Orthodontic Dentistry

Debbi Carroll

In the past orthodontic treatments were used only for pre-teens and teens having problems with their bite (malocclusion). Today, orthodontic treatments like dental braces are not only for pre-teens and teens, but for adults as well. Close to 30 percent of all orthodontic patients in the United States are adults. The American Dental Association recommends that children receive an orthodontic evaluation by age seven.

Braces can transform the lives of people. It can help straighten crooked teeth and help align them. But most important it gives people back the gift of laughing out loud and smiling.

Types of Braces

Traditional are the most common type, and those used most often when treating children. They consist of a small bracket that is glued to the front of each tooth. Often the molars are adjusted with a band that encircles the tooth. The brackets are strong and come in a variety of materials including metal, ceramic (clear), and gold. They can be decorated with colorful ligatures (the small bands that surround each bracket) to suit your individual style.

Invisalign is a technology developed by Align. These “braces” consist of a series of clear plastic trays, or aligners, that are specifically designed and fabricated for you. These aligners are clear and removable and adjust your teeth on a stage-by-stage basis, about two weeks per aligner.

Self Ligating Braces are braces with brackets that do not need ligatures (the small bands that hold the wire in place). You may also hear them referred to as "speed braces". Rather than using ligatures or metal ties, the brackets themselves have a sort of trap door that holds the arch wire in place. According to manufacturers this creates less friction between the wire and the bracket.

Lingual braces are a popular option for patients who don’t want to appear to be wearing braces. The brackets are placed behind the teeth, thus making them invisible to others.

How do your Braces Work? 

Braces put continuous and steady pressure on your teeth for long periods of time. This forces teeth to align and straighten. The wires on the braces move your teeth and the rubber bands make the required alignment to straigten your teeth. Most people need just the braces and rubber bands to align their teeth. Some people might need head gear.

Different people need to wear their braces for different lengths of time depending on their specific requirements. Most have to wear for a couple of years. After your braces are removed you will need to wear retainers which ensure that your teeth remains in their new position and not go back to its old places.   

Coverage Options for Braces

Dental Insurance Plan Choices:

• Indemnity Plan: An indemnity dental insurance plan allows you to select your own dentist. The plans are considered fee-for-service and come with limitations and co-payment options. This means that you pay a flat fee for the dental visit, but you have an annual limit on coverage for dental spending, and specific coverage limits may apply to individual dental procedures.
• Self-Insurance Plan: Self-insurance dental plans may be similar in nature to indemnity plans, though you may or may not have the option to select your own dentist.
• Closed Panel Plan: Closed panel dental plans limit you to using a specific group of facilities and the number of dentists available to you.
• Capitation Plan: Capitation dental plans designate specific dentists for intervals of treatment. These dentists have a contract indicating that they will be paid a fee regardless of whether dental treatment was required.
• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO): PPO dental plans are limited to a group of dentists who are available to provide dental care at a reduced cost.
• Direct Reimbursement Plan: Direct reimbursement dental plans allow employers to directly reimburse employees for dental services they receive.
• Dental Care Service Plan: Dental care service plans make use of a group of dentists who form a non-profit organization to provide dental services at set fees.

Dental insurance plans differ in the level of reimbursement offered for certain procedures and on annual dental spending caps. Some plans may limit the waiting period before certain dental treatments are rendered. Additionally, plans typically have exclusions, meaning that costs for certain dental procedures will not be reimbursed.

Discount Dental Plans

A dental discount plan is great when you do not have access to dental insurance for braces. Users purchase the plan and receive discounts for care. The plans have negotiated with dentists and dental specialists to proved specific services at a discounted price. You can save twenty-five to fifty percent on braces with a dental discount plan.

While it is not insurance, it is certainly a more affordable way to put braces on your child when needed. There are no waiting periods, or cosmetic exclusions with these plans.

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Debbi Carroll, RN is is a National Sales Director for AmeriPlan USA. The Dental Plus™ program includes dental, vision, prescription and chiropractic programs. Ameriplan's Dental Plus program includes savings on orthodontic procedures for children and adults. To explore options to save money on braces with AmeriPlan.

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