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12-06-2015, 09:10 AM
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#21
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 17,773
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What are the odds that the treatment would be stopped before it is finished, and why? If you think the work would be unacceptable or the dentist wouldn't be able to resolve any unexpected issues, then I wouldn't use this dentist or maybe the invisalign process regardless of the payment situation. If you think there is a good chance your DW will be "dissatisfied with the service halfway through," is it because she doesn't feel the dentist is very good? If she walks away, even if you have been able to be billed for regular payments, you will have to pay a lot more to another dentist to continue or start over, I imagine.
I guess I would keep looking for the right dentist. I don't think many people stop treatment but you seem to be worried about that, so I would listen to my gut and move on, and maybe she will find the right dentist, who will offer pay as you go.
__________________
“Would you like an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?” J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
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12-06-2015, 12:51 PM
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#22
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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I had braces in my 50's . The regular metal ones . Once those things are on there is no thought of stopping in the middle . I paid monthly . I was never offered a prepayment plan just a payment book . It cost $5,000 and was well worth the money . If I was doing it now in my 60's there is no way I would prepay even if it ended up costing more . Also before I did invisalign I would want assurances that it would work . It is nice not having huge metal grates on your teeth but really most people do not notice or don't give it a second glance .I never thought of stopping treatment but there were days when I wondered what I got myself into .It is uncomfortable and you basically carry a toothbrush constantly .
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12-06-2015, 02:44 PM
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#23
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Summerville
Posts: 15
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I paid for three sets of braces upfront as it was the cheapest method.
- 10% discount for paying in advance
- Used a Flexible Spending Account from my employer to fund it tax free.
- Total amount was available at the beginning of our plan year, with monthly pretax dollars deducted in every paycheck
Best of both worlds, but came with a price....working!
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12-06-2015, 03:15 PM
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#24
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Colorado Mountains
Posts: 3,163
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Paid for DD's braces up front. Moved across country a year later and paid for it all over again. Both sides said it was the other's issue to refund or lower price. What a joke.
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12-08-2015, 10:20 PM
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#25
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 214
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I am in my 40s and am getting braces for the second time (had them when I was a teenager). I'm getting Invisalign as well. My bite is OK, but my front teeth have shifted noticeably in recent years. It cost just under $4K and I paid for it up front with a 5% discount. If I were to finance, the ortho required a 50% down payment anyway. I really dislike monthly payments too. I'd rather just pay for it and get it over with.
Since the ortho thinks I'm a good candidate for Invisalign, I feel confident I will have good results. My treatment will only be for about 20 months though.
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12-09-2015, 04:45 PM
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#26
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Summerville
Posts: 15
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Make absolutely sure whatever route you take to use a Health Savings or Flexible Spending Account. If you are in the 25% tax bracket you're getting $4,000 braces for $3,000 out of pocket.
HSA for Orthodontics and Braces - Health Savings Account Info
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12-09-2015, 05:12 PM
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#27
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 1,360
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My DW did invisiline in her late 30s. Worked great. Very good experience and a great outcome.
If memory serves, I think part of the reason it's a pay up front or finance deal is that the they take the teeth mold and then the computer generates all of the "trays" of invisiline molds at the very beginning. So unlike regular braces, there isn't really a "stop cranking them midway thru the 2nd year" option. You have your set of biweekly molds in a box right at the start of the evolution. If you choose to stop putting them in half way thru, that's your business. You can't "return" the unused trays as they are 100% custom to the mouth in question.
Pay up-front.
__________________
Luck is when Preparation meets Opportunity.
FIRE'd 1/1/24
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12-09-2015, 05:13 PM
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#28
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,204
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I'm only in the 15% tax bracket and do not have enough medical expenses to get any benefit from itemizing medical expenses, even with these braces.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
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12-09-2015, 05:30 PM
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#29
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,288
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I guess a really good question for anyone to answer would be....who here has gotten braces for themselves or a family member and was dissatisfied enough with the orthodontist that they wish they had not paid up front and could've switched to a new orthodontist mid way?
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12-09-2015, 06:34 PM
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#30
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: South central PA
Posts: 3,466
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My parents paid for my braces up front 45 years ago. I paid for my son's braces up front 13 years ago, with insurance covering 50%. I changed jobs 3 months later and lost that insurance, LOL!
That seems to be the norm for orthodonture.
Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum
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12-09-2015, 11:26 PM
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#31
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Spending the Kids Inheritance and living in Chicago
Posts: 16,973
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pb4uski
I'm only in the 15% tax bracket and do not have enough medical expenses to get any benefit from itemizing medical expenses, even with these braces.
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Good that you are healthy.
I think previous poster was referring to the HSA as perhaps you have a high deductible health insurance plan ?
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12-10-2015, 08:40 AM
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#32
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,204
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We have both HSA and HDHI. Our current HDHI plan is not HSA compatible but our previous HDHI as well as employer sponsored HDHI while I was working were HSA compatible.
For now, I'm not using our HSA but letting it sit and grow, but I do keep track of our accumulated claims so I can take a large chunk out at will if we want to.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
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