Why do people think Orthodontists are too expensive?

[Tyrantblade]

I think it's probably because they just don't realize how much is involved in becoming an Orthodontist and continuing to run a business, I mean after all the schooling, staff costs, and costs to operate and maintain the building is don't think it's really that bad.

Not to mention the expertise on knowing how to treat our cases properly, sure some dentists may charge less and do good work, but I think the cost difference is well worth it.

[verso]

No one is saying that orthodontists aren't incredibly well-educated and hard-working or that running a business isn't expensive. It's all true. But the question is how much is that worth?

Ever hire a lawyer? ~$250 / hr is about how much a lawyer typically charges around here and they actually charge in 1/10's of an hour. That means a 6-minute phone call with your lawyer will cost you $25. He -- or she -- may be incredibly skilled and knowledgeable and may incur quite a bit of overhead, but is what they're doing for you worth $25 every 6 minutes? I don't know.

Now let's talk about your orthodontist. The cost of my "braces" and their "servicing" for lack of a better term is $6,300. I'll see my orthodontist for a 20-minute visit every month over the next two years just about, right? Some appointments may be a little shorter or longer than others, but approximately ~20 minutes.

That comes out to 480 minutes of his time or 8 hours. TOTAL. That's ~$780 / hr. That's $78 every 6 minutes. Granted, I haven't taken into account the cost of materials, but even if I were to... $700 / hr maybe? Is that a reasonable amount? Again, I don't know, but it sure puts lawyers to shame doesn't it?

At the end of the day, it's one of those things that -- and I hate to say this -- is a luxury even though it probably shouldn't be. You want straight teeth? You're going to pay out the mouth for it, no pun intended. That's just the way it is and I'm OK with that but let's not beat around the bush... it's EXPENSIVE!

[Tyrantblade]

No one is saying that orthodontists aren't incredibly well-educated and hard-working or that running a business isn't expensive. It's all true. But the question is how much is that worth?

Ever hire a lawyer? ~$250 / hr is about how much a lawyer typically charges around here and they actually charge in 1/10's of an hour. That means a 6-minute phone call with your lawyer will cost you $25. He -- or she -- may be incredibly skilled and knowledgeable and may incur quite a bit of overhead, but is what they're doing for you worth $25 every 6 minutes? I don't know.

Now let's talk about your orthodontist. The cost of my "braces" and their "servicing" for lack of a better term is $6,300. I'll see my orthodontist for a 20-minute visit every month over the next two years just about, right? Some appointments may be a little shorter or longer than others, but approximately ~20 minutes.

That comes out to 480 minutes of his time or 8 hours. TOTAL. That's ~$780 / hr. That's $78 every 6 minutes. Granted, I haven't taken into account the cost of materials, but even if I were to... $700 / hr maybe? Is that a reasonable amount? Again, I don't know, but it sure puts lawyers to shame doesn't it?

At the end of the day, it's one of those things that -- and I hate to say this -- is a luxury even though it probably shouldn't be. You want straight teeth? You're going to pay out the mouth for it, no pun intended. That's just the way it is and I'm OK with that but let's not beat around the bush... it's EXPENSIVE!

Perhaps I worded it a little wrong, I mean that some people go as far as to basically say Orthodontists are often times not necessary and are simply ripping people off.

Yes it is expensive, but we all know there are many benefits to going through with Orthodontics, and when you have a legitimate case of needing braces it's totally worth it.

[verso]

I hear ya. I definitely think it's worth it, and I look at orthodontia as a form of preventative dentistry, really. It's expensive, but I wouldn't call it a ripoff.

[EWUgal15]

I think people look at the cost of braces and orthodontic treatment and think of ALL the other things they could do that they would enjoy more than having braces, like a trip abroad or massive shopping sprees. My monthly payment for braces was 2/3 of my monthly payment for my Camaro. I would much rather have a sports car than braces, but thankfully I was in a position to have both. Not everybody can say that. What was paid for the knowledge and expertise that went into fixing my face was most definitely worth it, but my parents couldn't wrap their heads around that and justify the cost. And that's ok. I totally get where people are coming from. IMHO, you only get one body, might as well make it what you want.

[verso]

^ I could not agree more!

It's a lot of money, but at this point in my life with my college years behind me and after having been fortunate enough to travel abroad and enjoy the finer things in life... I am OK with driving a beat-up old Dodge Stratus for a while in order to get my teeth looking right again. Living more frugally for the next two years in order to do this thing is a trade that I'm willing to make.

[sirwired]

Meh. It's supply and demand; nothing more, nothing less. Just like with anything somebody wants to sell, the cost doesn't really connect directly with the price, so it doesn't matter too much the cost of the full education or the cost to run the practice. The "worth" is more-or-less what people are willing to pay, which in a low-supply situation, is generally a not-small number.

The number of new orthodontists per year in the US is only approx. 630. And this number must both supply expansion in the market, and replace retiring orthodontists.

[metalgear]

Also have to factor in the cost of equipment.