Where Can I Find an Affordable Orthodontist Near Me?

Does your child have crooked teeth or an overbite? Afraid you won’t be able to afford braces? Dental braces are a common, effective dental solution used to straighten teeth and fix a number of dental problems like overcrowding. Many children need braces by the time they are teenagers, and parents often worry over the cost of orthodontic treatments because braces can be quite expensive.

Kool Smiles can help you find an affordable orthodontist near you. We believe that you shouldn’t have to struggle to pay for high-quality orthodontic treatment.

If your children are in need of affordable braces, call us today at 254-781-0553 to book a no-cost consultation for braces.

We have experienced in-house orthodontists conveniently located in many of our offices across the United States. During the consultation, we can answer any questions you have about the cost of orthodontic care, with or without dental insurance.

Affordable Orthodontics Near You, the Kool Smiles Way

The cost of braces can range in the thousands, and we know how these high prices can affect your budget. That’s why Kool Smiles specializes in quality, affordable dental care for children of all income levels.

Many insurance policies only cover a percentage of the cost of braces. At Kool Smiles, we accept most insurance plans, including Medicaid, and can help you figure out whether or not your child’s orthodontic care is covered by Medicaid. Don’t have insurance? That’s OK. We have pricing options and payment plans that fit your budget, including a discount plan. Whether you’re looking for traditional metal braces or you just need a cleaning and exam, we can work with you to fit you and your family’s dental care needs.

If you’re looking for an affordable orthodontist near you, consider Kool Smiles for your child’s dental care. We have over 120 locations across 15 different states, and we offer a no-cost consultation with orthodontists at our locations to help determine if your child will need braces or other orthodontic treatments. For more information about our services or to find a location near you, give us a call 254-781-0553.

Insurance Plans for Braces or Orthodontic Treatments

Dental treatment is expensive, especially when it comes to braces. Most insurance plans don’t cover the cost of braces for adults over the age of 18, but some dental insurance will cover the partial cost of braces for children. Common coverage is 50% with a $1,500 lifetime maximum per child, but this depends on your insurance plan.

If you qualify for Medicaid and braces are deemed medically necessary for your child, Medicaid will likely cover the orthodontic treatment. Keep in mind, Medicaid coverage varies from state to state.

Paying out of pocket for braces can be stressful and costly. By choosing Kool Smiles for your child’s dental work, you can find a flexible dental payment plan that work for you. Every Kool Smiles location accepts many payment options. We even offer monthly plans so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Keep in mind, insurance coverage will vary, but our team can help you understand what you costs will be.

CareCredit is a health and wellness card that acts like a credit card and allows you to make monthly payments on healthcare treatments and procedures. This makes it easy to finance your child’s dental care needs.

Cost of Braces: What Are My Options?

If you’re considering braces, you’re likely familiar with traditional metal braces, the ones that are placed on the front of you or your child’s teeth, but this isn’t the only option. There are a few different ways you can have your teeth straightened and the costs for each vary. Here’s what you can expect:

• Traditional metal braces can cost anywhere from $3,000–$7,000 and are often the least expensive option. You can also choose colored or clear braces. Clear braces may be more expensive, but are less visible.
• Lingual braces are virtually invisible and placed on the back of teeth, which makes them more popular among adults than children. Not everyone can get lingual braces, so talk to your orthodontist to see if they might be a good fit for you and your lifestyle. They’re pricier and cost between $8,000–$10,000.
• Ceramic braces are considered clear braces because they blend with the color of teeth and are less noticeable. They work the same way as traditional braces, but use ceramic material instead of metal and can cost between $4,000–$8,000.

The affordable orthodontists at Kool Smiles can walk you through your options and help you determine what type of braces is right for your teeth and budget.

Why Is Orthodontic Treatment So Important?

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry focused on correcting the alignment of teeth and jaws. Dentists and orthodontists go through the same training initially, but an orthodontist gets an extra two to three years of education to receive a license to practice orthodontics. Orthodontic services help prevent against diseases and illnesses that can result from crowded or misaligned teeth.

About 90% of school-age children have some degree of malocclusion (or teeth that are not aligned properly with the jaw), and an orthodontist can help boost your child’s self-confidence by straightening out his or her smile with braces. You should go to a pediatric or general dentist for routine cleaning exams and to treat cavities, but if there is a need for more treatment, seeing an orthodontist might be necessary.

Your child’s dentist may recommend a consultation with an orthodontist if the child has:

• An overbite/underbite/crossbite—If these issues are not fixed, your child could stress the jaw bone, develop issues with chewing and experience headaches or inflammation.
• An open bite where top and bottom teeth don’t connect when biting down—Considered a malocclusion, this can be corrected with therapy or braces.
• Crooked teeth—Often this is caused by overcrowding. The best way to combat this problem is to straighten them out at a young age, which is why braces are recommended for children with crooked teeth.
• Spacing between teeth—Having gaps between teeth is common and is called diastema. Often, this occurs between the two front teeth and, typically, it does not require orthodontic treatment, but if you want to improve your smile, you may want to close the gaps.

What to Expect from Getting Braces

Once the orthodontist takes a look at your child’s teeth during a no-cost consultation and sees a problem, they may recommend dental work to correct the issue, such as:

Devices like these can help adjust jaw issues and align crowded teeth over time to give your child a healthy, straightened smile.

It’s important to get this treatment as early as possible because the teeth and jaws of children and young teens aren’t fully developed. Because adult teeth have typically finished forming completely, they may require more treatment. You may need to wear a retainer all the time to keep the teeth in place. Adults, also, pay an additional 3.6% more than children for the same dental treatments.

Metal and ceramic braces work by attaching brackets to the individual teeth and connecting them with a wire. The wires are often tightened on follow-up visits, and if the orthodontist feels you need additional adjustments (such as headgear or rubber bands), they may suggest it then.

At the beginning, you should follow up every four to six weeks until your orthodontist suggests otherwise. Children often wear braces for one to three years, but this could vary depending on your teeth. Your orthodontist will come up with a customized dental plan to fit your child’s needs.

When wearing braces, you should take extra care to brush and floss your teeth, because you are more at risk for tooth decay and gum problems. Take a look at some foods that are allowed and some of the foods that should be avoided:

Find an Affordable Orthodontist Near You

At Kool Smiles, we’re dedicated to giving all families, no matter their financial circumstances, the best care possible. In many states, Kool Smiles has in-house orthodontic specialists available to give your child a no-cost braces consultation to estimate what your child’s braces treatment could cost.

Even if you don’t have insurance, we offer an 18-month traditional metal braces treatment for your child at an affordable low price. We can work with you to find the right solution.

Kool Smiles offices are always accepting new patients, and we are happy to discuss the cost of braces per month with you, regardless of your insurance situation.

Visit your nearest Kool Smiles office or call us today at 254-781-0553 to get started with your no-cost braces consultation!

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Sources:

Boston Children’s Hospital: http://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/m/malocclusion

Colgate: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/early-orthodontics/diastema-gap-between-teeth

ValuePenguin: https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-cost-braces

Colgate: http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/life-stages/teen-oral-care/article/what-is-orthodontics

Oral-B: https://oralb.com/en-us/oral-health/life-stages/braces/how-much-do-braces-cost