Quanto Costa Apparecchio ortodontico?
Braces are orthodontic devices used to correct misaligned teeth and jaw problems. Traditional metal braces use brackets and wires to gradually move teeth into proper position over 12 to 36 months.
Senza Assicurazione
$5,500
Con Assicurazione
$2,000
Medicare
$0
Media Nazionale
$4,500
By Elena Bellini, MPH, Health Policy & Management · Last reviewed 2026-04-21 ·
Sources: American Dental Association Survey of Dental Fees 2025 · Methodology · Editorial standards Panoramica
Orthodontic braces are fixed appliances — brackets bonded to the teeth connected by archwires — that gradually move teeth into better alignment and correct bite problems. Full treatment for an adolescent or adult typically runs 18 to 30 months with monthly adjustment visits. Cost is almost always quoted as a flat comprehensive fee that bundles the diagnostic records, appliance placement, all monthly adjustments, and retainers at the end. Options include traditional metal braces (least expensive), ceramic (tooth-colored) brackets, lingual braces placed behind the teeth (costliest), and clear aligners like Invisalign, which are increasingly priced similarly to conventional braces. Severity matters — mild crowding is cheaper than a significant bite correction, and two-phase treatment that starts in childhood costs more than single-phase treatment in the teen or adult years. Orthodontic insurance benefits, where available, are usually a lifetime maximum (one-time cap) rather than annual.
Cosa influenza il costo
- Appliance type: traditional metal braces are cheapest; ceramic, self-ligating, lingual, and clear-aligner systems price progressively higher.
- Case complexity: mild crowding costs much less than severe crowding, open bite, deep bite, or skeletal malocclusion that requires extractions or surgery.
- Treatment duration: longer cases (24+ months) typically cost more because more adjustments and wire changes are included.
- Two-phase treatment: starting in early childhood with interceptive treatment and finishing in adolescence costs more than a single phase.
- Provider type: orthodontist (specialist) fees are often higher than general-dentist orthodontic fees, but outcomes on complex cases differ.
- Retainers and long-term follow-up: fixed and removable retainers after treatment, plus retainer replacements, add to the lifetime cost.
Come Risparmiare
- Ask for a full written treatment plan with the total bundled fee, payment terms, and what is and isn't included before starting.
- Consider an orthodontic residency program at a dental school — supervised residents provide braces at substantially lower fees.
- Compare quotes from two or three orthodontists; fees for similar cases can vary 20-40% in the same metro area.
- Use orthodontic insurance benefits first, then pay the remaining balance with HSA or FSA pre-tax dollars.
- Ask about interest-free in-office payment plans, which are common and often better than third-party financing.
- If treatment can be deferred safely, plan to start in a calendar year when orthodontic benefits reset or coverage begins.
Note su assicurazione e copertura
Adult orthodontic coverage is uncommon in commercial dental plans, though many employer plans include a pediatric orthodontic benefit. Where coverage exists, it is typically 50% of the fee up to a lifetime orthodontic maximum (often $1,500-$3,000), not an annual maximum. Medicaid covers orthodontic care for children only in cases of medically necessary severe malocclusion, with state-level rules. Original Medicare does not cover orthodontics. Many families finance braces through the orthodontist's in-office payment plan, which is usually interest-free over the treatment period. HSA and FSA dollars can be used for orthodontic care.
Data sources for this page
Cost figures on this page are compiled from the following sources, triangulated per the rules in our methodology:
- American Dental Association Survey of Dental Fees 2025 — primary CMS reference used as the Medicare-rate anchor.
- Hospital Price Transparency machine-readable files (HPT MRFs) from a sample of major hospitals in each state, per the federal Hospital Price Transparency rule.
- Transparency in Coverage payer in-network rate files for commercial-rate cross-validation.
- State All-Payer Claims Database (APCD) summaries where published (Colorado, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Maine, Utah, Vermont, Rhode Island, Washington, Oregon).
Last reviewed 2026-04-21. See editorial standards for our fact-checking process and correction policy.
Range: $3,960 to $7,590 · 50 states shown
Costo per Stato
| Stato | Senza Assicurazione | Con Assicurazione | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $3,960 | $1,440 | $0 |
| Arkansas | $4,125 | $1,500 | $0 |
| West Virginia | $4,125 | $1,500 | $0 |
| Alabama | $4,290 | $1,560 | $0 |
| Oklahoma | $4,290 | $1,560 | $0 |
| Kentucky | $4,675 | $1,700 | $0 |
| Louisiana | $4,730 | $1,720 | $0 |
| Iowa | $4,840 | $1,760 | $0 |
| New Mexico | $4,840 | $1,760 | $0 |
| South Carolina | $4,840 | $1,760 | $0 |
| South Dakota | $4,840 | $1,760 | $0 |
| Kansas | $4,895 | $1,780 | $0 |
| North Dakota | $4,895 | $1,780 | $0 |
| Idaho | $4,950 | $1,800 | $0 |
| Nebraska | $4,950 | $1,800 | $0 |
| Tennessee | $4,950 | $1,800 | $0 |
| Indiana | $5,115 | $1,860 | $0 |
| Missouri | $5,115 | $1,860 | $0 |
| Utah | $5,115 | $1,860 | $0 |
| Wyoming | $5,115 | $1,860 | $0 |
| Georgia | $5,170 | $1,880 | $0 |
| North Carolina | $5,170 | $1,880 | $0 |
| Michigan | $5,225 | $1,900 | $0 |
| Montana | $5,225 | $1,900 | $0 |
| Arizona | $5,390 | $1,960 | $0 |
| Ohio | $5,390 | $1,960 | $0 |
| Wisconsin | $5,390 | $1,960 | $0 |
| Maine | $5,445 | $1,980 | $0 |
| Texas | $5,445 | $1,980 | $0 |
| Florida | $5,555 | $2,020 | $0 |
| Minnesota | $5,555 | $2,020 | $0 |
| Illinois | $5,665 | $2,060 | $0 |
| Pennsylvania | $5,665 | $2,060 | $0 |
| Delaware | $5,720 | $2,080 | $0 |
| Nevada | $5,720 | $2,080 | $0 |
| Vermont | $5,720 | $2,080 | $0 |
| Virginia | $5,720 | $2,080 | $0 |
| Colorado | $5,830 | $2,120 | $0 |
| New Hampshire | $5,830 | $2,120 | $0 |
| Oregon | $5,830 | $2,120 | $0 |
| Maryland | $6,050 | $2,200 | $0 |
| Rhode Island | $6,105 | $2,220 | $0 |
| Washington | $6,105 | $2,220 | $0 |
| Connecticut | $6,600 | $2,400 | $0 |
| New Jersey | $6,600 | $2,400 | $0 |
| California | $7,260 | $2,640 | $0 |
| Massachusetts | $7,315 | $2,660 | $0 |
| Alaska | $7,425 | $2,700 | $0 |
| New York | $7,425 | $2,700 | $0 |
| Hawaii | $7,590 | $2,760 | $0 |
Domande Frequenti
Quanto costa apparecchio ortodontico senza assicurazione?
Il costo medio di apparecchio ortodontico senza assicurazione negli Stati Uniti è $5,500. I costi variano significativamente per stato.
L'assicurazione copre apparecchio ortodontico?
La maggior parte dei piani assicurativi sanitari copre apparecchio ortodontico quando medicalmente necessario. Con assicurazione, il costo medio a carico del paziente è $2,000.
Medicare copre apparecchio ortodontico?
Medicare Parte B copre generalmente apparecchio ortodontico su prescrizione medica. L'importo medio approvato da Medicare è $0.
Revisionato da Elena Bellini · Ultima revisione: 2026-04-21
Dati provenienti da American Dental Association Survey of Dental Fees 2025. Ultimo aggiornamento: 2026-03-01. Queste informazioni sono solo a scopo educativo e non costituiscono consulenza medica. Questo sito web è solo a scopo informativo e non costituisce consulenza medica. Consultare sempre un professionista sanitario qualificato.