Outrageous Cost of Kids Braces

AussieDolphin on 30/05/2020 - 20:19
Last edited 03/06/2020 - 10:43 by 1 other user

Hello,

My 12 year old son needs to get braces. I don't have private health and apparently my ex-husband cannot help me pay $7,400 for braces. It's a lot for one parent! In my state, we only have two orthodontists but I'm sure there might be dentists that can possibly take care of this. I don't qualify for a health care card, unfortunately. I would like to hear from other parents who have had to get their kids braces without private health. Were you able to reduce the cost somehow? The dental benefits scheme doesn't cover orthodontics.

Thanks

Health & Beauty Dental

Comments

              • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2020 - 16:27

                @[Deactivated]: Oh yeah. Gastro. I don't know why I kept thinking dental ortho and medical ortho.

                Don't worry, I am terrible with remembering medico details. Outside of work/conventions and conferences, I avoid shop talk.

                • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2020 - 16:29
                  +1

                  @[Deactivated]: You're a shocking friend😂

                  • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2020 - 16:31
                    +3

                    @[Deactivated]: I rather mistake a gastro for an ortho than the other way around.

                    Those ortho dudes are rough as guts and I'd hate for my mistake to see their hands up my keister.

          • Drewbo on 01/06/2020 - 22:02

            @[Deactivated]: I wonder if they show his face on television.

            • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2020 - 22:15

              @Drewbo: They did on Gruen. Poor man, he does look better from the back. No wonder they refused to show his face.

      • AussieDolphin on 01/06/2020 - 17:18

        That's the two we have here.

  • iratepirate on 30/05/2020 - 20:49
    -3

    You obviously can't travel at the moment but there are some south east asian countries where you can get quality dental work done for a fraction of Aussie prices and have a nice holiday as well.

    • Hybroid on 30/05/2020 - 21:02
      +20

      What about the monthly checkups and re-tightening?

    • TilacVIP on 31/05/2020 - 09:03
      +1

      And you really think the process is one and done over a couple of weeks?

      In Thailand for example, generally, braces will set you back about $2 - $3k AUD & its done over a period of at least 18 months (regular visits for check ups, adjustments etc).

      • kehuehue on 01/06/2020 - 09:24
        +1

        can do regular visits in AU? how much do they cost here for adjustment and checkups?

        • TilacVIP on 01/06/2020 - 09:33
          -1

          At a guess, since they were done overseas, I'm sure each visit won't be cheap.

    • s2230011 on 02/06/2020 - 22:25

      Do you know of any good ones? I have always been interested but dont personally know anyone who has gone that way.

  • kahn on 30/05/2020 - 20:50
    +37

    Lisa needs braces.

    • CheeryCheapskate on 30/05/2020 - 21:55
      +27

      Dental plan!

      • Lurk Hartog on 31/05/2020 - 07:51
        +22

        Lisa needs braces.

        • Hansi on 31/05/2020 - 21:16
          +5

          Bullseye hehehe!

  • holdenmg on 30/05/2020 - 21:00

    Is Invisalign an option you have considered or costed?

    • AussieDolphin on 30/05/2020 - 23:59

      No the orthodontist has recommended particular braces.

      • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2020 - 20:53

        the orthodontist has recommended particular braces.

        Particular braces that only he/she can provide?

        • Tech5 on 31/05/2020 - 23:15
          +7

          With braces, there are only two kinds. Clear aligners (Invisalign being a brand name) or traditional brackets and wires. In terms of a recommendation, it is usually due to level of difficulty. There are certain things only brackets can achieve.

          All orthodontists really only have these two options. Basically not an upsell or pushing a tx only they provide, is what im saying.

          • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2020 - 23:17

            @Tech5: Thanks for the explanation. I have 4 kids, none of whom have required braces… so far 🤞

            • capslock janitor on 02/06/2020 - 10:06
              -1

              @[Deactivated]: good me mum had to pull mine out with a door slam.

              my brother on the other hand is blessed and his fell out on their own mostly

              • [Deactivated] on 02/06/2020 - 12:29

                @capslock janitor: My twins used to be so attuned to each other that when one of them complained of a toothache , the other one's tooth would fall out. When one was sick, both of them would throw up.

    • sickre on 02/06/2020 - 15:05

      Invisalign means you cannot speak, you need to be disciplined to put it in every night. Then you need to wear a retainer thing every night for the rest of your life! This is not discussed when you sign up.

      Braces are better.

      • PissLUR on 02/06/2020 - 17:40
        +1

        you would still need to wear night retainer even for braces.

        • heidisapirate on 03/06/2020 - 02:03
          +1

          Can confirm, my best friend had braces and she's told me that her teeth have started to go crooked again because she never wears her retainers.

  • oscargamer on 30/05/2020 - 21:26
    +3

    Ex-hubbie needs to pay half.

    • onetwothreefour on 30/05/2020 - 22:47
      -1

      She didn't say if the ex was the father…

      • AussieDolphin on 31/05/2020 - 00:00
        +1

        My now ex husband is the father of our 3 kids.

    • bmerigan on 31/05/2020 - 21:21
      +1

      I would be surprised if he wasn't already paying. It's up to her what she spends it on.
      Just saw the 50% care below… Now more complicated

      • AussieDolphin on 31/05/2020 - 23:49

        He definitely hasn't paid anything for the braces. It's the truth.

  • Mechz on 30/05/2020 - 21:41
    -4

    Just leave them go, they aren't worth the money.

    • jerimiahhalls on 01/06/2020 - 10:56
      +2

      I had messed up teeth growing up.
      Definitely worth the money.

      • Mechz on 01/06/2020 - 12:27
        +22

        I meant the children.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 30/05/2020 - 22:41
    -2

    Feel for you but they gotta a monopoly on the industry your ex husband sounds like a deadbeat if he isnt willing to help his own kid

    • TilacVIP on 31/05/2020 - 09:11
      +23

      And you know the husband is a deadbeat how? Oh, the wife told us her side so it's obvious she is telling the truth right?

      With all due respect to the OP, we do not know the real story of why the husband isn't paying half.

      Maybe with 3 kids, he had already been bled dry by the divorce, the wife, the lawyers and the system but then again he may well be a deadbeat who is just avoiding responsibility.

      Remember, there is always two sides to every story.

      • AussieDolphin on 31/05/2020 - 11:42
        +3

        This is not the reason why. He isn't paying half of this exorbitant cost because he had to take a 10% pay cut. We both work full time and he earns nearly $45k more than me. I get $65 a month child support for children in 50% care.

        • Trying2SaveABuck on 31/05/2020 - 19:03
          +2

          Honestly even if he took a 30% pay cut it makes NO DIFFERENCE he should still pay half as it is his child.

          Realistically - As for cost being 'exorbitant' orthodontists ave salary per an is around 225k i doubt you will find a much better price because they generally charge the same everywhere thus the price is what it is, realistically it isn't expensive it is relative to the market in which they operate.

          Once again i do feel for you - all dentist are bloody expensive (for us regular people) but if you want the braces you don have a choice

          But i stand by the fact your ex is a deadbeat if he doesn't want to pay his fair share

          • syousef on 01/06/2020 - 07:46

            @Trying2SaveABuck: Ok he doesn't pay enough, but your solution is a "let them eat cake" style one. Fathers who don't have money can't pay it. This guy may have money and not be doing his share. But there are definitely fathers that have lost their jobs and don't have savings. Where do you expect them to pull the money from?

            • Trying2SaveABuck on 01/06/2020 - 14:07

              @syousef: The other option is not get the braces…. which seems to be the option that this dad has taken thus he is a dead-beat imo which is his right to do (on some level) but he is a dead beat.

              You dont have to agree and i'm one of those people who think kids these days are over spoilt but when it comes to there health then personally skimping out and saying "yeah i'm not helping at all" is what a dead beat dad would do.

              Of course i dont have 'anymore' context then OP has given and he might have given OP loads of $$$ in the past for other things and has had enough but from the information given he is a dead beat

          • OzCheapo on 03/06/2020 - 08:25
            +1

            @Trying2SaveABuck: And this is why condoms are the cheapest form of insurance. Upvote for the condom deal from yesterday!

        • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2020 - 20:55
          +1

          Is that $65 per month per child? Just curious.

          • AussieDolphin on 31/05/2020 - 23:46
            +1

            @[Deactivated]: $65 a month for all the kids.

          • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2020 - 23:57
            +3

            @[Deactivated]: What a joke!

            • AussieDolphin on 01/06/2020 - 06:57

              @[Deactivated]: It's terrible yet the CSA tell me my assessment is correct!

            • bmerigan on 01/06/2020 - 08:55
              +6

              @[Deactivated]: Hold up - he has 50% custody. Why should he pay her anything?

              • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2020 - 08:56
                +2

                @bmerigan: Because he earns $40k more than Op. If he was earning the same as Op and sharing 50% custody, he shouldn't have to.

                • bmerigan on 01/06/2020 - 12:03

                  @[Deactivated]: I understand that would be the reason, but… why?

                  • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2020 - 13:45

                    @bmerigan:

                    On census night in 2016, there were about 959,000 single-parent families in Australia, 82% of which were single mothers. The majority of single parents with children under four years old are not in paid work. Instead, they are three times more likely to be living below the poverty line. Their median income of $974 a week is about half that of all households. All up, about one-third of sole parents and their children live in poverty, according to the Australian Council of Social Service.

                    I wouldn't want my children to live in poverty even if it is only every other week when their mother have them.

                    • bmerigan on 01/06/2020 - 14:56

                      @[Deactivated]: I agree, but none of those statistics apply in this case.

                      • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2020 - 14:58

                        @bmerigan: How do we know? All Op said was that her ex earned $40k more than her. If he's on $90k, that puts her at $50k. Try raising 3 kids on that kind of money.

              • Miss B on 01/06/2020 - 16:03

                @bmerigan: The same reason she would have to pay the exact same if their incomes were reversed. There are details here about how they work it out:

                https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ch…

              • AussieDolphin on 01/06/2020 - 17:28

                @bmerigan: Because of our incomes. You can check the Child support Agency if you don't believe it.

      • nikey2k27 on 31/05/2020 - 21:20
        -3

        total right i see mate who had all 3 rental and family home in 2012 now divorce been bled dry went from have income 190,000 plus a year to going on dole he love life on dole live at home with his mum and dad well ex wife bitch like bitch she is she lost house to bank and hand kids over him well been homeless now back mines make big bucks well take care of his kids

        • oscargamer on 31/05/2020 - 22:22
          +15

          What?

          • Yarkin on 31/05/2020 - 23:56
            +33

            @oscargamer: Lost all punctuation in the divorce.

          • Miss B on 01/06/2020 - 01:24
            +16

            @oscargamer: Incel's mate quit his $190k+/year job so he didn't have to pay child support for his kids anymore. He loved bludging off Centrelink and his parents. His ex could no longer afford the house and kids without any support, which makes her a bitch like bitch. He got custody of the kids because she didn't have anywhere to live. His parents had enough and kicked him out. He had to go back to work and look after his own kids.

            • syousef on 01/06/2020 - 14:24

              @Miss B: Yeah all the gendered name calling on both sides and people willing to judge others they know little or nothing about is just so incredibly impressive here. I can see we're closer than ever to equality. sigh

        • ProlapsedHeinous on 01/06/2020 - 02:55

          the question must be asked, Has Anyone Really Been Far Even as Decided to Use Even Go Want to do Look More Like?

  • tsunamisurfer on 30/05/2020 - 23:12
    +15

    OP has opted to self insure.

    The money they have saved by self insuring all these years surely they can easily afford orthodontics.

    • lew380 on 31/05/2020 - 10:19
      +4

      Pretty much this, but in her situation she has obviously not saved the excess. As a single parent that is understandable.

      Even with two parents paying half, but at 2x the living costs, housing and bills, between them they are most likely penniless. The destructive power of divorces and people who treat marriage like a game(OP could have a reasonable grounds for divorce, that's not for me to say) . Marriage is not to be taken lightly and disbanded with ease(I'm speaking generally here).

      This is a massive problem everywhere, divorces mean way more housing is needed, at 50% divorce rates, that means 50% more houses are needed which is why housing is so messed up in Australia. Next time you complain about rising House prices and shortages, remember that ITS directly proportional to divorce rates! More living costs, bills and expenses that can't be shared, puts a massive burden on resources, and as a consequence, we get OP who can't afford or even contemplate affording surprise bills that would be manageable in a married household.

      you can down vote unpopular facts, but truth is never easy for simple minded folks

      • AussieDolphin on 31/05/2020 - 11:44
        +14

        Well we divorced due to cheating on his behalf and irreconcilable differences.

        • lew380 on 31/05/2020 - 11:51
          +6

          My condolences, sorry to bring it out

  • barozgain on 30/05/2020 - 23:41
    +1

    Your best chance is going to another orthodontist/ payment plan.

    As yes, the $2000 bi-annual gov benefit do NOT cover ortho

    Can also get PHI but will need to main the period then they don't pay that much for ortho anyway

    Sorry to hear that but dental care is expensive in Australia (partially to do with materials etc being quite expensive)

  • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2020 - 00:53
    +1

    How bad is the overcrowding? Does it look like any of your other kids will also need braces? Worst case scenario :there's always adult braces once he/she is old enough to pay for it themselves.

    • AussieDolphin on 31/05/2020 - 07:29

      Hi,the orthodontist said my son's case is moderate. He has 4 wisdom teeth that will erupt when he's older and though his jaw will grow there isn't enough space for them at this stage. My 9 year old might need braces for a similar issue but he's too young for an assessment.

      • jonkvh on 31/05/2020 - 09:20
        -5

        I'd do some research on the benefits of braces. Years ago I read a thesis on how braces are not needed except in 'extreme' cases, which then could be fixed with surgery anyway. Go find a 'Holistic' dentist for a second opinion. I ended up doing this when wanting to remove my Mercury fillings, no mainstream dentist would touch them because, you know, Mercury fillings are perfectly safe…

        • Tech5 on 31/05/2020 - 22:44
          +9

          Lol. No dentist would touch them for a few reasons

          1. Treatment needs consent by both patient and dentist. If the dentist does not agree with treatment, they can decline to provide it as per below reasons
          2. More mercury is released (aerosolized) during the removal of an amalgam filling then will ever be released while remaining in a tooth.
          3. Mercury is much more toxic when inhaled i.e. aerosolized than when swallowed i.e. "leaching" out of a filling. Like… muchhhh more
          4. Removing intact fillings that are perfectly fine and not damaging a tooth (amalgams can damage teeth due to cracking), is performing unneeded treatment. Removing them can be seen as recommending unnecessary and unethical treatment
        • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2020 - 11:08

          Teeth are also not needed.

          You blend all foods and drinks it through a straw so the thesis had to have some arbitrary definition of need.

  • Vest on 31/05/2020 - 07:50
    +10

    I live in Melbourne and got quoted the same price even though there are many orthodontists around here. I don’t think you are being ripped off due to your location, but I haven’t shopped around either to see if there is anyone who would do it cheaper around here.

  • roonie on 31/05/2020 - 08:40
    +4

    The other thing about health insurance is that it doesn’t simply make your bill go away (less, say, an XS, like home or car ins). An 8k bill might be broken down into a 5k, 2k and 1k components and the rebate will be for (say) 2k, 500 and 20 (if you’re lucky). Private health insurance softens the blow - it does not make it go away. (I’ve had insurance for 40 years and have been with multiple providers / plans)

  • Peck on 31/05/2020 - 11:51

    Is it possible to do it in steps and see what nature does at the same time? IE do the one extraction, and wait a little while and see.

    • AussieDolphin on 31/05/2020 - 11:52

      That would have been an option of the tooth that needs to move wasn't completely in the wrong position in the gum.

  • AncientWisdom on 31/05/2020 - 14:50
    +1

    I wish simply having private health insurance would have meant this can't happen to you but unfortunately that's not the case in Australia.

    • Tnetennba on 02/06/2020 - 08:23
      +1

      I wish private health insurance didn't even exist. It is a bad system and will leave us where America is in enough time.

      A fully funded Medicare has so much potential.. like we'll ever see that thanks to the health insurance lobbiests though.

  • Jono05 on 31/05/2020 - 15:16
    +3

    I have health insurance and I only saved about $2000 for the cover I had. I pay a lot more in premiums than I get back.

  • dogboy on 31/05/2020 - 17:10
    +1

    Get them done in Thailand instead for a fraction of the price + holiday?

    • PissLUR on 31/05/2020 - 18:37

      And have a monthly trip/holiday too?

    • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2020 - 20:15
      +2

      Bad idea:

      Wife had a medical (dental) procedure done overseas which went horribly wrong. Now we are having to remedy that in Australia which is estimated to cost us $25-$30K.
      Wife went into severe depression and off work since (…)

      • SnakeCasablanca on 01/06/2020 - 13:29
        +1

        On the flip side. My mother did it and saved thousands and very happy with the work.

        Also ex gf saved thousands on having a bigger front veranda installed and also saved thousands. Loved it so much that she went back again to increase the size of the verandah again.

        Odds are there are more positive stories than negative. But people having a positive experience are less likely to write to forums about it. Same with reviews of products I guess.

        • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2020 - 14:01

          I personally think it is the other way round. I've only ever heard of people sharing their positive experiences and encouraging others to go overseas to get work done cheaply. That post on ozb was the first time I've ever heard a first-hand account of anything going awry. I believe most people are too embarrassed when things don't go as they expected to tell others about it.

          Forewarned is forearmed. Personally I wouldn't risk my child's health by getting his dental work done cheaply overseas and I sure as hell would be dragging my imaginary ex-wife* to court if I found out she was planning to do so.

          *Imaginary ex , as I am happily married to the mother of my children.

          • SnakeCasablanca on 01/06/2020 - 14:41

            @[Deactivated]: Agree to disagree.

            Although you make it sound like I was suggesting taking the children overseas without the consent of the father.

            There is nothing in what I said that implied that?

            • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2020 - 14:53

              @SnakeCasablanca:

              Although you make it sound like I was suggesting taking the children overseas without the consent of the father.

              Not implying you said it but it is not an uncommon occurrence from what I've heard. I personally know of 2 cases : one where the mother took her 17 year old daughter overseas for breast augmentation and the other where the mother had her 2 year old son circumcised for non-medical reasons. In both cases, the other parent was only informed after the fact.

  • centrelink on 31/05/2020 - 17:29
    +3

    DENTAL PLAN

    • Herbse on 31/05/2020 - 19:24
      +2

      Lisa needs braces

      • Kranbone on 31/05/2020 - 21:19
        +2

        Dental plan

  • Bob Svargis on 31/05/2020 - 18:44
    +3

    My kids braces cost $8k. Sydney. Health insurance was pretty hopeless. They will only cover about $1500 or so.

    That’s just the the way it is. It’s a specialised skill set and many return visits will be required which will be covered by the cost.

  • Dadidalol on 31/05/2020 - 19:13
    +1

    I'm doing adult invisalign, they cost me $7k in Melbourne after a $600 upfront payment discount.

    After doing a few comparisons between different orthodontists, traditional and invisalign were all in the $7-8k range, so I don't think your quote was excessive.

    Note that I did not require any tooth extractions as my crowding is minor, my wisdom teeth were taken out under the dental benefits scheme when I was a child.

  • Herbse on 31/05/2020 - 19:24

    Trip to Thailand

  • Antikythera on 31/05/2020 - 19:26
    +2

    needs? or wants?

    even though both parents worked. braces was never an option for any of my siblings. i still remember going to the government funded dental van early in high school for fillings. pretty sure it was my only visit to a dentist in childhood.

    our pets only ever saw a vet to get neutered. now people pay tens of thousands of dollars on vet bills?

    • dbun1 on 01/06/2020 - 07:46

      This - is it actually need to correct an issue that will become problematic over time, or is it just an aesthetic’s thing?

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