Did you get those dreaded words from your dentist “Mary, little Johnny needs braces”? He sure brought back many memories of your teenage days. Getting oral braces was like a rite of passage in our adolescence, something that had to be passed with as little physical and social pain as possible. You may not have realized it then, but now it’s hitting you like a ton of bricks, it’s the memory your parents first encountered: “How am I going to pay for the braces?” Here are some tips to ease the burden of paying for oral braces.

Most kids who get braces are usually between the ages of 10 and 14. However, there has been a growing trend to recommend braces at a much younger age. This has sparked much debate among dentists and parents alike. If your child is under 10, I would make sure braces are a current need. You may fix a current problem now only to find that you’ll need braces again as you age to fix new problems. Unfortunately, the second set of braces will usually cost as much or more than the first.

Tip #1: NEED – Does your child really need braces? I highly recommend getting at least three opinions. Yes, you may have to pay three consultation fees (many first consultation visits are free), but paying up to $200 to find out that your child doesn’t really need $6,000 worth of braces is a small price to pay. Most orthodontists who charge consultation fees on the first visit will usually apply the amount to the cost of braces treatment if she decides to continue with braces.

So you’ve decided your child needs oral braces. So let’s move on to other ways to lessen the financial burden.

Tip #2: BARTER – Many dentists or orthodontists will trade some or all of the cost of their services for services you can provide them. Are you a person by trade or do you have any IT skills like networking or web design? As with many of your current clients, your dentist likely needs these services for his or her home or business as well. I have a friend who does landscaping and was able to pay for braces for his two sons by offering to mow the dentist’s lawn at home. I believe his two children had to wear braces for about two years each and he agreed to perform basic gardening services at the dentist for three seasons as payment for both children’s braces.

Tip #3: DISCOUNT DENTAL PLANS – Most people are not aware of discount dental plans. Discount dental plans help individuals, families and groups save money on their dental care needs. Dental plans vary in what they cover, so be sure to shop around for a dental plan with orthodontia coverage. The plans are an alternative to dental insurance (most dental insurance does not cover braces). Dental plans have negotiated discounted rates with plan dental care providers.

This is the method I used to get oral braces for my son. This is how it worked for me. I went to see three orthodontists to get their opinions and description of the treatment plan to give my son a great smile. I then verified that my dental insurance provided absolutely no coverage for braces. So I started doing some web searches for “dental plan with orthodontia coverage.” After reviewing several plans, I found a plan that not only covered braces, but also my orthodontist was a member dental provider of the plan. The process of joining the plan only took a few days and I received my membership card in the mail. When I first met with our orthodontist, the costs for services were approximately $5,800; however, after providing my dental plan membership, my cost was only $3,200. This made the cost much more manageable and I also received an additional 10% discount for paying for services in advance.

With average costs for oral braces ranging from $5,000 to $12,000 depending on what part of the country you live in, with just a little research you can save 40-60% on your child’s smile, which will give you an extra smile. your.