Braces Cost

The name that dentists use for “crooked teeth” is malocclusion, and the reasons for fixing it range in gravity from the medical to the cosmetic. Malocclusion can cause teeth that are subjected to uneven pressures (i.e. one tooth makes contact before the rest when chewing) to loosen, fracture, or break apart. This would not only be incredibly painful, but a dental implant to replace the lost tooth could range from a thousand to three thousand dollars—and three thousand dollars per fake tooth later, the patient is no closer to having fixed his or her malocclusion.

On the cosmetic side, malocclusion in itself tends to be unsightly. A smile surely loses some of its magic when it reveals a mouth of misaligned teeth of varying heights. Crooked teeth are a cause of embarrassment to many who have them, and in the words of one woman, “no one should have to live afraid to show [his or] her own smile.” Whether a smile has mildly or severely crooked teeth, many people choose to invest in straightening them out for a more photogenic and appealing look. As for the cost of braces, braces cost more depending (typically) on the seriousness and the complication of each patient’s malocclusion, because the dental treatment will be more costly and take more time in one case than in another. The amount depends on the complexity and is different per patient some cost a little over $2,000 others cost $8,000.

Braces are a long-term treatment for malocclusion, not a short term one. Basically, the idea is that the braces are shifting the teeth to a different position so as to be aligned. This is not as easy as reaching in and jerking that molar to the left a bit with some tools. Each tooth is composed of both a crown and a root— the part that is visible to the eye and the part that is beneath the gums of the mouth. The root, or the part of the tooth that is under the gums, inserts into a socket in the jawbone.

The connective tissue between the root and the socket is called the periodontal membrane. This membrane forms part of the cement that keeps the tooth in place throughout the daily actions of biting and chewing. In order to move the teeth, they need to slowly and gently adjust their alignment within this system by using enough pressure to realign crooked teeth without simply loosening them or knocking them out. As constant, gentle pressure is applied to the crooked teeth, the periodontal membrane is stretched and the whole system of the tooth is able to adapt with the movement. Achieving optimal results typically requires somewhere in the ballpark of thirty months, or two and a half years, to complete. Moving the teeth too fast could result in their loosening and/or loss.

Braces cost so much because of the cost of parts and labor to the orthodontist as well as for the use of precision skill required in successful execution of the procedures and adjustments associated with braces. Additionally,  the big expense is the cost due to the amount of time and frequency of visits required for treatment. As far as the parts of braces, there are several pieces that make up a full set of braces: arch wire runs the full length of the braces on both the upper and lower sets of teeth. It runs through metal or ceramic brackets which are glued to the teeth—these are called the “braces.”

A number of pieces help to apply pressures in different directions and strengths in order to bring the whole smile into alignment—elastomeric chains, colligations, threads between brackets, and open coil springs apply a force between two or more brackets, which can help to eliminate gaps or to close spaces between teeth. Closed coil springs help to preserve or create a space between two brackets and their associated teeth. Elastic bands and other implements are used to the same effectual ends.