Paying for a Montreal Orthodontist

Paying for a Montreal Orthodontist

Braces aren’t cheap. For the cost of braces in Montreal, you could take a nice vacation, buy a used car and even pay for a semester of university. What those things can’t get you however, is a nice smile.

As of 2012, the cost of traditional braces, Invisalign and Damon Braces has remained approximately consistent with previous years. Though the costs have remained the same, patients in Montreal benefit from new advances in technology such as 3D scanning machines that can create full models of your mouth.

The costs of traditional braces in Montreal is $3,000 – $10,000. If you’re wondering how much Invisalign costs in Montreal, well wonder no more! The Invisalign cost in Montreal is similar to other cities with a range of $3,600 to $8,200. Expect however to pay on the upper end of that range. As for clear braces in Montreal (also known as Damon Braces), your costs are going to be the highest at between $3,900 and $9,000.

Type of Treatment Range Average
Traditional Braces $3,000 – $10,000 $6,000
Invisalign $3,600-$8,200 $6,625
Damon Braces $3,900-$9,000 $6,500

 

Fortunately, we have some tips and tricks for helping you save on your orthodontist bills. The first and most obvious is to visit several different montreal orthodontists to get the lowest price. You may have to settle for traditional metal brackets, but you can realize thousands of dollars in savings. Going to different orthodontists also lets you determine what’s necessary and what’s not. One montreal orthodontist may recommend tooth extraction (which can get costly) which another might recommend Damon braces which, while being slightly more costly, may actual save you money with no tooth extractions required.

You’ll also want to check with your extended health provider to see if they cover dental plans. We’ve included some tables from the more popular ones:

Provider Eligibility Period Reimbursement Maximum Annual Reimbursement
Pacific Blue Cross After 25 months 50% of cost $1,000
Sun Life Financial After two years 60% $1,500 lifetime maximum

 

As you can see, the extended health providers do not provide much in the way of reimbursements so you’re left to your own devices here. Looking at the chart, if your treatment plan is longer than a year and your orthodontist will let you spread payments out, it will be in your best interest to go with Pacific Blue Cross.

Any additional out of pocket costs here can be applied to your income tax to help reduce the taxes you pay. This will cover most orthodontic work that isn’t purely cosmetic (e.g. teeth whitening).

Orthodontic work including braces - paid to a medical practitioner or a dentist. Expenses for purely cosmetic procedures are not eligible.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns300-350/330/llwxpns-eng.html#orthodontic

Your final solution is to work with your orthodontist to come up with a payment plan. Many will offer a no-interest payment plan that progresses are your treatments continue. This can often be the best choice especially if your treatment isn’t simple. If your treatment is extremely simple and not expected to take very long, look into whether your orthodontist will apply discounts for paying up front. You can also ask about cash discounts as no one likes to pay credit card processing fees.

July 31, 2012 Read More
The Top Questions To Ask Your Orthodontist in Montreal

The Top Questions To Ask Your Orthodontist in Montreal

When visiting orthodontists for the initial consultation, we recommend preparing with a list of questions written down so that you cover all your bases. Especially during your first visit, you won’t know what questions to ask so we’ve compiled this handy list for you to add to!

  • Where did you go to school? This question can usually be answered by visiting the your montreal orthodontist’s website. From there, you’ll be able to see where they received their education along with other associations that they may be a part of. Notable ones include the American Association of Orthodontists, the Canadian Association of Orthodontists and the Association of Orthodontists in Quebec. Orthodontists who choose to go through the examination process of the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) can become Board Certified which means that they can advertise themselves as a Diplomate of the ABO.
  • What are my options? Every orthodontist has a different style for treating teeth and this results in you having a number of options that you can work with. These can range from simple treatments such as Invisalign all the way to treatments involving jaw surgery. All of this depends on the severity of your teeth and the work required to fix them.
  • How long will it take? Though there are now speed braces on the market that require significantly less time, the average treatment time is still 23 months.  Ask your orthodontist how long s/he expects treatments to take and how many visits to his/her office are required. For certain applications like Damon Braces, less frequent visits are required.
  • What’s the cost? The cost includes things like the application of the braces along with the follow-up treatments and adjustments. They also include the creation and fitting of a retainer for after your braces come off. When talking to your Montreal Orthodontist about this, also ask about payment plans. Typically, people will pay a lump sum to get the braces installed, then ongoing payments are treatments progress. Some orthodontists will offer lump sum discounts to pay the whole amount in full. This is often not to your benefit as you may end up paying for treatments that you do not need! If the discount is significant though, it could be an avenue worth looking into.
  • Who can I talk to who’s done similar treatments? Always be sure to ask for references especially if the treatment proposed is complicated. Be sure that the references provided went through a similar treatment as the one proposed by your montreal orthodontist. If possible, get multiple references that you can speak to. You’ll want to ask questions that cover the who, what, where, when and why they decided to work with this particular orthodontist.

Remember to always bring a notebook when visiting your orthodontist in Montreal so that you can take notes. It’ll be hard to rely on your memory after visiting more than two so it’s best that you record it to have all the information to find the best orthodontist in Montreal.

 

July 31, 2012 Read More
Find a Good Montreal Orthodontist

Find a Good Montreal Orthodontist

Trying to find an orthodontist is a frustrating experience for many. Especially in a city like Montreal, there are just too many great orthodontists. It’s easy to say that these highly trained professionals are some of the best in the country, but to choose the best orthodontist in Montreal? That’s an exercise that we’d prefer not to go through.

What we can tell you is this though – even before deciding to visit an orthodontist, you have to decide if braces are right for you. If you are an adult, then perhaps you have lived your entire life with crooked teeth. Getting braces isn’t an easy process so you have to ask yourself if going through months, if not years of treatment will be worth it.

Not an easy decision to make, but many adults feel that it is worth it! More adults these days are visiting their orthodontists to get braces which as now seen as a sort of status symbol. Maybe their families couldn’t afford it in the past, but they certainly can now. Many a Montreal Orthodontist that we spoke to has told us that adults comprise up to 80% of their patients!

Once you decide that you need braces, try to get as many referrals as possible from your family dentist, friends and family. We’ll also have some recommendations for orthodontists that you should put on your list.

From that list, book initial consultation meetings with about three or four of them to get a feel for the treatments that they recommend and the costs. You’ll quickly get a sense of what your different options are. You should have some questions prepared to ask them, but if you are unsure of what you ask, be sure to take a look at the handy guide provided on this website.

While meeting with your Montreal Orthodontist, you should also pay attention to how comfortable you feel when you are with him or her. Going through treatment is a long process so it helps that you enjoy working with your orthodontist in Montreal.

When meeting with your orthodontist in the initial consultation, be sure to bring a notepad so that you can take notes on what your orthodontist tells you. It can be overwhelming so you will want to have a reference that you can take home to look up information on this website. At that time, the orthodontist will also give you an idea of how much your treatments will cost. For obvious reasons, the fancier your treatment (e.g. 3M Incognito, Damon Braces, etc), the more your costs will be.

Finally, after meeting them all, check for Montreal Orthodontist Reviews online to see what others are saying about your orthodontists! Using all that information, rank your orthodontists and begin treatment with the one you like best!

July 31, 2012 Read More
The Best Montreal Orthodontist

The Best Montreal Orthodontist

Montreal has a rich history in Canada and is the largest city in Quebec. It then comes as no surprise that it’s one of the best places in Canada to find an orthodontist! Do you want that perfect smile? Whether you’re an adult or a parent looking for your child, orthodontic care in Montreal is more accessible than it has ever been. What may be surprising to you is that for some orthodontists, adults make up more than 50% of the patients. Make today the day that you visit your orthodontist!

All orthodontists in Montreal have received additional training beyond their basic dentistry training and have earned the right to practice the first dentistry specialty to be officially recognized by dentistry boards. Whether you’re looking for metal braces, Invisalign, 3M Incognito or Damon braces, orthodontist Montreal can help you find the best orthodontist in Quebec.

We have put together this site to give you the best information on everything you need to know to get braces. Some of the topics that are covered on this site include the top things questions you should ask your orthodontist in Montreal, how to choose Montreal’s best orthodontist and caring for your teeth after you get your braces.

Everyone knows the amazing impact that straight teeth can have on self esteem. You owe it to yourself to get educated on what orthodontists do, the training they receive and how to tell good ones from bad. Get started now and begin the process of getting that smile that you’ve always wanted.

Remember, this site is for you. We welcome any comments and suggestions so that we can best tailor this to what you need.

July 30, 2012 Read More