Payment plans are a common way to pay for braces in Australia. It smooths out the cost of braces so they don't need to be paid in full upfront. This helps make them more affordable, especially when many young families need to think about education and other daily expenses.
Many providers will cover between 25 and 50 percent of the cost of braces, which is a significant amount you won't need to pay out of pocket. If you plan to pay outright, without help from insurance, talk to your orthodontist about payment in full to see if they offer any discounts (many do).
Can You Get Braces Off Early? When going with the braces treatment, people often feel irritated due to complexities. So, they have a common question in mind about can I get braces off early? Well, the answer is no, as one needs to complete the tenure for treatment.
In Australia there is an organisation called 'Give a Smile'™ that offers free braces to lower income families across the country. Each Give a Smile™ orthodontist welcomes at least one patient per year into his/her practice to receive free braces.
Most patient's monthly repayments are very affordable. After an initial deposit or insurance reimbursement, your monthly payment could range between $150 and $340 per month depending on treatment complexity, time and the bracket system used.
Talk with your orthodontist about setting up a payment plan to help spread the cost out over a longer period of time. Other options are the use of an FSA (Flexible Spending Account) or an HSA (Health Savings Account) to help afford orthodontic procedures, such as metal braces or Invisalign.
Unfortunately Medicare generally doesn't cover braces – or any orthodontic treatment for that matter. There is one exception however. If you have an existing underlying diagnosed medical condition (such as a cleft palate) you may be entitled to some rebate.
Adults must generally have a healthcare card or Centrelink pensioner concession card to be eligible. Depending on the state or territory in which you live, dental treatments may be free of charge or a partial payment for the treatment may be required.
Most patients will need to wear fixed braces for around 18 to 24 months. For problems that are harder to correct, or for our older patients, treatment may take up to three years. If you have less severe issues or are a good candidate for clear aligners like Invisalign, treatment may take as little as 6 to 12 months.
If you're one of the 62% of Australian adults considering orthodontic treatment, you're not alone. Over the last five to ten years, orthodontists from all over Australia are increasingly treating more and more adults for adult braces and other orthodontic treatment.
Factors out of your control
For children, braces are usually removed within 12-18 months. This is because their developing bones and teeth make shifting much more manageable than fully developed adult teeth. For adults, it can take longer depending on the severity of their case and the type of treatment they need.
Keeping your Mouth Healthy
Clean and healthy gums are more likely to move faster allowing you to get your braces off earlier. Keep the area between the brace and teeth clean and free of plaque build up. Flossing between teeth and brushing your gums daily will keep your mouth healthy.
Teeth Can Shift After Braces
Teeth aren't permanently attached to your mouth with braces. They are simply guided in a way to make them straight. When braces are removed, the teeth no longer have that barrier. This can lead to shifting.
The bottom line is plain: as in other areas of life, spending money now on orthodontics will likely result in savings over the long term. Even aside from avoiding pain and making for a better-looking smile, orthodontia is worth it in purely financial terms.
You should only expect to wear your braces for a maximum of three years. While this may appear to be an excessively long period with braces on your teeth, please make an effort to understand that this is the worst-case scenario.
Metal and Clear Braces
The minimum time to wear braces can be as little as several months to fix a basic crooked tooth or spacing issue through to 36 months for both metal braces and ceramic braces.
All children (under 18 years old) can access free public dental services in NSW. All children receive the same high quality care regardless of CDBS eligibility and no fees are charged, even if your CDBS has been fully used up.
Melbourne Professional Teeth Cleaning Costs Guide 2022
The average cost of professional teeth cleaning in Melbourne is $100. However, costs can range from $100 to $350, depending on the dental problems and general dental practitioners you visit.
But why are braces so expensive? Because tooth movement is a slow and gradual process. It's a labor-intensive process that requires many follow-up appointments over months or years. Most people go in for a check-up every few weeks for adjustments and to make sure everything is proceeding as intended.
Which is better, braces or Invisalign? Braces are better for people with severe crookedness and most kids and teens. Invisalign and other brands of clear aligners are best for adults who want a nearly invisible and more comfortable straightening method, as long as the teeth aren't too crooked.
Unfortunately Medicare generally doesn't cover braces – or any orthodontic treatment for that matter. There is one exception however. If you have an existing underlying diagnosed medical condition (such as a cleft palate) you may be entitled to some rebate.
While the actual price varies in every case, generally speaking Invisalign costs around $5,000 with options from $3,500 to $8,000. Traditional braces can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000, meaning that often times, Invisalign can be the better economic alternative.