Someone reassure me

[JWoods38]

Ok, I don't have braces yet, but my dentist's office requires that I pay upfront, so I have to use a loan payment plan. I am nervous about doing this because I have heard horror stories about the interest payments. Someone please tell me that this is more normal than I'm thinking and that I shouldn't worry about anything.

[mariahfromchicago]

I think that you should go with a different ortho. Most offer payment plans, don't go with one that doesn't offer a payment plan.

[eatyourpeas]

The interest rate should be posted somewhere. Does he/she not offer a payment plan without a loan?

Check and see what the interest rate is is before you freak out too much!

[Zoso]

You don't say where you are, of course. All I can comment to is what seems typical in the USA.

From all I've seen talking to people over here, the norm seems to be for most orthodontists to offer an interest-free payment plan, usually with a bigger downpayment up front. For those who cannot make even these payments (which usually try to get the full cost of treatment to be spread only over the anticipated treatment time) orthos often refer patients out to credit companies who offer specific plans for this type of treatment - then, yes, there would be interest payments. And what is also very common is that if payment is made in full up front, a discount is offered.

So, if you're in the USA, it's possible you can find better terms. Of course, price/payment options alone should not be the primary reason for picking an orthodontist. But it is a valid factor to weigh into the mix when choosing.

By the way: you are seeing an ortho not a dentist, right?

[JWoods38]

I am seeing a dentist, but he is a very good one. He makes me feel like he really cares about what I want for my teeth, and what they look like. I'm not seeing an ortho and I didnt even know there was a difference. I am in the USA. They gave me brocures of different companys that offer monthly payment programs. The interest is 11.9% APR on the one I'm thinking of going with. A loan for 4200 would be $139 for 36 months, and I'm told that is $800 dollars in interest. I figured that this kind of thing would be normal, and that many people would be having to do this nowadays, but if not then I will consider another dentist.

[Zoso]

Rules and definitions differ from one country to another. But you're in the USA, so here's how it is here:

Orthodontists are qualified dentists, who then go on to another two to three years of full-time, university-based education, during which they learn about tooth movement (orthodontics) and guidance of facial development (dentofacial orthopedics).

Now, I am not saying that all general dentists are bad at orthodontistry. But the majority have little training and far less experience in orthodontics. Even so, in many cases these less experienced doctors might still do well enough with routine cases, but most lack the diagnostic experience of the trained orthodontist and this can sometimes lead to less than optimal, and sometimes even plain poor treatment plans being brought to bear.

Given that a great many orthodontists in the USA will offer a basic consultation free of charge, my advice to you before you embark on this treatment would be at least to get a second opinion from an orthodontist. You can find orthos through the AAO web site: Orthodontist Locator Terms of Use

As I said, many general dentists who are offering orthodontic services will do a decent job on easier cases, and a few will do well even on more complex cases. But others will not. Personally I'd rather put the task of moving my teeth into the hands of someone who has spent years in the study of that discipline than someone who might have spent all of a couple of days on that.

[Punkin]

Originally Posted by JWoods38

I am seeing a dentist, but he is a very good one. He makes me feel like he really cares about what I want for my teeth, and what they look like. I'm not seeing an ortho and I didnt even know there was a difference. I am in the USA. They gave me brocures of different companys that offer monthly payment programs. The interest is 11.9% APR on the one I'm thinking of going with. A loan for 4200 would be $139 for 36 months, and I'm told that is $800 dollars in interest. I figured that this kind of thing would be normal, and that many people would be having to do this nowadays, but if not then I will consider another dentist.

That seems very high.

I would seriously consider speaking with another dentist/orthodontist. I have dealt with two different ortho's, one for my son and one for myself, and both of them offered no interest payment plans. There was a lump sum due up front, and then the one I made monthly payments for a year, the other was two years. Both were interest free.

You are receiving treatment for quite a long period of time, it doesn't seem fair that you should have to pay everything upfront.

11.9% is pretty high too... you can get credit cards with lower interest rates than that.

if they are not willing to work with you on a payment plan, find someone else (you should get a few opinions anyway about the work that needs to be done to fix your teeth)

[ajvasey]

My ortho is a certified invisalign provider. And my initial consultation was free and a payment plan of 12 or 18 months was offered interest free with a manditory $1000 down payment.

I agree that finding an ortho your comfortable with is important, but don't get ripped off in the process. Besides, its a must to shop around to get more input from other orthos about your treatment options and compare prices. Kinda of like buying a car, you don't just buy the first one you see.

[AlleyCat]

My dentist is not an orthodontist, but he has been using invisalign on patients for almost 3 years now and the results are really good. He made me put $400/down and then $100/month payments. I did see an orthodontist first but he didnt do monthly payments, he did his loans through a financing company that were very high imo, and not only that you had to have absolutely perfect credit, which my credit is has always been somewhat good, but not perfect anymore. It just seemed impossible to do unless you had alot of money upfront to cover the cost of braces and treatment, then of course if you have cavities or need your teeth cleaned, they usually want to do that first. My dentist did all my cleanings and cavities first and then used the invisalign on my teeth, so I think I did pretty good getting him. I would keep looking until you find one that you can afford and you feel comfortable with.