Traditional Braces – Bend, OR

Factors That Affect the Cost of Traditional Braces

There are a few different things that can influence the cost of your braces, including:

• The severity of your condition. If you have an extreme bite misalignment or overly crooked teeth, it can take longer to complete treatment, which increases the total.
• Your age. Adults have firmer bone structures that are less malleable, so it can take more time for your teeth to shift to their ideal places than for teenagers.
• How many follow-ups are required. You’ll need to visit our office for checkups and adjustments, and each visit will have associated costs.
• Whether accessories are necessary. Braces often need additional appliances or devices, like space maintainers, palatal expanders, headgear, retainers, and elastics which all add to the final amount.
• How well you comply. You’ll need to follow your provider’s instructions to stay on track with your treatment timeline.

Which Costs More: Professional Braces or “DIY” Braces?

Although braces are the tried-and-true method for straightening smiles, many people have turned to “do it yourself” remedies to try to get the same results while saving money. When you’re on a tight budget, you might feel tempted to use common household items like fishing lines, earring backs, super glue, paper clips, floss, or rubber bands to realign your grin. However, doing so could harm your teeth, resulting in complex and expensive repairs. Plus, you could worsen your condition and shift them even further out of alignment, which requires professional intervention to repair.

Starting the process with your orthodontist instead of trying to fix your grin yourself can save you the additional cost and hassle.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Braces?

Not all dental insurance policies include braces, though there are some exceptions. If you need to have your smile straightened for medical purposes rather than cosmetics, it’s more likely to be covered. For example, if your bite misalignment prevents you from eating or speaking, then your insurance provider is more likely to approve your orthodontic treatment.

Generally, about 50% of the cost is covered by different policies. Every plan is different, though, so you may want to verify the details of your policy. If you’re having a hard time finding the information, feel free to ask our friendly office staff for help. They’re familiar with the paperwork and can help you maximize your benefits.

Options for Making Braces More Affordable

Although our office accepts most credit cards and dental insurance policies, we understand that not everyone can afford braces upfront. We don’t want your financial situation to keep you from having the perfectly straight smile that you deserve. Before starting any treatment, we’ll provide you with a detailed estimate, so you have a full understanding of the fees involved. Then, we’re happy to work with you on a payment plan that works for your budget so you can get the orthodontic treatment that you need.

How Long Do Traditional Braces Take?

Some patients only need to wear braces for a single year. In other cases, the treatment may take as long as three years. There are several factors that can affect the timeline:

• Adults typically need to wear braces longer than children since their teeth are more firmly set in place.
• Some orthodontic issues are more severe than others. In general, the distance that the teeth need to move to reach their ideal alignment can have a major influence on how long the treatment takes.
• Your ability to follow any instructions that you’re given (such as wearing rubber bands on braces) could make all the difference for making sure that your treatment stays on schedule.

What Happens After I Get My Braces Off?

Once your braces have been removed, your teeth will start to slowly move back to where they used to be. As such, you will be given a retainer to help you maintain your newly straightened smile. Some retainers are fixed in place, but if a removable retainer is used, you will need to be mindful of wearing it for the required amount of time. Normally, you will need to wear it all day at first, but after a while, you will reach the point where you only need to put it in right before you go to bed.

Can I Get Traditional Braces on Just My Top or Bottom Teeth?

Technically you can, but this generally isn’t the best decision except in very specific circumstances. Wearing braces on one arch but not the other could result in the teeth not coming together the way they should, potentially making existing bite problems worse and leading to TMJ disorder as well as other issues. Therefore, most of the time we will recommend getting braces for both arches of teeth.

What Can I Not Eat with Traditional Braces?

Popcorn, caramel, nuts, hard breads, taco shells, and chips are all examples of foods that are best avoided while wearing braces. The general rule of thumb is to cut hard, chewy, and sticky foods out of your diet for the time being. That said, there are certain foods that you can still enjoy as long as you cut them into small enough pieces first; raw fruits and vegetables as well as pizza crusts are prime examples. Additionally, if you eat corn, make sure that it has been removed from the cob.