Ever gotten varying orthodontic quotes? No shocker! Brace costs are a maze, differing between offices and patients.
At Fusion Orthodontics, braces can cost from $2,500 for short early interventions (Phase 1), to $8,000 for more complex and challenging cases (e.g. surgical). Multiple factors affect the pricing of orthodontic services:
Not every PPO insurance covers orthodontics. Some policies have restrictions, like age limits. If you don't meet these criteria, they won't cover orthodontic benefits. Keep in mind, these limits can vary between insurance carriers.
PPO Insurance can be a bit tricky. Let's break it down: they set a lifetime maximum (let's say $1,500) and a percentage of treatment cost (like 50%). So, if your treatment is $5,000, they'd theoretically cover $2,500 (50% of $5,000), but their lifetime maximum kicks in at $1,500. That means they'll only pay $1,500, leaving you with a $3,500 balance.
Now, for a smaller treatment costing $2,000, they won't cover the full $1,500 lifetime maximum. They'll cover 50%, which is $1,000, leaving you responsible for the remaining $1,000. Confusing, right? You're not alone!
Medicaid either pays for your braces treatment down to the last penny or doesn’t pay a dime! To qualify, you need to first meet their minimum requirements that differ from state to state and from time to time.
In Texas, up until 2012, it was very easy to get approved under the Medicaid program, but then investigations indicated that the state of Texas paid more than the rest of the country for braces treatment (about 300 million dollars in 2010). FBI got involved and some corporations and individuals got indicted for fraud and other criminal acts; the drama leads to an overhaul of the approval process for such patients.
According to the most recent changes, to get approved, the patient has to have a minimum of 4 severe problems out of a list of 10. If your teeth look kind of ok, the bets are that you will not meet those minimum requirements. Anyhow, the only way to know for sure is to visit an orthodontist who accepts Medicaid to figure out if you can qualify. Please note that the CHIP program doesn’t cover braces.
These insurances usually offer a discount for the members on the regular fee the orthodontist charges. For example, the HMO insurance will mention a 25% discount on the regular fee when it comes to orthodontic services. This means that if the office treatment fee is $6000, the fee for the member will be reduced to $4500. At this moment, we are not a part of any HMO plans.
We use Orthobanc to automate payment in our collection system. So after the contract starts, you will not deal with us directly. Orthobanc will handle the financial transactions of the contract. We offer automatic payments with credit cards and bank accounts so you don’t have to worry about making the payments every month at our counter. We are very flexible when it comes to arranging the payment plan in a way that would meet your financial situation. We offer long-term payment plans with zero interest for some patients. We also offer a pay-in-full discount. To know more, feel free to reach out to us to discuss your financial needs.
At Fusion, after you fill out the necessary forms that are pretty much standard across different dental offices, you will sit down with Dr. Rahimi. Remember at Fusion, consultations for braces are always available! Dr. Rahimi will evaluate your teeth and address your orthodontic concerns. He will explain how long the treatment will take, and what technologies are best for the treatment. Based on the information he provides, the treatment coordinator will come up with the exact cost of the treatment and then he will sit down with you to work out a payment arrangement that will work best for you. The treatment coordinator will also introduce our treatment options to you and some packages we offer.
Brava by Brius is a revolutionary method that can be used instead of braces or aligners that moves the teeth independently. Placed behind the teeth so they cannot be seen, this method considerably shortens treatment time, allows for easier cleaning than traditional braces, and is more comfortable than braces or aligners throughout treatment.
We use 3M’s Clarity Advanced brackets. These are one of the most discrete brackets available and in combination with clear wires, they can get quite invisible. Although these brackets are more expensive, it doesn’t make them better than regular metal braces, but the brackets will be less noticeable.
Step into the world of Clear Aligners – a unique league of orthodontic marvels that provide a nearly invisible, removable solution for teeth alignment. Not everyone qualifies, though. We primarily extend this option to adults with minor issues. When things get a bit complex or teeth need a significant shift, we might have to add visible attachments. However, for the right candidates, Clear Aligners are a game-changer. Just a heads up, Invisalign cases come with a premium charge, and there's a 4 to 6 weeks waiting period to get those sleek appliances back from the lab.
Our most cost-effective, straightforward, and convenient option is regular metal braces. We use top-of-the-line Victory brackets by 3M. Although this option is our most economical option, please don’t think that you will receive inferior treatment quality just because you are paying less. That is not true. If anything, regular metal brackets do offer the best quality of treatment because the orthodontist has full control over how to manipulate the wires and brackets.
Was the process complicated? Leave the complication to us! We will break it down when you come in for your initial consultation.
