Child and Teen Braces Cost in 2026: Ages 7-18 Price Guide

Phase 1 vs Phase 2: What the Orthodontist Is Recommending

Phase 1 (also called early interceptive treatment) is recommended for children aged 7-10 when there are skeletal issues - jaw width discrepancies, significant bite problems, or severe crowding that will worsen if left untreated until all adult teeth come in. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an initial orthodontic examination by age 7, not because treatment is needed at 7, but to identify issues that benefit from early intervention.

Phase 1 treatment typically involves expanders (devices that widen the upper jaw), partial braces on the front teeth to address early crowding, or space maintainers to hold space for adult teeth after early loss of baby teeth. Phase 1 does not eliminate the need for Phase 2 comprehensive treatment later - most Phase 1 patients still require full braces at 11-14. The benefit is that Phase 2 treatment is simpler, shorter, and sometimes less costly because Phase 1 addressed the structural issue.

When to push back on a Phase 1 recommendation: Not every orthodontist who recommends Phase 1 is recommending it appropriately. The AAO's own guidelines note that Phase 1 is indicated for specific skeletal discrepancies, not for simple crowding or spacing issues that can wait until adolescence. If an orthodontist recommends Phase 1 for your 8-year-old without a clear explanation of what skeletal issue requires early intervention, get a second opinion. Many cases that practitioners market as Phase 1 candidates do just as well waiting until Phase 2.

Combined Phase 1 and Phase 2 discounts: if an orthodontist performs Phase 1 on your child, ask upfront what credit they apply toward Phase 2 treatment. Many practices offer Phase 1 patients a $500-$1,500 credit toward Phase 2, reducing the total combined cost.

Medicaid and CHIP Coverage for Children

Medicaid covers orthodontic treatment for children under 21 when it is medically necessary - defined through clinical assessment as cases where orthodontic treatment addresses a functional deficit rather than cosmetic concern. CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) extends similar coverage in most states for children in families above the Medicaid income threshold but below the CHIP cut-off.

Medical necessity is assessed using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) or a state-equivalent scoring system. Cases scoring at or above the threshold qualify for covered treatment. Simple cosmetic crowding typically does not qualify; severe crowding affecting chewing function, cleft palate, significant underbite or crossbite impairing function, and certain skeletal discrepancies do qualify.

The practical path: if your child is on Medicaid or CHIP and has significant orthodontic needs, request a referral to an orthodontist who accepts Medicaid patients and ask them to document the case's IOTN score. If the case qualifies, treatment is covered at no cost to the family. This is a significant benefit - a $5,000-$7,000 treatment covered entirely for qualifying families. See the full insurance coverage guide for state-by-state Medicaid orthodontic details.

Employer Dental Plan Coverage for Children

Most employer dental plans with an orthodontic rider cover children under 19 at $1,000-$3,000 lifetime maximum. This is a lifetime maximum, not annual - it is paid once per patient over their lifetime under that insurer, regardless of how many policies they hold over time.

Timing note: if your child is 18 and about to age out of the under-19 coverage tier, start treatment before their 19th birthday. Once treatment has begun, most plans continue coverage to the end of active treatment even if the patient ages out during treatment. But new coverage cannot begin after the age cut-off.

Payment Plans for Parents

Most orthodontists offer 0% interest in-house payment plans for 18-24 months with $0-$1,500 down. A $6,000 treatment with $1,000 down and 18-month term = $277/month. A $5,000 treatment with $0 down and 24-month term = $208/month.

Sibling discounts are common (10-15% off for a second child in treatment simultaneously) and are rarely advertised - ask directly. Referral discounts from existing patients ($100-$500) are also common. For families with multiple children needing treatment, asking about combined pricing upfront can meaningfully reduce total cost.