Braces – Rochester, NY | Webster, NY

Factors That Affect the Cost of Traditional Braces

Several different things affect the total cost of your orthodontics, including:

• The length of your treatment. Braces require ongoing follow-up appointments and adjustments.
• The severity of your condition. Overly crooked or crowded teeth usually require longer to shift back into place, increasing the price.
• Teenagers have more flexible jawbones than fully-grown adults. As a result, they may not need to have braces for as long, so there are fewer expenditures.
• Additional appliances. Accessories and other supplies, such as space maintainers, palatal expanders, headgear, retainers, and elastics, are all charged.
• Treatment compliance. Following Dr. Drabik’s instructions ensures that you stay on track with your treatment timeline so you don’t accrue additional costs.

Professional Braces vs. "DIY" Braces: Which Costs More?

If you’re overly worried about the cost of braces, you might feel tempted to try to straighten your teeth on your own at home. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of people attempting to use household items to realign their grins. Attempts have been made to adapt fishing lines, earring backs, superglue, rubber bands, paper clips, and even hair elastics to push their teeth into their proper places.

While this may seem like a less expensive method, you could end up paying more in the long run. Many household products aren’t safe for oral use. You might injure your mouth or ingest something toxic that makes you sick. Furthermore, you might shift your teeth in the wrong direction and will have to pay for a longer orthodontic treatment to reverse the damage.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Braces

Some dental insurance policies include roughly 50% coverage for orthodontic treatments, especially if they’ve been deemed necessary for your dental health. However, not all plans are the same, so it’s worth checking whether your insurance provider will contribute anything.  You also need to know whether there are additional restrictions that apply. For example, you might have a waiting period that must pass before benefits kick in.

If you’re unsure what your insurance covers, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Our friendly office staff is familiar with many policies and can help you maximize your individual benefits.   

Options for Making Braces Affordable

We know that not everyone carries dental insurance, and we don’t want your wallet to keep you from having the healthy, beautiful smile that you deserve. Other options can help you make your braces more affordable, such as:

• Flexible financing. We’ve partnered with Lending Club so that if your application is approved, you can break down your total invoice into more manageable installments.
• Family discounts. Once one person in your household gets braces, every additional family member receives $200 off their full treatment fee.
• Free consultation. If you’re unsure whether traditional orthodontics are right for you, you can schedule a consultation appointment free of charge.

Am I Too Old to Get Braces?

Some people associate braces with adolescence, but the truth is that people of any age can get and benefit from orthodontics. However, it’s also the case that adults’ teeth are more firmly embedded in the jaw than those of younger people, so straightening them may take a little bit more time.

It’s also worth noting that many dental plans partially cover braces for kids, but rarely do the same for adults. As a result, you may have to pay more of the fees out-of-pocket.

What Can You Not Eat with Traditional Braces?

As you may know, it’s a good idea to stay away from certain foods for the time that you’re wearing braces. This is typically in the interest of preventing orthodontic emergencies, like snapped wires.

For the first few days you have your braces, it’s recommended that you go on a soft food diet. After that, here are a few foods you may want to stay away from to protect your braces:

• Candy, especially sticky, hard, or chewy candy
• Nuts that can get lodged in your braces
• Popcorn (and popcorn kernels)
• Chips
• Hard, crusty bread or taco shells

You should also try and avoid chewing on anything that isn’t food, like pens, pencils, or your nails.

Why Do My Teeth Feel Loose with Braces?

One of the first things patients tend to notice when they get braces is that their teeth have this strange “floaty” feeling. This is actually completely normal—in fact, the point of wearing spacers and gradually tightening your braces is to produce exactly this effect.

When your teeth are moved, the ligaments that ordinarily hold your teeth in place in your mouth have to stretch. This can make your teeth feel a little bit loose. Don’t worry though, there isn’t any risk of your teeth falling out. The tree that bends is the last to break—the fact that your ligaments are stretching means that your teeth are still being held in place. The floating feeling is a good sign.

What Happens After You Get Your Braces Off?

When you first get your braces off, your teeth will still be pretty movable, and they’ll naturally want to return to their original positions. This is why it’s usually important to wear a retainer in order to hold your new smile in place.

Most retainers are removable, but some are permanently affixed to your teeth in order to hold them in position. You may have to wear removable retainers all day when you first get them, but after a while, you’ll be able to switch to only wearing them at night.