Apr 23, 2009 7:05 pm US/Eastern
Finding Dental Care At A Discount
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
A smile full of hardware, it's a right of passage for teenagers.
20 or 30 years ago, braces were reserved for the affluent, but now it seems they are the rule rather than the exception.
But in these tough times, a lot of families are being forced to re-think that investment.
But that's not the case for Elise Cimino of Burlington.
She got her braces for close to half price.
On a recent Friday afternoon, Elise nervously walked into
Tufts Boston Campus to get her braces off.
"Just remember, they are coming off. It's a good day," said Dr. Emlie Troupe, the resident who saw Elise throughout her treatment.
It was a good day for the fifth grader because she could finally eat candy and chew gum again.
For her mother, it was a good day because those braces didn't break the bank.
"I saved at least $2,000 each time," she said.
Elise's brother also got his braces at Tufts.
Getting braces at a private practice can cost $6,000 or more.
At Tufts, the same treatment averages about $3,800.
It's a discount that pays off for the school.
Students like Dr. Troupe, who are training to be orthodontists, get hands on experience with real patients.
"We offer probably the best care you can get," explained Dr. Barry Briss who runs the program at Tufts.
Briss said the trainees are already dentists who graduated at the top of their class and they are closely supervised.
"Not only is the child assigned to a resident doctor, but they are also assigned to an individual faculty member," he said.
Dr. Troupe, who graduates this month, believes getting braces at Tufts is actually an advantage.
"There are so many different pairs of eyes looking at your children's teeth," she said.
Michele Cimino knew Elise's smile would be perfect because the care her son got at Tufts was great.
"Wow, they look beautiful," she said when she first saw Elise without all that familiar wiring.
Dr. Briss says Tufts always has room for new patients and the school offers other dental treatments including fillings crowns and even free checkups for kids.
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