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Whether you’re considering orthodontics for yourself or your kids, one of the central things on your mind may be how to pay for treatment.

What does treatment cost? Does insurance cover it? What are options for financing orthodontics? With a little planning and foresight, you can make orthodontics affordable and comfortable for your lifestyle.

We never want finances to get in the way of the treatment you need, and we always work individually with families in our practice to find a solution that works for them. Fortunately we have a very experienced financial expert on our team with nearly 4 decades of experience helping families finance orthodontics and maximize their benefits.

Keep reading to find out more helpful tips on paying for orthodontic care!

Orthodontic Insurance

Patients often wonder if their dental insurance will cover orthodontic care. Many dental insurances do not have orthodontic benefits with them – but not to worry! There are other ways to assist the cost of your orthodontic care.

With dental plans that carry an orthodontic benefit, they typically cover about 20-30% of the total cost of orthodontic treatment. Most plans offer a 1-time benefit per person covered. The coverage levels are typically $1500, $2000 or in rare cases $2500. Benefits are paid on different schedules depending on the plan.

Often, patients will plan to switch to a dental plan with orthodontic coverage before they start their treatment. If you’re planning for orthodontic care in the near future, it’s a perfect time right NOW  to review your current dental insurance, and plan to switch to a new offering for 2018 during your open enrollment.

Flexible Spending Accounts for Orthodontics

Another great option to finance your orthodontic care is planning to set aside money in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). This can help you offset the cost of your care and be able to finance it with pre-tax money.

The amount each individual can set aside in an FSA account for 2018 is $2,600. Each paycheck will have a small amount deduced pre-tax and put into the FSA for you to use on your medical care. Orthodontic care is a reimbursable expense for FSA money.

It’s important to plan to use all of it because if you don’t use it, you lose it! For any patients who have money left over in 2017, you may also be able to use this for your orthodontic treatment.

If you’re considering orthodontics in the near future, it’s a great time NOW to plan for your 2018 FSA benefits so you can sign up during your open enrollment period coming up!

Financing for Orthodontic Treatment

In addition to dental insurance and FSA accounts, there are also other ways to finance your orthodontic treatment. In our office, we offer multiple payment plans for families depending on what you prefer.

Typically you can opt for a higher down payment, and lower monthly payments; or a lower down payment and higher monthly payments. Every family is different, and we are flexible to find a solution that’s comfortable for your lifestyle.

As always, our financing options are interest-free to patients – it’s our priority to be able to get the treatment you need in a way that’s affordable to you.

Cost of Orthodontic Care

The price of orthodontic treatment will vary slightly within a range based on how extensive or difficult your treatment is. The tricky part is – sometimes cases that look easy in the mirror might be more challenging, and conversely cases that might appear complicated could be more straightforward than they seem.

The best thing to do is schedule a complimentary consultation so we can evaluate you personally and give you an exact price for your treatment. Our prices are competitive for the area, and in a reasonable range.

We’d love to help you plan for your orthodontic care! We are always here to help and answer any questions you may have about how to pay for orthodontics. We can also help you plan your dental insurance and FSA benefits to maximize these resources.

Give us a call today to schedule your complimentary orthodontic consultation, and discuss pricing and financing options for your care. We see patients from all over the East Bay including Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Orinda, Lafayette, Martinez and Concord.

It’s possible to develop tooth decay even when you take great care of your teeth. Brushing and flossing may not be enough to keep your teeth healthy, depending on your diet. Cavities, discoloration, and decay are still possible when certain foods feature in your daily intake. Keep an eye out for foods that will damage your enamel and cause the very issues you’ve been trying to avoid.

What causes enamel damage?

Tooth enamel is the hard outer layer of your teeth that is made of various minerals. Tooth decay results when the acids in your food react with the minerals in your enamel. Strongly pigmented foods may also cause unsightly discoloration on the surface of your teeth. Avoid wreaking havoc on your beautiful smile by identifying the foods that can harm your enamel.

Acid

Acidic food is your teeth’s worst nightmare! This is the greatest cause of enamel damage, even if you brush and floss regularly. To avoid damaging your teeth, make sure you can determine whether a food is acidic or not.

The pH levels are a way to determine acidity on a one-to-seven scale. This defines the relative acidity or alkalinity of a food or substance. Foods with high pH levels are not as likely to harm your enamel.

It’s wise to avoid or minimize foods that are high in acids. Highly acidic food can include fruits such as lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, grapes, and apples. Moderately acid foods may surprise you; they include tomatoes, maple syrup, pickles, and honey.

Not surprisingly, eggs and dairy products such as milk and cheese contain the least amount of acid. Red wine and coffee can also discolor your enamel if they’re drunk in excessive amounts.

What can I do to prevent enamel damage?

There are plenty of ways to avoid discoloration and decay of your enamel. The best thing to do is limit the amount of high-acid foods, including sugary juices and soda, in your diet.

Another way is to brush and floss regularly, an hour after each meal. If you can’t make time to brush, an easy solution is to swish your mouth with water or mouthwash to rinse away any leftover acidic particles.

Damaged tooth enamel may be common, but is avoidable when you know which foods to stay away from and the steps to take after you do eat highly acidic foods. Take our advice and you’ll be sure to slow down any future discoloration and decay that happens in your mouth.

For more advice on protecting your enamel, give our Pleasant Hill, CA a call to learn more!

Did you know that the most common oral health diseases are tooth decay and gum disease? Not so coincidentally, they are also the easiest to prevent. As much as we would like for the brushing and flossing to do all the work for us, in reality, we really are what we eat — and a healthy diet is just as important for dental health as it is for the rest of the body.

Eating well boosts your immune system, and makes you less susceptible to gum disease and tooth decay. When you maintain a balanced diet, you provide your body with all the nutrients it needs to succeed. So what does a healthy, balanced diet entail? It’s really quite simple. Here are some tips:

1. Focus on lean meats, veggies, whole grains, and healthy fats.
2. Limit your intake of sugary drinks like energy drinks and soda.
3. Keep your sweet tooth in check.
4. Beware of acidic meals and snacks that are high in salt and sodium.
5. Drink lots of water.

Unfortunately, there’s no “one size fits all,” magic diet that will automatically improve your oral health, but following the five guidelines above as best you can is a great way to start. Food and drinks that are high in sugar or acidity weaken your enamel, stain your teeth, and make you more likely to develop a cavity or gum disease.

At Jennifer L. Martin, DDS, we like to encourage our patients to drink a lot of water during the day. Doing so not only keeps you hydrated, but also helps rinse out the sugar and acid from various things you’ve consumed during the day.

If you think your diet might be affecting your smile, come pay Dr. Martin a visit or give our Pleasant Hill, CA office a call! We’re always happy to answer your questions.

It’s useful to know some of the common problems that can arise when you get braces. Even if you take great care of your braces and teeth, you might not be able to avoid certain issues or side effects that accompany braces. But don’t worry: These are all common problems that can be taken care of by following some simple advice.

If you just had your braces put on, you may notice some general soreness in your mouth. Your teeth are starting to adjust to having to shift, so they may ache, and your jaw might feel tender at first. This will subside once your mouth becomes used to the new appliance in residence.

You may experience soreness on your tongue or mouth, which may be a sign of a canker sore. Canker sores are common when braces rub against your mouth. You can use ointments to relieve pain and numb the area that’s been irritated. Canker sores are commonly caused by broken wires or loose bands on your braces.

Common Issues

• Loose brackets: Apply a small amount of orthodontic wax to the bracket. You might also apply a little between the braces and the soft tissue of your mouth.
• Loose bands: These must be secured in place by Dr. Martin. Try to save the band for repair.
• Protruding or broken wires: Use the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire carefully to a less painful spot. If you are unable to move it, apply orthodontic wax to the tip. If a mouth sore develops, clean your mouth with warm salt water or antiseptic rinse.
• Loose spacers: These will need to be repositioned by Dr. Martin and possibly replaced.

Avoiding Issues

You should avoid certain foods that could cause major damage to your braces. No matter what you eat, make the effort to cut your food into small pieces that can be chewed easily. This will prevent chunks of it from getting lodged between brackets.

Avoiding hard and chewy foods is also wise. Some foods can break your hardware: for example, popcorn, nuts, apples, gum, taffy, and hard candies. Avoiding any foods that easily got stuck in your teeth when you didn’t have braces is a good rule to follow.

The appliances in your mouth are bound to attract food particles and make it easier for plaque to build up. By making sure you brush and floss carefully every day, you can prevent stains and cavities from developing over time. Dr. Martin and our team recommend brushing and making sure that food isn’t lodged between your braces after every meal.

Having braces can be very exciting, but it can also be challenging at first. Watching for these common issues during your first few weeks can prevent problems down the road. If you experience a lot of pain from your braces, contact our Pleasant Hill, CA office and we can try to resolve any issues.

Braces can sometimes be a pain, but they’re well worth it once your new smile gets revealed!