find a solution to get financing for the work. Traditional braces are more expensive and the treatment is more complicated, so this type of dental brace may be just the thing for you.