"Lesson learned: always have a backup plan, especially if you're clumsy like me."
Haha, been there. Did you manage to get a replacement without extra charges? My ortho was pretty forgiving the first time I lost mine (oops...), but they weren't thrilled when it happened again. Monthly payments worked well for me too—felt less painful than dropping a lump sum upfront. Curious though, anyone find upfront payments actually saved them money overall?
I get the appeal of monthly payments, but honestly, paying upfront saved me a decent chunk in the long run. My ortho offered a discount for full payment, and it ended up being worth the initial pinch. But yeah, losing retainers is rough... I once accidentally tossed mine in the cafeteria trash—talk about embarrassing and expensive. You're definitely not alone there.
"I once accidentally tossed mine in the cafeteria trash—talk about embarrassing and expensive."
Haha, I feel your pain there. I've had patients come in with some wild retainer-loss stories—one kid's dog literally ate it (no joke), and another patient accidentally baked hers into a cake. Paying upfront definitely has its perks, especially if there's a discount involved, but monthly payments can ease the stress for some folks. Either way, losing retainers seems to be a universal struggle... you're definitely not alone!
I totally get the convenience of monthly payments, but honestly, upfront payment saved me a ton in the long run. When I lost my retainer (yep, guilty here too—left it wrapped in a napkin at a restaurant), the replacement cost wasn't as painful because I'd already saved some cash by paying upfront. Monthly payments might feel easier, but if you're prone to losing things like me, that discount cushion can really help soften the blow... just my two cents.
Reading this makes me rethink my initial leaning towards monthly payments. Honestly, I'm a bit nervous about braces in general—first timer here, and I tend to misplace things way more than I'd like to admit (keys, glasses, you name it...). Your retainer story hits close to home. But here's what keeps nagging me: What if something unexpected comes up financially after I've paid everything upfront? Wouldn't monthly payments at least keep some cash available for emergencies? I mean, I see your point about upfront savings softening the blow if a retainer vanishes (and knowing me, it's probably inevitable), but budgeting-wise, monthly feels safer somehow. Maybe there's a middle ground—like putting aside the monthly difference into savings just in case? Curious if anyone's tried that approach and if it actually works out...
