What changes the price of braces?
Length of treatment
More complex bites take longer and cost more.
Raises the price
Type of braces
Ceramic or lingual braces usually cost more than metal.
Raises the price
Retainers
Retainers after treatment may or may not be in the fee.
Raises the price
What happens during braces?
- 1
An orthodontic exam, X-rays and photos.
- 2
Brackets are bonded to the teeth and the wire is placed.
- 3
Regular visits to adjust the wires over many months.
- 4
Braces come off and a retainer holds the result.
How does braces compare with related work?
The same scale, from zero, for braces and the work it is most often weighed against. Tap a name for that cost page.
- Braces$5,000 to $8,500
- Invisalign$3,000 to $9,500
- Veneers$800 to $2,500
- Dental exam$60 to $600
Typical national range, no insurancePiedmont Dental's published fee
What do national sources publish for braces?
Each figure was read on the source's own website. The range runs from the lowest stated national average up to the highest national figure national. Tap a name to read it yourself.
| Source | Published figure | Used for | What it says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authority Dental1 | Average $5,350; range $1,800 to $8,500 | High end | "Metal $5,350 $1,800-$8,500" Updated January 24, 2026. |
| NewMouth2 | $2,500 to $6,000 | Inside the range | "Traditional braces typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000." Updated September 10, 2026. |
| NewMouth3 | Average $5,000 to $6,000 | Low end | "the average braces cost is around $5,000 to $6,000." Updated April 29, 2026. |
| Dentaly.org4 | $2,500 to $7,500 | Inside the range | "The average cost of braces per month without insurance is from $2,500 to $7,500 for traditional metal braces." Updated: 02/07/2026. |
Who does braces near Rock Hill?
Piedmont Dental, the pricing partner of this calculator, does not do braces. It diagnoses the need for it and refers patients to an orthodontist, who sets the fee. The national range above is the guide until you have that specialist's written price. If you are not sure you need braces, Piedmont Dental's front desk can set up a visit to find out.
Does insurance change the cost of braces?
Every figure on this page is the cost without insurance. A dental plan usually pays part of braces; how much depends on the plan, the yearly maximum and any waiting period, so ask the office to check your benefits before treatment starts.
What these numbers do and do not includeEach fee is for one procedure on one tooth, not the whole visit. An exam comes first, and whatever the tooth needs after that, a filling, an extraction, a crown, is its own line. The fee can also move with what the dentist finds once they are looking at the tooth: a cavity that looked small on the x-ray can need a bigger filling, and an extraction that looked simple can turn surgical. Treat this as a starting point. The exact number for your visit is confirmed before any treatment starts.
Can you pay for braces over time?
Many offices take payment plans or financing such as CareCredit, a medical credit card; terms vary, so read them before you sign. Piedmont Dental lists cash, check, all major credit cards and CareCredit on its payment options page, and says it has no in-house membership plan. Ask the office for one written price for braces before you choose how to pay.
Braces cost in Rock Hill, SC
No Rock Hill office publishes a fee for braces with this site, so the national range of $5,000 to $8,500 is the guide. Piedmont Dental on 1562 Constitution Blvd #101 does not do this work; it checks whether you need it and refers patients to an orthodontist.
Braces cost in Charlotte, NC
Charlotte has no separate cited figure, so the national range of $5,000 to $8,500 applies there too. The nearest office that publishes exact fees with this calculator is Piedmont Dental in Rock Hill, SC, about 22 miles from uptown Charlotte in a straight line.
Common questions about braces cost
What is the average monthly cost of braces?
We hold no cited monthly figure. Full treatment with metal braces typically costs $5,000 to $8,500 without insurance in 2026, and many offices spread that over the treatment.
What is the cheapest cost of braces?
The low end of the cited range is the lowest stated national average, not a floor. Metal braces typically cost $5,000 to $8,500 without insurance in 2026.
Will insurance cover braces?
Some dental plans include orthodontic coverage, often with a lifetime limit and often for children only. Ask your plan and the office to check before you start.
Related procedures
Sources
- Authority Dental, national: Average $5,350; range $1,800 to $8,500. "Metal $5,350 $1,800-$8,500" Page: Updated January 24, 2026. Read Nov 13, 2026.
- NewMouth, national: $2,500 to $6,000. "Traditional braces typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000." Page: Updated September 10, 2026. Read Nov 13, 2026.
- NewMouth, national: Average $5,000 to $6,000. "the average braces cost is around $5,000 to $6,000." Page: Updated April 29, 2026. Read Nov 13, 2026.
- Dentaly.org, national: $2,500 to $7,500. "The average cost of braces per month without insurance is from $2,500 to $7,500 for traditional metal braces." Page: Updated: 02/07/2026. Read Nov 13, 2026.
Ranges updated Nov 13, 2026. How we build ranges.