Braces are part of the best inventions in dentistry, having been in use for many years. Besides having the metallic structures installed in your mouth, there are also many other options that patients can opt for, including those that are barely noticeable.
So, you have decided to have braces to help you restore your perfect smile or correct any anomalies in your dental structure. However, you may not be privy to exactly how much you’d be expected to part with. This is mainly because the total cost of braces is highly dependent on a number of factors, such as the location, condition severity, and type of braces.
This post highlights how much braces are in Illinois and the factors that may affect total cost. Let’s jump right in.
How much are braces in Illinois?
The average cost of braces in Illinois ranges between $3,500 and $7,500. The region you get your treatment from determines how much you’re likely to part with. For instance, an urban area may take you back between $5,500 and $7,500.
The price in a rural setup would be much lower, ranging between $3,500 and $5,500. The braces cost in Chicago would be a lot higher than a smaller town, like Dixon. The region you get treatment from matters a lot; hence, it should be your first consideration.
Factors influencing the cost of braces in Illinois
As stated above, the cost of braces in Illinois is majorly dependent on the region. Urban settings are more expensive than rural areas. However, there are several other factors that come into play when trying to understand the pricing of braces in Illinois.
Some of them include:
The severity of the condition
Braces are used to correct various issues in your dental structure, including spacing, crowding, overbites, among others. During your examination with the orthodontist, they will be in a better position to determine your treatment plan, including the anticipated timeline.
As a rule of thumb, minor issues like spacing require less attention and have a shorter treatment period, unlike major concerns like overbites. The former is most likely to cost more than the latter.
Type of braces
There are various types of braces that patients can opt for. Besides the traditional metal braces, you can also choose from:
Ceramic braces: These are braces made of clear, tooth-colored materials. They are more discreet than conventional metal braces and are equally effective in correcting malocclusions.
Self-ligating braces: Self-ligating braces work the same way as metal or ceramic braces would. They are available in metal or clear/ ceramic material and rely on wires to move teeth. However, the main difference is that they use doors or clips to hold the wires rather than elastic rubber ties.
Lingual braces: lingual braces are the most discreet braces as the brackets are placed behind the teeth rather than at the front.
The more discreet a set of braces is, the more expensive they are. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that you can use to reduce the overall cost of braces in Illinois, which we will cover shortly.
How to make braces more affordable in Illinois
Ranging in the thousands of dollars, braces aren’t cheap. Not so many people can afford to spend over $5,000 on braces at one instance. This is why it would be prudent to look at some of the things you can consider to make braces more affordable. Some of them include:
Get the right insurance
Most dental insurance plans do not cover orthodontic treatment. This is because this is often regarded as cosmetic dentistry. However, most plans cater to braces for children and adolescents.
But what about insurance plans for adults?
Before committing to braces, you ought to first consult with your dental insurance provider and determine whether orthodontics is catered to. If not, you can scout for other covers that offer the best orthodontic insurance plans to reduce overall cost.
Inquire about financing options
You can also inquire about financing options from your orthodontist to help you break the cost of braces into manageable monthly payments. In this way, you do not have to pay the full amount upfront. Ensure to discuss this with your orthodontist, who can guide you on the available options, from which you can pick a financing option that works best for you.
Top Illinois braces providers
Are you looking for the best braces providers in Illinois? Look no further as we have identified some of the best, top-rated dental clinics in Illinois where you can get specialized orthodontic care.
In no particular order, here are the top three braces providers in Illinois:
The orthodontists at these clinics have more than five years of experience and use state-of-the-art technology to treat their patients.
Comparing the best braces alternatives
Do you have reservations regarding the use of metal braces? Are you looking for an alternative to braces? Don’t worry as there are numerous other alternatives that you can look at. Here are some of the ways you can achieve a straighter smile in the absence of braces:
Veneers
If you have minor aesthetic quirks in your dental structure, you can cover the imperfections instead of getting braces. If you have a small gap or a slightly twisted tooth that shows whenever you open your mouth, you can opt for veneers that will give you the looks you need without having to use braces.
Invisible aligners
There are many invisible aligner brands that you can look into to have your teeth straightened without using braces. Besides Invisalign, other brands like Byte, Candid, AlignerCo, and Snapcorrect are equally effective in correcting a bad bite and are virtually invisible.
Orthognathic surgery
Orthognathic surgery is on the extreme ends but still is a viable alternative for braces. It is used to reposition the jaw in cases where the entire bite can be corrected.
However, this surgery is mainly performed on adults and in cases where braces treatment would not be very effective or might take longer. It would also be prudent to understand that an aligner or retainer may be required to help the teeth stay in place in their new position.
Having a malocclusion or bad bite should not hinder you from showing your best smile. Braces are quite expensive, but from this post, we can clearly see that there are other better alternatives and ways to help cut down the cost.
Looking for the best braces providers? Click here to find the top results when searching for ‘the best orthodontist near me.’