The Cost of Braces for Teeth - Average Price

By Brandon Cornett
© 2011 All rights reserved

Welcome to The Average Cost of Things, where we help you put prices into perspective. In this article, you'll learn about the average cost of braces and related dental work.

Stop me when this sounds familiar. You take your child to the dentist, and he recommends braces to straighten the teeth and correct the bite. He says it's going to cost around $2,000. Immediately, you wonder if this is the average price for braces, or if it's too high. How do you know? That's where we come in. This article explains the average cost of braces based on recent surveys and data.

On average, Americans pay about $6,500 for braces. Prices vary based on several factors, so you can expect to pay a couple thousand dollars above or below this average price. The cost of braces for teeth will vary based on the type of braces, your location, and the experience level of your dentist.

Why Does the Cost Vary So Much?

The type of braces you choose will have an impact on the final cost. For example, you'll probably pay more for the so-called "invisible" braces, such as Invisalign, than you would pay for the "old school" metal braces. But if you do some pricing research in your area and find that the prices are similar (for metal vs. invisible), then it becomes a matter of personal preference rather than cost.

Location is another major factor that influences the cost of braces. California is one of the most expensive states for dental procedures in general, and that goes for braces as well. So on average, people in the Golden State may pay upward of $8,000 for their braces.

Insurance May Not Cover Braces

If you currently have dental insurance, you need to check your policy to see if it covers braces. You can flip a coin -- some insurance providers cover it and others don't. Some consider braces an elective / cosmetic procedure, which means you'll be paying for them out of pocket. You can avoid unpleasant surprises by researching this before you schedule a dental appointment.

Research Method

We consulted more than 25 websites to compile the average cost of braces shown above. We visited the American Dental Association (ADA) website, Braces.org, and several other reputable sources.

Note: The prices provided in this article are just averages. When researching the cost of braces, we found a serious lack of consistency in the information provided. It seemed that some people were just pulling pricing data out of thin air, without any research to back it up. So you should take these numbers with a grain of salt. The best way to get a truly accurate cost estimate for braces is by speaking to a dentist or orthodontist in your area.