If you recently learned that orthodontic treatment is in your or your child’s future, remain calm and rest assured that your American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) orthodontist and treatment coordinator will talk to you about a payment plan. Many times you will be offered multiple options to help finance your orthodontic care and treatment.
Your orthodontist is keenly aware that people have finite budgets. Juggling expenses is a fact of life. Orthodontists are accustomed to working with families and individuals to make care afford-able and budget-friendly.
Long gone are the days when full payment was expected before treatment began. But In many cases, a payment plan may consist of a down payment with the remainder paid monthly for 12 to 24 months—often interest-free. Your orthodontist may offer to discount the fee if you prefer to pay in full up front before treatment begins.
The best thing to do? Make an appointment with your AAO orthodontist; many times the new patient exam is complimentary. You can use the Find an Orthodontist at aaoinfo.org. Talk to your AAO orthodontist about the payment plans that are available, and work together to devise a plan that works for you and your budget. Do you have insurance to help pay for treatment, but don’t know your coverage? Your orthodontist can check with your insurance company on your behalf. Do you have a flexible spending account through your employer, or a health savings account if you are self-employed? Funds in those accounts can be used for orthodontic treatment. Your orthodontist and treatment coordinator may even be able to help you strategize how to maximize these benefits so you can minimize your out-of-pocket costs.
It can be a pleasant surprise to learn how truly affordable orthodontic care is today. Monthly payments can be about the cost of a mobile phone plan, but the benefits last a lot longer. At the end of the day, orthodontic care is a lifetime investment in your or your child’s health and appearance, and payment plans make care quite manageable. Have that conversation with your orthodontist about payment plan options. Then look forward to a healthy, beautiful smile.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is open exclusively to orthodontists – only orthodontists are admitted for membership. The only doctors who can call themselves “orthodontists” have graduated from dental school and then successfully completed the additional two-to-three years of education in an accredited orthodontic residency program.
When you choose an AAO orthodontist for orthodontic treatment, you can be assured that you have selected a specialist orthodontist, an expert in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics who possesses the skills and experience to give you your best smile. Locate AAO orthodontists through Find an Orthodontist at aaoinfo.org.
