Survey Finds That Dentists Charge Less than Orthodontists for Braces

A survey by The Wealthy Dentist Web site has found that American and Canadian general dentists charge an average of $4,350 for braces, while orthodontists charge an average of $5,141. The poll received 50 responses.

One Pennsylvania dentist reported that he was able to do Invisalign at a lower cost, but only if treatment involved minor movement and took only a couple months. Additionally, an Ohio dentist argued that well-trained general practitioners “are fully capable of providing orthodontic services.”

Meanwhile, an Illinois-based orthodontist made the case for the higher cost of braces done under an orthodontist’s care by saying, “My cases are treated with better and more individualized diagnosis, and finish with better facial aesthetics, better occlusion, a better smile line, and better function.”

Location was also a factor in the results, with braces costing higher on average in the Northeast, Pacific, and Canada. Additionally, suburban dentists reported that their fees for braces have increased to match their urban counterparts’.

Additionally, some orthodontists felt braces should cost more. One Colorado orthodontist responded that the average price should be between $7,500 and $8,500 based on inflation, and that managed care practices and general dentists were driving the prices down.

A 2007 Journal of Clinical Orthodontics orthodontic practice study on the average cost of braces in the United States found that the cost of comprehensive treatment for orthodontics averaged $5,354 for adults and $4,914 for children.

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