How many ortho's did you consult?

[SunshineRay]

I have my regular dentist, who also specializes in ortho, but was wondering if I should get many different opinions. For those of you who have....did the length of time to be braced and the price vary alot? I know I need braces but Im just afraid to go forward. My ortho charges $750 to sit down and come up with a plan. I think $200 of that is credited to your braces if you decide to go with them. I have made an appt with another ortho for a free consult also.

[helricha]

I consulted 5...I only paid to have one mold, images done which includes coming up with a plan. The charge for that at all 5 I visited was $250. Perhaps, there is such a difference because of the area you live.
Braces: $6000 but my ortho gave me a discount because I carried dental insurance even though I was not covered under orthodontia. The discount was $1500, then I added ceramic on the top 6 teeth which was $600 additonal. Also, the $250 was rolled into the charge and I didn't have to put any money down but I have a monthly payment plan with no interest.
Total charge: $5100

I live in Indiana. Hope that helps.

[plugnickel69]

I visited four; three of them twice. Did not have to pay anything.

[SunshineRay]

Yeah I wont be covered under ortho on my dental plan either. What a great discount!
Hmmm now Im wondering why the charge is so much. I live in VA so its not a high cost of living area either.

[oldfart]

Three consults primarily to close a molar extraction site.

#1. Would do top only with Tads, but both would be better. Top only cost is $4100, both is $5800 with a 7% discount for paying up front. Estimated time: 24 months

#2. No experience using Tads to close an extraction site. Cost: $6800. Time: 24 months. 5% for paying up front.

#3. Hasn't had good experience moving molars , wouldn't touch me. (young guy, only 6 years experience). The above two were like 15-20 years experience.

Consults for all free. Records are free. Nothing due until spacers go in. Obviously chose #1.

of

[Sportsman31]

Talked to three different orthos and all were very different, but were all free consults.
1) Total cost $6800 including retainers and up to 10 broken brackets if needed and 3% discount if paid up front. Treatment time 18-24 months. Wanted $2500 down to start treatment and then would start payment plan.
2) Total Cost $5600 traditional braces or $3600 with invisalign and 3% discount if paid up front. Treatment time 12-14 months. Wanted $2000 down and would start payment plan after that
3) Total Cost $4300 for ceramic brackets. Treatment time 14-18 months. First payment not due until one month after braces are on and no money down.
My dental insurance covers $1000 so wanted to find something fairly resonable cost wise so I chose option 3. I had the best connection with him and offered the best payment options. Payments worked out to $200 a month and no money out of pocket just using my flex account through work. I was very discouraged after the first consult on being able to afford it. I know it depends on what part of the country you are in, but there are a lot of different orthos out there and just from reading on here doesnt sound like there are many that charge for a consult. The variance between treatments and $$$ can be large, just go with who you have the best connection with. Don't give up if you dont get the answers or budget you are looking for. Keep looking until you are satisfied with who you choose, dont settle.
Good luck on your journey and keep us posted!

[Ciara]

I talked with 3. Two were in Ireland when I was back home in September, and the other was the ortho my dentist recommended in Japan (she was also recommended my 2 of my neighbours who are dentists). The 2 in Ireland were free and said I had a class 2, division 2 malocclusion with a canted maxillary - same as my ortho in Japan. I was told the cost in Ireland would be between 5,000-6000 Euro. The cost in Japan is ¥850,000 but this includes the records appointment, all ortho visit during treatment, the retainer afterwards, and the 6 months, 1 year and 18 months follow up visits.
I was going to consult my friend's orthodontist as well but I'm glad I didn't. My ortho explains everything, and even went to the trouble of translating a 4 page treatment outline and "risks" document into English. My friend's ortho has not explained anything to her - she has no idea what type of bite she has, what kind of braces, after care etc.

It is worth shopping around; having a good relationship and good communication with your ortho is very important.

[Tobilei]

One.

We saw 2 for my daughter and were very happy with the one we went with. I have loads of confidence in him and we get along well so I just went straight to him. My twins will also be seeing him. I don't think he's the cheapest around, but he was on par with the first one we saw for my daughter for her.

He explains everything he's doing, is genuinely interested in how you are, fits you in at the drop of a hat if need be and the office staff are also very friendly. There is never a wait to see him, always straight in every time (they actually have a policy regarding lateness and charging less for your appointment) and they have all the options availalbe (incognito, invisalign, traditional, clears etc).

[Marigold]

I went to 2. The first was who my dentist referred me to. He made some sexist creepy remarks and dramatized my condition like my whole skull was off kilter. I didn't feel comfortable around him. The 2nd ortho I just found in the phone book. I liked him much better, very down to earth and far more professional. His assistant asked who referred me and kept pressing the matter until I finally told her it was not my dentist. She told the ortho "He didn't refer her" and they exchanged a look. I'm guessing some bad blood? After a 2nd visit to this ortho the following year, I took the plunge. I guess the moral there is don't assume your dentist is referring you to the best ortho for you. Sometimes there are politics involved you don't know about. The cost estimates were similar, #1's being a little more. Both consults were free. Braces were not.

[helricha]

I'm amazed with all the comments about free consults...do these include the molds, all the xrays, the pictures, and the plan that the orthodontist comes up with? That alone is time consuming and costly...especially for people who may not choose to go with his/her service. From all the orthos I spoke to, they could only give me a rough estimate of what they might do and the length of time but it was certainly not exact.

[kiwibug]

Only 1. There's only one orthodontists practice in the region. I'd be driving 4 hours each way to get another opinion. There's 2 orthodontists there and they consult eachother. I feel very comfortable with my orthodontist and the way he works. He's been very reassuring throughout the initial process and very quick to answer any questions. I paid for the initial consult and records, standard practice here.

[Dee17]

I saw two different orthodontists and paid $90.00 for each consultation.
Both estimates were the same: two years total treatment time and $6300 for one and $6500 for the other. I chose the second guy because he uses Damon self-ligating brackets. The $90.00 was included in my total treatment costs. I paid $395.00 for my records appointment (x-rays and impressions) as well as a second consult with him. I chose the second guy because I also really liked him because he took a lot of time to answer some 25 questions I took with me to my first appointment.
I paid $995 the day I got my brackets put on and now I pay $209.00 each month until I'm finished.

[vlamb13]

Initially I used the same ortho my kids used. Two months of horrible communication and a terrible bedside manner I decided to interview 3 additional doctors. All consults were free, I found a wonderful orthodontist, in turn he recommended a very knowledgeable periodontist, and a fabulous new dentist. With being an adult its so important to have someone you can talk well with. I have read so many posts on the boards where people just don't have that, I believe its imperative to have that.

[Tobilei]

I'm amazed with all the comments about free consults...do these include the molds, all the xrays, the pictures, and the plan that the orthodontist comes up with? That alone is time consuming and costly...especially for people who may not choose to go with his/her service. From all the orthos I spoke to, they could only give me a rough estimate of what they might do and the length of time but it was certainly not exact.

I'm in Australia and they're not free here. It's about $80 for your consult but they ALL want to take x-rays and records and that's an additional $180 (ouch!). Mine would only say that he could most likely fix my gaps without the x-ray. Details are only given after x-rays etc. The cost of those did come off the final quote though.

[Bernadette007]

I had 2 consults. The first was at my dentists office for a 6-month smile type of treatment and it was totally free. Est time was 12 months, cost was $2800 with a "sign up now" discount or $4000 after.

The second was with my ortho... free consult, then $100 for records/treatment plan which was applied towards my balance after treatment started.