Why do I have to wait 6-8 weeks to get approved or denied for braces?

Question

I went to my local ortho office to get checked for braces, all they did was take a few pictures and put mirrors in my mouth to take more pictures. Also X-Rays, all in all it was a 30- 45 minute process, leaving the office we were told it was a 6-8 week long wait before I get the letter stating wether I have been approved or denied. Why do I have to wait so long?

Brenton Glassell, DDS · Answer

There could be a wait for approval of treatment depending on what insurance you have. For private insurance, sometimes a Prior Authorization (PA) must be submitted before any dental/ortho work can be initiated, and that process can take weeks. For state sponsored plans, especially ortho, a state consultant must approve the case before any ortho treatment can be started. In many states, these consultants are back up due to the high volume of submitted ortho cases. I know that most states have around a 2 month wait period to hear back from the consultant. If you do not have insurance, or if you think there may be another issue, I would call the ortho office to get clarification on the wait period. Hope this helps!

Vicki Borowski, DDS · Answer

It sounds as if you are on some sort of insurance plan that dictates who gets braces. If you are paying cash for your braces there is no acceptance or denial process. I would guess your insurance is the problem.

Why do I have to wait 6-8 weeks to get approved or denied for braces?

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Why do I have to wait 6-8 weeks to get approved or denied for braces?

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Everything you need to know about Braces

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.