Cost for orthodontics?? (insurance, how much, train)

[Tootsfromscotland]

sorry guys another random question!

Just as a matter of interest, how much should I budget for if my child needs braces?? My eldest is thankfully getting her braces removed and retainers made for her here in Scotland (which is all free within our national health service) before we leave for Florida, but my youngest is likely to need them in a year or 2.

[annaegel]

I think it would depend on how much "work" needs to be done. My daughters braces will need 2 phases. First phase cost around $3,500 (insurance paid about 50% of that). Once all her baby teeth are gone and she has most of her adult teeth in, she will go into phase 2. I have not gotten an estimate for that phase, but she will have a full set of braces. First phase was palette expander, bands on her far upper back teeth and front teeth to correct her underbite and pull together her two front teeth. She now wears night braces to maintain the work done until we start phase 2.

[Tootsfromscotland]

Michety me I choked and spat my apple all over the laptop there! lol

Jings! $3500 for phase 1!?!?:

My daughter required 2 phases too...She had a regular brace initially to correct bit etc, then a few months later got the full train tracks fitted upper and lower. She's had them on for about a year, with regular 6 weekly visits to the orthodontist for adjustments/tightening etc. It's actually pretty amazing to see how the orthodontists figure it all out...must all be laws of physics with various forces and pushing/pulling going on!
I was a bit concerned re how much the ongoing work was going to cost me, but thankfully the orthodontist has advised her braces are ready to come off now and she will make the retainer that my daughter has to wear every night maintain the completed look before we head offski . Excellent!

Now I'll just need to pray that my youngest doesn't require 'em! So far so good with her existing teeth just being slightly off angle, but her adult teeth aren't all through yet and my dentist here said she may well require a bit of orthodontic work.

[annaegel]

Could your daughter spend a summer up in Scotland with family and have them put on while up there? Then have an orthodonstist take care of them down here? I imagine that would be cheaper.