Ceramic Braces Cost

Message

#1 Post by **almost50** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:52 pm

I know it's after the fact and I'm only causing myself problems by asking this. My ortho charged $420 more for ceramic than metal on just the uppers (it would have been double for both). Since then I've started reading the boards and it seems really high. I think I have very normal traditional brackets. No self adjusting kind. When I had asked him about the brand for the regular braces he seemed to give me this uncomfortable lecture on how it's really about the orthodontist and not the equipment. I felt myself cowering into my dental chair. It's fair enough, I wasn't and am not questioning his ability, I was really just curious but sorry it came off that way and I really didn't push it--this is the man that is responsible for the outcome of my teeth and I want him to like me.

At the same time, I had asked him about metal vs. ceramic: is there any difference for you or me, are the ceramic more complicated, is there more time associated with them. He assured me it made no difference to him or me, it was just cosmetic.

I did do the ceramic uppers, so it's throwing oil into the fire to ask this, but I did the math, and is the cost per bracket really $30 more per tooth for the ceramics rather than the metal brackets? (that number is based on 16 but the reality is only 10 teeth have those brackets so the dollar figure may be higher unless they buy them in complete sets). If there are no other factors I'm really questioning this charge--albeit a bit too late.

And I probably shouldn't even go there since I'm already in it too deep to get out. But maybe it might help someone else.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:03 pm

Deleted.

#3 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:16 am

I think I paid nearly 500 more to have clear brackets on my upper "social six". (I have Inspire ICE which are actually sapphire, not ceramic.) I went to 3 other othos during my consult phase and one flat out didn't do clear, and the others wanted around 500 bucks as well to have the clear brackets on the top 6. My assumption is that clear brackets simply cost more to the ortho, but I have no real data to back that up.

I think your ortho was at best off the mark, and at worst rude in his reaction to your question about what brand bracket he uses. Sometimes I think orthos are so used to dealing with children who don't ask questions, that they get put off by an adult in the chair asking legitimate questions because of an interest in the process and about what is going on in their mouth. Never the less, if you get that type of reaction from him again, I would simply tell him that you have a genuine interest in your treatment and it's nothing personal. (I'd really want to tell him to "Get over himself".....but that just wouldn't be helpful!)

Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:37 am

Deleted.

#5 Post by **almost50** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:36 am

I'm sorry, my tone in the original email was off. I didn't mean to blast my orthodontist. Other than that comment he's been good at answering my questions.

My real question is why do they cost so much more? Are they really that much more expensive to produce? I know I live in an expensive area, but after reading these boards I see a wide variety in the price difference. And if there's no extra time or energy on his part...(according to him)

#6 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:17 am

I also live in an expensive city. And my clear brackets (not to mention total cost of my treatment) seems higher than most others on the board. I do think where you live plays a big factor into how much in general you are going to pay for braces whether clear or otherwise.

#7 Post by **iamnewto** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:09 am

I talked with my Ortho about this subject before i stared with my treatment last year.

He was totally confused about the extra cost for ceramics i have red about here on this board. He told me there must be more included in that high extra charges. He told me i coud choose what ever i want clear or metal, it's the same price for the treatment. The difference for him is not even 50 bucks and for me possibly just a bit longer treatment time.

I had to share this

Cheers

#8 Post by **socksy** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:42 am

If it makes you feel any better, at three consults I went to, I was quoted between $500 and $1,000 more for clear braces instead of metal. The ortho I ended up going with (consult #4) charged a flat fee for either metal or clear - she only puts clear on adult top braces and will put either metal or clear on the bottom based on the case. Her flat fee came out to about the same as the other three plus their premium for clear so I guess she just builds clear into her price because that is what most people opt for.

#9 Post by **acd** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:01 pm

I paid an extra $330 for my ceramic upper brackets and was also told that they would extend my treatment slightly. Being able to go the ceramic route and the fear of having visable silver brackets at work made the extra cost worth it to me when I first started, though if I had it to do all over again I'd probably go with all metal instead.

#10 Post by **Jill52** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 5:51 pm

There seems to be quite a difference in price for clear brackets. I was quoted 500 extra for clear uppers and lowers. I ended up paying 250 extra for uppers only. The clear brackets are significantly bigger than metal ones, and because of a lot of rotation on my bottom teeth, there wasn't enough space to fit the bigger brackets at the beginning of treatment. No-one said it would take any longer with clear brackets. I'm quite surprised to read that.

#11 Post by **naturegirl** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:56 pm

My whole mouth has ceramic brackets (i.e. upper and lower) and the total treatment cost was $5700 versus $5300 had I gone with a full mouth of traditional braces.

#12 Post by **NYG2007** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:34 am

I paid $500 extra for ceramic (In-Ovation C). I have all ceramic uppers and ceramic on the lower front and metal (In-Ovation R) on the "back teeth." It seemed important at the time that I go with ceramic. I was so worried about what people would think. I think I could've lived with the metal. Hind site is 20/20 vision. Could have saved me $500.

I think some orthodontist try to profit on our fears. From what I hear ceramic and metal cost the same in many cases. I am sure there are cases when the ceramic cost more. In-Ovation C may cost more due to being self-ligating. Who knows? Just some random thoughts.

#13 Post by **iamnewto** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:22 am

Meryaten wrote: As to the treatment time consideration, it shouldn't really make any difference, if we are comparing like to like. So if the metal brackets in question are traditionally tied, and so too are the ceramics, then the treatment time should be expected to be the same. Now if one of the bracket types is self-ligating and the other is not, it may be that treatment might end up being a month or three shorter with the SL type.

As i know all the ceramic brackets have a slight higher friction while slide along the wire, even the ones with metal inlay. So if a SL System could do the treatment faster - a ceramic bracket will have longer for the same.

Greez

#14 Post by **overseasmel** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 10:56 pm

Mine were $600 (10%) extra for the upper 'social' 8. My ortho's explanation was that:

a) treatment time tended to be longer
b) there were more breakages and therefore replacements

#15 Post by **hfl** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:09 pm

My ortho wanted to charge an extra $750 for the clear braces on the top only. I just got the metal ones!