Orthodontic Fees
Some patients are looking for bargains. Others believe that the more they pay for a service, the higher the quality must be. No region in the country has a greater fee disparity than Manhattan. At the extremes, some offices charge in excess of over $10,000 for Invisalign and braces; offices that offer no special expertise but attempt to create the perception of exclusivity. At the other end of the spectrum, there are some crazy low fees out there. Mostly, these are high volume offices with many doctors on the premises, most new to the country or to the profession.
Despite my unparalleled experience with Invisalign, our usage of the very finest materials, and our large staff, our fees remain dead center in the middle of the road. The highest fee charged for any course of Invisalign treatment is $7900, with less expensive variations if your case qualifies for Invisalign Express (for MINOR problems) or if you are seeking treatment for one arch only. Our maximum fee for adult orthodontics with ceramic, self ligating braces, is $8600, with less expensive options if your case is only of mild-moderate difficulty.
Insurance and Orthodontics
The first thing that needs to be determined is whether you have ORTHODONTIC coverage, and if coverage is in effect beyond age 19. Most plans cover between $1000 and $2000 maximum, which means that you will be reimbursed that amount by your insurance company. If your dental plan has a list of preferred, or "participating" doctors, then the fee for treatment with conventional metal braces is reduced in accordance with the particular plan. Dr. Goodman is not a listed provider on any insurance plans. With the vast majority of plans, treatment in our office will still entitle you to receive your orthodontic benefits, but plan doctors are mandated to charge less for metal braces treatment. However, please consider that many preferred providers are able to charge the same as providers not on the plan, if they use Invisalign, clear braces, or various other loopholes. Please be careful to determine a providing office's ENTIRE fee, including records, retainers, broken appointment fees, and appliance breakage fees.
Based on an initial examination, Dr. Goodman can provide you with the various treatment options, and estimates of cost and length of treatment. Dr. Goodman will spend the time necessary to answer all your questions. At your visit, we have set aside time to get started with taking records, including study casts, radiographs, and clinical photos. Follow up questions can be forwarded following the visit via e-mail.