Braces are often more affordable than people expect — particularly when insurance, financing, and our in-house discount plan are combined into a payment strategy built around your real budget.
At Thrive Dental & Orthodontics, braces range from $3,500 to $6,000 across our six DFW locations in Allen, Frisco, Sachse, Richardson, Dallas, and North Dallas. Free consultations are available at all six locations — no commitment required.
We believe you should know exactly what braces cost and exactly how you’d pay for them before you commit to anything. That’s what the free consultation is for — not a sales pitch, just a clear breakdown of your specific case cost and every option available to reduce it.
Where your case falls within the $3,500–$6,000 range depends on a few key factors:
Case complexity. Minor crowding or spacing issues are on the lower end. Significant bite correction — overbites, underbites, crossbites — involving more precise tooth movement and longer treatment timelines are higher.
Treatment length. Most cases run 18–24 months. Shorter cases with fewer total adjustments trend lower. Longer cases with more visits and refinements are higher.
Type of braces. Metal braces are the most affordable option and fully effective across all case complexities. Clear ceramic braces use tooth-colored brackets for a more discreet appearance and cost slightly more due to materials.
What’s included. Your braces cost at Thrive covers the full treatment — consultation, records, placement, all adjustment visits throughout treatment, emergency visits for broken brackets or poking wires, and retainers after treatment. No hidden fees and no per-visit charges added on top of your treatment cost.
Most PPO dental insurance plans that include orthodontic coverage provide a lifetime orthodontic maximum — a fixed dollar amount per covered individual that applies once toward orthodontic treatment. For most plans this is $1,000–$2,500 per person. Applied against a $3,500–$6,000 treatment cost, insurance coverage alone can bring your out-of-pocket cost down to $2,000–$4,500 before financing.
Key details that affect how much your plan contributes:
Lifetime maximum. The total amount your plan pays toward orthodontic treatment for that covered individual — ever. It applies equally to braces and Invisalign, so choosing one doesn’t forfeit the benefit you’d get toward the other.
Age limits. Some plans restrict adult orthodontic benefits. Others cover treatment at any age. Our team verifies this specifically at your consultation.
Waiting periods. Some plans require 12 months of active coverage before orthodontic benefits activate. If you’ve recently enrolled, this can affect timing.
In-network vs. out-of-network. Whether your nearest Thrive location is in-network for your specific plan affects your reimbursement rate. Our team verifies this before your consultation.
Plans we commonly see: Delta Dental, Cigna, Aetna, Guardian, Humana, MetLife, and UnitedHealthcare. Visit our dental insurance page for the full carrier list. Our team verifies your specific benefits and explains exactly what your plan contributes before your free consultation — so you walk in knowing your real out-of-pocket number.
Keep your smile healthy with comprehensive exams, cleanings, and fillings for the whole family.
Straighten teeth with traditional braces or clear aligners customized to your lifestyle and budget.
Transform your smile with custom porcelain veneers designed to correct chips, gaps, and discoloration.
Get fast, compassionate care when you need it most — same-day appointments available for dental emergencies.
After insurance is applied, most patients finance the remaining balance through Cherry or CareCredit — healthcare financing platforms with quick approval and flexible monthly payment terms available at all six Thrive locations.
Cherry financing offers fast approval — many patients are approved within minutes — with flexible monthly payment options. You select the term that fits your budget rather than being locked into a single payment schedule.
CareCredit is one of the most widely used healthcare financing platforms available, with multiple plan options including promotional periods and extended monthly payment terms. If you already have a CareCredit account from another healthcare provider, the same account applies directly toward braces at any Thrive location.
A practical example: A $4,500 treatment cost with $1,500 in insurance benefits leaves $3,000 to finance. At 24 months on Cherry, that’s approximately $125/month. At 36 months, approximately $85/month. These are rough figures — your actual payment depends on the financing terms you qualify for, which our team walks through specifically at your free consultation.
FSA and HSA funds can also be applied toward the remaining balance — often further reducing what needs to be financed. Full details on our HSA and FSA for braces page.
Not having dental insurance doesn’t put braces out of reach. Many patients at our six Thrive locations — self-employed professionals, small business owners, freelancers, and patients between jobs — move forward with braces without traditional insurance coverage.
Our Healthy Smiles Discount Plan at $89/year for the primary member — $49/year for each additional family member — provides discounted rates on orthodontic treatment with no waiting periods, no annual maximums, no claim approvals, and no network restrictions. For families without dental insurance, it’s the most straightforward way to reduce overall treatment costs.
Cherry and CareCredit financing spread the full treatment cost into manageable monthly payments without requiring insurance. Our team builds a specific monthly payment figure for your case at your free consultation.
HSA and FSA funds — braces are generally an eligible expense under both account types. Pre-tax dollars reduce your real out-of-pocket cost meaningfully.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. Most children don’t start active treatment at 7 — the evaluation identifies whether developing issues exist and when the optimal time to intervene would be.
Active braces treatment for children and teens typically begins between ages 10 and 14 when most permanent teeth have erupted. The $3,500–$6,000 range applies equally to children and teens. Most PPO plans include a lifetime orthodontic maximum for dependent children — often $1,500–$2,500 — which combined with Cherry or CareCredit financing brings monthly payments well within reach for most families.
Invisalign Teen is also available at all six Thrive locations for motivated teens who prefer a removable, bracket-free option. Insurance orthodontic benefits apply equally to Invisalign Teen. Our children’s dentistry and orthodontic teams work together at our locations so your child’s general and orthodontic care is coordinated under one roof.
There is no age limit for braces. Adult braces across our six locations are more common than most people expect — from professionals in their 30s correcting teenage relapse to patients in their 50s and 60s addressing bite issues causing long-term wear.
Clear ceramic braces are the most popular choice for adults who want effective treatment with a more discreet appearance. Tooth-colored brackets that blend with natural enamel make treatment significantly less noticeable than metal braces from normal conversational distance.
Some PPO plans restrict adult orthodontic benefits — others cover treatment at any age. Our team verifies your specific adult orthodontic coverage at your free consultation. Cherry and CareCredit financing are available for the full treatment cost if insurance doesn’t apply.
Metal braces are the most affordable option — typically at the lower end of the $3,500–$6,000 range. Fully effective across all case complexities, durable, and now smaller and more comfortable than the braces of even 10–15 years ago. For patients primarily focused on cost and clinical effectiveness, metal braces are the right choice.
Clear ceramic braces use tooth-colored brackets that blend with natural enamel. They cost slightly more due to materials and provide identical clinical effectiveness to metal braces. For patients who want a more discreet appearance without the compliance requirements of Invisalign, ceramic braces are a strong middle-ground option.
Our orthodontic team gives you an honest recommendation at your free consultation based on your specific case and priorities — cost, aesthetics, and clinical complexity all factor in. We don’t default toward whichever option generates more revenue.
For most cases, braces and Invisalign are in a similar price range — with metal braces typically at the lower end and Invisalign comparable to clear ceramic braces for mild to moderate cases.
The honest comparison: braces are often slightly more affordable for complex cases requiring significant bite correction, where Invisalign’s limitations mean more refinements and longer treatment timelines. For mild to moderate cases, the two options are frequently within a few hundred dollars of each other.
Insurance orthodontic benefits apply equally to both. Cherry and CareCredit financing are available for both. The payment plan structure is identical regardless of which treatment you choose. Our orthodontic team gives you exact costs for both options at your free consultation so you can compare directly.
When patients ask how much braces cost, they’re often wondering what that number actually covers. At Thrive Dental & Orthodontics, your braces treatment cost includes:
There are no surprise fees after treatment begins. Your cost is locked in at the start of treatment and doesn’t change based on how many adjustments you need or how long treatment runs.
The best way to know your exact braces cost — and exactly how you’d pay for it — is a free consultation with our orthodontic team. No commitment required.
At your consultation we:
Book your free consultation at the Thrive location nearest to you:
Or contact us and we’ll help you find the right location and time.
Braces at our six DFW locations range from $3,500 to $6,000 depending on case complexity, treatment length, and type of braces selected. Your exact cost is determined at your free consultation — not a range, an exact number
Yes — Cherry and CareCredit financing both provide flexible monthly payment terms with quick approval. Most patients combine financing with dental insurance benefits and HSA/FSA funds to bring monthly payments to a comfortable level.
Most PPO plans with orthodontic coverage include a lifetime maximum — typically $1,000–$2,500 per covered individual — that applies toward braces treatment. Our team verifies your specific benefits before your free consultation.
Slightly — ceramic braces cost more due to materials but are within the same $3,500–$6,000 range. Both options and their exact costs are presented at your free consultation
The same $3,500–$6,000 range applies to adult braces. Some PPO plans cover adult orthodontic treatment — our team verifies your specific adult coverage at your consultation. Cherry and CareCredit financing are available for the full treatment cost.
Our Healthy Smiles Discount Plan at $89/year provides discounted rates on braces with no waiting periods or claim approvals. Combined with Cherry or CareCredit financing, most patients without insurance can still create an affordable monthly payment.
All adjustment visits, emergency visits for broken brackets or poking wires, records, treatment planning, and retainers after treatment. No per-visit fees and no surprise charges after treatment begins.
For most cases they’re in a similar range — metal braces are typically at the lower end, Invisalign is comparable to clear ceramic braces for mild to moderate cases. Our team gives you exact costs for both at your free consultation so you can compare directly.
A straighter smile is more affordable than most people expect. With Cherry and CareCredit financing, PPO insurance benefits, HSA and FSA funds, and our Healthy Smiles Discount Plan — there’s almost always a combination that makes braces work within your budget.
Contact us or book your free braces consultation at any of our six DFW locations today.
Conveniently located throughout the Dallas area to serve you better
Book your appointment today and experience the difference of premium dental care at an affordable price.
