{
  "slug": "braces-payment-plan",
  "title": "Braces Payment Plan Calculator",
  "heading": "Orthodontic Braces Payment Plan Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/braces-payment-plan",
  "summary": "Monthly payment for braces after insurance and down payment.",
  "description": "Most orthodontic offices offer an in-house payment plan rather than requiring the full cost upfront: a down payment followed by equal monthly installments over the treatment period, which typically runs 18-30 months. This calculator applies your orthodontic insurance benefit (many dental plans cap lifetime ortho coverage at a flat dollar amount like $1,000-$2,500 rather than a percentage) and any down payment, then spreads the remainder evenly across the treatment months.",
  "formula": "Amount financed = total cost − insurance benefit − down payment; monthly payment = amount financed ÷ treatment months.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=braces-payment-plan",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "totalCost",
      "label": "Total treatment cost quoted",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 5800,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "insuranceBenefit",
      "label": "Insurance lifetime ortho benefit",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1500,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "downPayment",
      "label": "Down payment",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 800,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "treatmentMonths",
      "label": "Treatment length",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 24,
      "unit": "months",
      "min": 6,
      "max": 48
    },
    {
      "id": "interestRate",
      "label": "Financing interest rate (0 if in-house)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 25
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "monthlyPayment",
      "label": "Monthly payment",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "financed",
      "label": "Amount financed",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "totalPaid",
      "label": "Total paid over treatment",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "totalInterest",
      "label": "Total interest (if financed)",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Total treatment cost quoted: 5800 $",
      "Insurance lifetime ortho benefit: 1500 $",
      "Down payment: 800 $",
      "Treatment length: 24 months",
      "Financing interest rate (0 if in-house): 0 %"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Monthly payment: $145.83",
      "Amount financed: $3,500",
      "Total paid over treatment: $4,300",
      "Total interest (if financed): $0"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter total treatment cost quoted ($).",
      "Enter insurance lifetime ortho benefit ($).",
      "Enter down payment ($).",
      "Enter treatment length (months).",
      "Enter financing interest rate (0 if in-house) (%).",
      "Read your monthly payment on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "totalCost": 3500,
        "insuranceBenefit": 900,
        "downPayment": 500,
        "treatmentMonths": 14,
        "interestRate": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "totalCost": 5800,
        "insuranceBenefit": 1500,
        "downPayment": 800,
        "treatmentMonths": 24,
        "interestRate": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "totalCost": 9300,
        "insuranceBenefit": 2400,
        "downPayment": 1300,
        "treatmentMonths": 38,
        "interestRate": 0
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How much do braces typically cost?",
      "a": "Traditional metal braces run about $3,000-$7,000 nationally, ceramic braces $4,000-$8,000, and Invisalign $3,500-$8,500, varying by region and case complexity. Most orthodontists quote a flat fee that includes all adjustment visits and retainers, not a per-visit charge."
    },
    {
      "q": "Why does dental insurance only cover a flat amount for ortho?",
      "a": "Orthodontic coverage is usually a separate rider from general dental, with a lifetime maximum benefit (commonly $1,000-$2,500) rather than a percentage of cost, because treatment spans years, not a single procedure. Confirm your plan's lifetime max and whether it applies per person or per family before treatment starts."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is 0% in-house financing actually free?",
      "a": "Usually yes if the orthodontist offers a true in-house payment plan — they're financing it themselves as a courtesy to get your business, not marking up the total cost to cover interest. Confirm the total treatment cost doesn't change whether you pay upfront or over time before assuming it's interest-free."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pediatric-copay-budget",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/family-grocery-budget"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Braces Payment Plan Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/braces-payment-plan)"
}