Know before you go!
Dr. Bronson's practice offers ALF - advanced lightwire functionals for shaping the palate in young children. I had hoped we would be able to do this for our son, but admittedly was having a hard time finding out a lot about it on the internet, particularly in regards to cost.
That said, I was relieved when Dr. Bronson answered the phone when I first called. I believe he does have a genuine and deep understanding of the cause of mouth and jaw dysfunction and really seemed to want to help. He was up front about charging for the consultation, but said that the charge could be applied toward treatment if we were to go forward with it. In light of the fact that we are eager for my son to begin treatment, and honestly there aren't many people around here with the same training as Dr. Bronson, we signed up for the consultation.
The consultation was simple, he examined my son, took a few pictures, and asked many questions about my son's habits and overall health. He advised us that he would come up with a treatment plan and email it within a couple of days, which he did.
Boy, was I ever shocked when I looked at the costs! I was prepared to spend more than we would going to a traditional orthodontist and just getting a palate expander, but nothing prepared me for the five-figure estimate totalling roughly $9,500 to $11,000 for phase 1 of treatment, not including additional therapies that would be required. Our family cannot absorb that, no matter how we cut/slashed/prioritized. I did send an email back explaining that we couldn't go forward, but asked questions about alternatives or the possibility of doing some of the therapy. I've called the office, and the receptionist told me she'd check in. That was nearly two weeks ago. So far, no response.
I feel incredibly stupid. I don't know why I didn't just try to get a ballpark over the phone, or if I would've gotten one if I'd asked. So now I'm out $225 and no closer to a treatment. It's my dumb fault, but I just wish I'd known. read more