Financing and orthodontic insurance

Several factors influence the cost of an orthodontic treatment

The cost of an orthodontic treatment depends on many factors, the main ones being:

• The complexity of the case (simple case, complex case, case requiring extractions, orthognathic surgery, inter-disciplinary case);
• The patient’s age (child, teenager, adult, residual growth, periodontal problems, etc.);
• The anticipated treatment duration;
• The type of appliances used to make the corrections: “braces” (multibrackets appliances), lingual technique, Invisalign, removable appliances, etc.;
• What will be corrected: significant malocclusion, simple or complex problem, only one arch, the front teeth only, a few teeth to straighten, a space to close, etc. (treatment plan);
• The patient’s expectations and wishes of the patient (treatment goals).
  

Other factors can also influence the duration and indirectly the cost of a treatment:

• The nature of the treatment (treatment plan): is it a complete or limited treatment (compromise)? Are the corrections made on the entire dentition, one arch only or only a few teeth? (Note that it is often impossible to treat a single arch without also correcting the teeth of the opposite arch).
• Treatment goals: even if orthodontic appliances are used, will all possible corrections be made? What are the patient’s wishes and expectations? This influences the required equipment, the duration of the treatment and indirectly the costs. Treatment goals are determined by the orthodontist and the patient (or his/her parents).
  
• Is an orthognathic surgery part of the treatment plan?
• The use of special devices before, during or after treatment (retention), such as an occlusal splint, a bite plane, a particular retention device.
• The patient’s requirements: a person who does not wish to use or wear certain types of devices may have to accept a certain compromise and this may affect the duration of treatment.
• In complex interdisciplinary cases where many dental practitioners and specialists may be involved in the treatment plan, requests from dentists and specialists may influence the orthodontic treatment plan, its duration and its cost. For example, in the presence of large spaces, one can choose to open them to plan placement of dental implants or to close them to avoid the need for prosthetic replacement after orthodontics.
  
• Diagnostic equipment: should complete diagnostic equipment be taken, tests be conducted, special imaging (3D, tomography, MRI) be taken, etc.?