Cost

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#16 Post by **rolo** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:36 am

It's a question of supply and demand. If there wasn't demand for orthodontics at the prices charged, the orthos wouldn't be in business, simple as. If the treatment isn't worth the money to you, no point in having it, move on an buy an new car, invest the money or whatever.

Personally I agree you don't need straight teeth, but kind of nice enough to have to make it worth the money for me or I wouldn't be doing this.

#17 Post by **Jen8626** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 12:43 pm

Jeez!

If you feel that strongly about orthodontics being a rip-off don't get braces. Everyone on this forum has different treatment plans nobody is the same. You can't generalise orthodontics. I agree with the above comment, buy a new car or invest in something else if you are so against the idea of braces.

#18 Post by **JonesNY** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 12:01 am

Not at all. I'm not against orthodontics, but it's a business like any other and people are out to make a profit. Thus, a small minority of people will try to rip you off. The point is that orthodontists are not unique in this respect.

#19 Post by **Vulcan** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:20 am

Any business is trying to make money. It's what they do. If you feel like you're going to get ripped off.. go elsewhere. Just don't go in with the attitude that everyone is out to rip you off.. it just isn't true. There is good and bad in everything.. use your common sense, that's why you have it. Oh, and the correct spelling of "overpayed" is overpaid.

#20 Post by **JonesNY** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 6:10 pm

Vulcan wrote:Any business is trying to make money. It's what they do. If you feel like you're going to get ripped off.. go elsewhere. Just don't go in with the attitude that everyone is out to rip you off.. it just isn't true. There is good and bad in everything.. use your common sense, that's why you have it. Oh, and the correct spelling of "overpayed" is overpaid.

Of course. That's the nature of business. I don't have the attitude that "everyone is ripping me off," only one of the orthodontists I went to out of three.

Still, it is my opinion (and the opinion of others--search JSTOR or any type of academic journal database and you will find that there is much on this subject) that orthodontists are overpaid. I stand by this statement.

And yes, I misspelled a word in hastily typing out my argument. You're not contributing anything to the discussion by pointing something trivial like that out.

#21 Post by **balniusc** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 11:00 am

I understand what you mean about the wide variety of pricing but I think it comes down to what you want vs. what you're willing to pay. I went to 3 consults before deciding on my ortho. My teeth aren't bad by any means (had braces as a teen with minor shifting over the past 15 years). That being said:

(2 years ago)
Orhto #1 - swanky office, nice location, highly recommended (he put braces on my dentist as an adult), tons of assistants. Quote -> 10 - 12 months at $9500 (!) for full ceramics

Ortho #2 - also recommended by my dentist, not so nice area, not so nice office (but very busy), a bit "old school" in treatment, only willing to do ceramics on the 4 top front teeth & all the rest metal. Quote -> 10 - 12 months and little over $5000.

After these two consults I decided to hold off. Flash forward (2 years) to March 2010

Ortho #3 - convenient location, nice office, only 2 years out of school so smaller practice (which means I'm at the mercy of his schedule). Quote -> 10 - 12 months at a little over $5000 for full ceramics. (And I called my dentist for a sanity check. They said he did good work.)

I chose Ortho #3 and have been very happy with my decision so far. I think the most important part is that you like and TRUST the ortho and his assistants. If you get a bad (or unhappy) feeling the minute you walk in their door there's a problem. So I guess what I'm saying, in a long winded fashion, is to keep going to consults until you find "the one". You'll know it when it happens. Best of luck to you!