What Grants for Braces are Available
Grants for braces help cover the cost of complex medical procedures that improve smiles while boosting oral and overall health.
According to the American Dental Association, the costs of braces tend to range from $3,000 to $7,000 for both children and adults, with no consistent price difference based on age.
Orthodontic care is not classified strictly as a medical procedure but as a dental procedure where the cost of braces varies for several reasons.
Several braces treatments, including different types of braces, affect the associated costs. Also, costs vary depending on the treatment provider and the region.
The cost of braces is rarely totally free as it requires appliances, specialized technology, and expert orthodontists and staff. It makes orthodontic care costly.
However, grants for braces make it possible to get braces covered, thereby avoiding related expenses.
Grants for Braces – Achieve Better Oral Health
Braces improve the patient’s physical orofacial appearance. Problems like crowded or crooked teeth, incorrect jaw position, overbites, under-bites, and disorders of the jaw joints can be corrected through orthodontic treatment.
When is the Right Time For Braces?
Patients suffering from orthodontic issues can benefit from treatment at any age.
However, the ideal time for braces to be placed is generally around the ages of 10 to 14. While the mouth and head are growing, teeth are more conducive to straightening.
Before getting the braces applied, parents should discuss the matter with their children.
These adjustments in facial appearance can be significant to a child. Also, braces are not just for kids; they can be worn and used by adults to correct certain problems and enhance their smiles.
Kind of Braces
In most cases, dentists suggest the kind of appliance that must be used for a particular problem. However, the patient often has a choice when it comes to braces.
Braces typically come in various types, including metal brackets, ceramic brackets, lingual braces (placed behind the teeth), and clear aligners. These are most popular as they are bonded to teeth and are less noticeable.
The period required for wearing the braces depends on a treatment plan. The treatment period usually extends with age or the situation’s complexity, including spacing and or bite problems.
Most patients wear full braces for 18 to 30 months, followed by the retainer for a few months to up to two years. Retainers are worn to align tissues surrounding straightened teeth.
Grants for Braces – Government Funding
While the federal government does not directly fund braces, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) may cover them for children under 21 if they are deemed medically necessary.
However, financial assistance is offered to state institutions, universities, individuals with personal needs, and non-profits. These grants are available at Grant.Gov.
To utilize these grants to pay for braces, patients can search for opportunities and awards at local universities, agencies, or organizations.
They can offer great financial assistance when they have been awarded dental care funding.
1. Medicaid
It isn’t easy to get regular braces with Medicaid. However, a typical braces program can bear a high cost, offering the best financial assistance.
Medicaid coverage for orthodontics involves various eligibility factors, primarily medical necessity. Braces and dental treatments are not covered for cosmetic purposes; however, they are acceptable when they help with medical needs.
Medicaid coverage for orthodontic services, including braces, varies by state and requires the orthodontic treatment to be medically necessary for coverage. Low-income families qualify for free braces from Medicaid, where inclusion in the program depends on income and federal poverty levels.
2. CHIP Grants
CHIP coverage, including for orthodontic services like braces but usually requires the treatment to be considered medically necessary. Chip grants offer mandatory dental benefits that sometimes include dental correction services.
However, it is vital to check with the state requirements as the eligibility varies from state to state. Therefore, explore the state’s requirements and apply accordingly.
3. Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program
The Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program is a Medicaid benefit that requires states to provide comprehensive and preventive healthcare services for children under 21 who are enrolled in Medicaid. It ensures grants for medical and dental care to children who do not have access to affordable health care otherwise.
The program operates on federal and state-based grants; therefore, orthodontic services are provided at no cost. To cover the cost of the braces, patients must be experiencing health-related complications.
Interested participants must apply directly through their local US Department of Health and Human Services and check for the qualification requirements.
Grants for Braces – Other Options To Consider
Grants for Braces – Other Options To Consider
Grants for braces are quite helpful when it becomes difficult for families to pay for orthodontic braces. Even if a patient does not qualify for free or discounted braces, various options make braces more affordable.
4. Seton Hill University Orthodontic Clinic
The Seton Hill University Orthodontic Clinic may offer reduced-cost services to individuals based on need, funded through various sources, including donations, university support, and possibly grants, to provide affordable orthodontic care.
The participating and qualified patients receive reduced-cost braces, including routine adjustments, follow-up appointments, and the placements of retainers.
For more information, visit https://www.setonhill.edu/
5. Smiles Change Lives
Smiles Change Lives is a non-profit organization that provides access to orthodontic treatment for children from families that cannot afford the full cost of braces, funded through private donations and partnerships with orthodontists. It provides orthodontic treatment to low-income children between the ages of 11 and 18.
To qualify for funding, applicants must have a combined household income below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
Also, the recipient should be willing to contribute $650 toward the cost of treatment.
For more information, visit https://smileschangelives.org
Medicaid and Medicare Coverage for Orthodontic Braces
Medicare Coverage for Dental Braces
Medicare generally does not cover dental care or braces unless they are part of a covered procedure related to certain health conditions or treatments.
However, Medicare may cover the cost if a restorative, orthodontic procedure is considered medically necessary, such as after an accident or due to a disease. This benefit falls under Original Medicare.
For more details on Medicare’s coverage for orthodontic procedures, consider visiting the official website at www.medicare.gov.
Medicaid Coverage for Dental Braces
Medicaid covers braces for children and some adults when medically necessary, with coverage criteria varying by state and including conditions like severe malocclusions and jaw problems. Adult coverage is rare and typically for conditions resulting from trauma or affecting oral functions, while aesthetic purposes and treatments like Invisalign are generally not covered. For a detailed exploration of Medicaid’s orthodontic coverage and how to navigate the system, read more in our comprehensive Does Medicaid Cover Braces article.
Conclusion
Braces are worn to straighten teeth, fix bites and improve smiles. They are most often used during adolescence; however, more adults are getting corrective dental braces.
Technology offers choices where the popularity of braces is growing and showing no signs of slowing down.
Treatments and costs vary for everyone; however, grants for braces offer an opportunity to get treatment quickly and effectively.
Find the best suitable option and keep your teeth healthier and more attractive.
Dental Grants by State
See Also
How Much Do Braces Cost Without Insurance?
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