Do you pay more with prolonged treatment?

Message

#1 Post by **ebjones1** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:34 am

I just thought of something - If your orthodontist decides to prolong your treatment, do you have to pay more? For instance, if they tell you in the beginning that your treatment will take 2 years and cost $5000.. and then you find out that you'll be in braces another year. Would you continue to pay for the extra service, or just stick with the original cost quoted in the beginning?

I hope this isn't confusing to anyone - I tend to rant when I don't understand something

#2 Post by **kirst1583** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:43 am

Hi there. Nah, your post was perfectly clear

I just paid the total amount and that covers me for however long it takes with the braces, plus retainer and follow up appointments.

#3 Post by **Evelyn** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:03 pm

Yeah I just paid the amount that they told me at the beginning and they haven't asked for any more money even though my treatment's been prolonged. I guess my ortho charges for the job and not the time.

#4 Post by **missing_tooth** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:12 pm

I paid my ortho for the job. The time it takes in not relevent. We have a contract and we both have copies.

- Missing Tooth -

#5 Post by **dena** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 6:52 pm

I also have a contracted amount--same price no matter how fast or slow it goes.

However, some orthos do charge more for prolonged treatment. I was looking at another ortho (sounds like a car, no?) who told me he'd try no extractions with damon 3s, but if I had to get the extractions it would prolong my treatment and increase my price by almost $1000...I didn't end up going with him for that reason.

#6 Post by **Flora2006** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:46 pm

kirst1583 wrote: I just paid the total amount and that covers me for however long it takes with the braces, plus retainer and follow up appointments.

Same here

#7 Post by **Eleni** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:46 pm

Like KK said, it depends on your contract. Most (not all) orthos quote a price that includes an estimated treatment time, x-rays, molds, visits, etc. That price is fixed no matter how long the treatment time ends up actually taking. Other orthos set up a payment plan dependent upon the estimated time. Anything over that time is out of your pocket.

Bottom line, do not sign anything until you read the fine print of your contract and you ask all the questions you need to.

#8 Post by **fyrelight** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:01 am

I did have to pay more. I paid an amt for 2 years, and any over that time, I had to pay a monthly fee. My regular payments were like $130 a month for 2 years (insurance paid the rest, and that included retainer fees, etc), but I paid $75 for each month over....

#9 Post by **chrisd** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:14 am

my agreemenat covers the whole treatment including retainers. i put a down payment, and then 16 payments of $162. that is the total even if treatment takes longer tahn the predicted 16-20 months.

there is some fine print in the contract that states if treatment is prolonged secondary to patient non-compliance then additional fees may be required.
chris