How to Afford My Child's Braces

By early teens, when most kids have lost the majority of their baby teeth, many kids are needing braces. Braces are brackets and wires used to maneuver teeth into alignment over several months of adjusting by an orthodontist. It can take a couple of years for some children's teeth to straighten and as of May 2011, the costs can range anywhere from $5,000 to $7,500. It can become a very cumbersome expense for many families.

Instructions

• 1

  Ask your dentist for a list of practitioners that he prefers, when he suggests that your child visit an orthodontist. Let your dentist know that cost is a concern and he may be able to point you in the direction of an orthodontist who is not as pricey, or one who offers payment plans.

• 2

  Shop around with that list of orthodontists your dentist gives you. Call and ask for quotes on braces, ask if they take your dental insurance, and ask if they have pricing plans.

• 3

  Call your dental insurance carrier and see what orthodontists they might cover. If your dental insurance does not cover braces, then ask if they have a braces plan. If they do not have a braces plan, ask the insurance carrier if they know of any companies with orthodontic insurance. Make sure you have your insurance coverage established, before going to your first orthodontist appointment.

• 4

  Apply for a credit card with zero or low interest rates for a year. If you cannot get braces insurance, your dental insurance will not cover braces and the payments are still too steep, you can use this credit card to pay. Then for a year, with low interest you can make low monthly payments to the credit card company.