The average cost of braces is between $4,685 to $7,135. That’s a huge investment that many families struggle to cover. Especially if they don’t have insurance that covers orthodontics.
Read on to learn how to save money on braces.
Research Programs for Low-Income Families
Before you start to panic about the cost of braces for your child, find out if your family qualifies for some national or state programs that offer braces discounts.
To qualify for these programs your combined family income must be under a certain threshold. The number of children in your family can also impact if you qualify.
For example, Smiles Change Lives provides low-income families with charitable orthodontists in your area. Note that there is a waiting period so you should get on the list as soon as you can.
The Donated Orthodontic Services program provides orthodontic care to children who don’t have insurance coverage and don’t qualify for other assistance.
These are just two programs that help families who are paying for braces. There may be other programs in your city or state.
Contact Dental Schools
Check if there are any dental schools in your city. Many dental schools offer a huge discount on the cost of braces so that their students can practice on real patients.
These student orthodontists are supervised by a professional orthodontist so you will get the same quality of services as you would in a private practice but at a lower cost.
This is one of the best ways for how to save money on braces because you don’t have to qualify based on income. Usually, dental schools have a long waitlist so get all your children on the list if they have signs of needing braces.
Sometimes an Invisalign provider will offer discounts to dental schools who then pass those discounts on to their patients.
Pay Up Front
Another way to save on the cost of braces is to pay the whole cost at the beginning of your child’s treatment.
Often, orthodontists offer a discount if you pay by cash or debit upfront. You might save as much as 5% of the total price.
The good thing about this option is that once you pay you don’t have to worry about it. You also save a few hundred dollars!
The downside to this is that you need to have the cash for the braces. Once you pay this bill, however, you will have probably depleted your savings or emergency fund.
Pay with a Cash Back Credit Card
If you planned to pay the dentist with a payment plan, you might be better off paying with a credit card. Especially if you get cashback.
Paying by credit card upfront might get you the paid in full discount from the orthodontist. Plus, you will get a percentage cashback from your card which means you will save more than 5%.
As long as you can pay your card off in full before the due date, this is an even smarter way of paying for braces and saving money.
If you can’t pay the bill in full, transfer the balance to a 0% interest card. That will give you 6-12 months (depending on the card) to pay off the balance before you pay interest.
Keep in mind that there will be a balance fee to transfer to the 0% interest card.
How to Save Money on Braces
Now you know all about how to save money on braces. At the end of the day, it’s all about doing your research and being resourceful.
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