Seriously, I finally decided to fix my teeth after years of putting it off, and now I'm looking at the prices and... um, wow. Insurance barely covers anything, and payment plans still feel like a second mortgage. Anyone else feeling this pinch?
I totally get where you're coming from. When I finally bit the bullet and decided to straighten my teeth a couple years ago, I was floored by the quotes I got. Insurance was basically useless—covered maybe a fraction of the total cost. I ended up shopping around quite a bit, even considered going to a dental school clinic for cheaper rates. In the end, I found a place that offered a slightly better payment plan, but still...ouch.
Honestly, it feels like orthodontics is priced as if it's purely cosmetic, even though for many of us it's about dental health and comfort too. I wonder if part of the reason adult braces cost so much is because our teeth are more set in their ways (literally), making the treatment longer or more complicated?
Has anyone here tried alternatives like clear aligners from online companies? I've heard mixed things about them, but the price difference is tempting...
