Help Paying for Braces in Palm Beach County | Murray Orthodontics

Every kid deserves to smile without thinking twice about it. We’ve watched that confidence light up thousands of young patients over the years, and we’ve also sat across from the parents who want the very same thing for their child but lie awake wondering how they’ll ever pay for it. If that’s the spot you’re in, keep reading. There are more options than you’d think.

Murray Orthodontics has cared for Palm Beach County families since 1991. To us, caring for this community means more than straightening teeth for the families who can easily afford it. It means finding a way for the kids who need the help most. That’s a big part of why Dr. Murray joined Smiles Change Lives.

A program built for kids who would otherwise go without

Smiles Change Lives is a national nonprofit that exists to help children who couldn’t otherwise afford treatment get the care they need to smile with confidence. It connects those kids with orthodontists who are ready to treat them. According to the organization, close to 750 orthodontists take part across the United States and Canada, and more than 20,000 children have received treatment since the program began in 1997.

And the need is everywhere. Smiles Change Lives estimates that roughly one in five American children live with moderate to severe bite and alignment problems. For a lot of these kids, it goes well beyond crooked teeth. It can make chewing or speaking hard, cause real discomfort, or turn into something they get teased about at school. If your child’s bite sounds like one of these, we treat concerns like underbites, crossbites, and open bites every day. And when money’s already tight, braces can feel like something a family just can’t reach.

Dr. Murray became a Smiles Change Lives provider in Palm Beach County so that more of these kids can get the same care any other patient in our chairs would. You can find his listing in the Smiles Change Lives provider directory.

How Smiles Change Lives works

The way it works is pretty wonderful. Families apply directly through Smiles Change Lives, which takes care of all the screening and matches each approved child with a participating orthodontist. It isn’t completely free. Each family pays a set fee to the organization, which helps cover its operating costs rather than the cost of treatment itself. So in a very real way, every family who takes part helps the family coming up behind them.

Because Smiles Change Lives handles the application and decides who qualifies, the best place to start is with them. As a general guide, the program looks for kids who:

• Are between the ages of 10 and 18
• Aren’t currently wearing braces
• Have good dental hygiene and no untreated cavities
• Meet the program’s financial guidelines

If that sounds like it could be your family, you can learn more and start an application at smileschangelives.org/apply. Once a child is approved and matched with our practice, they get the same exam, the same treatment, and the same warm welcome as every other Murray Orthodontics patient.

Not sure whether your child qualifies? That’s okay. Come in for a free consultation and we’ll help you sort through every option, Smiles Change Lives or otherwise.

Other ways we help Palm Beach County families afford treatment

Smiles Change Lives is one path, and it’s there for the kids who qualify. But cost weighs on just about every parent, whatever their situation. We see it with families from Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, Jupiter, Wellington, Westlake, Greenacres, and all over Palm Beach County, so here’s how we try to make orthodontics doable for everyone who comes through our doors.

Your first visit is a free consultation. You’ll sit down with Dr. Murray for a full exam, leave with a clear treatment plan, and get a complete financial breakdown before anything starts. No guesswork, and no surprise bill waiting for you later.

From there, we stay flexible. We take most Florida insurance plans and check your benefits before you even arrive. For whatever’s left, our in-office payment plans are always interest free, so you can spread it out over monthly payments that actually fit your life, with a smaller amount down. You can read more about flexible payments and what makes the practice different, or see how we care for children, teens, and adults of every age.

So whether your child qualifies for Smiles Change Lives or you’re just looking for a plan that works for your budget, come talk to us. We’ll sit down together and figure it out.

Frequently asked questions

How can families in Palm Beach County get help paying for braces?

There are a few good options. Murray Orthodontics offers free consultations, takes most Florida insurance plans, and provides interest-free in-office payment plans. And for qualifying kids whose families can’t cover the full cost, Dr. Murray is a provider for Smiles Change Lives, a nonprofit that helps cover orthodontic treatment.

How much do braces cost in Palm Beach County?

It depends on your child’s case, the type of braces, and your insurance. We don’t do surprise pricing, so your free consultation comes with a full treatment plan and a clear cost breakdown. You can also see typical ranges on our Palm Beach Gardens braces cost and Royal Palm Beach braces cost pages.

What is Smiles Change Lives?

Smiles Change Lives is a national nonprofit, founded in 1997, that connects kids who couldn’t otherwise afford care with orthodontists willing to treat them. The organization handles the screening and matching, and approved families pay a set fee that helps fund care for the next child in line.

Who qualifies for Smiles Change Lives?

The program generally serves kids ages 10 to 18 who aren’t already in braces, have good dental hygiene with no untreated cavities, and meet its financial guidelines. Smiles Change Lives reviews every application and makes the final call, so it’s best to apply through them directly.

Is treatment through Smiles Change Lives free?

Not entirely. Approved families pay a set fee to Smiles Change Lives, which goes toward the organization’s operating costs rather than the cost of treatment. That fee helps keep the program running for the families who come after.

Does Murray Orthodontics offer payment plans?

Yes. Our in-office payment plans are always interest free, with monthly payments that fit your budget and a smaller amount down. Every free consultation comes with a complete financial breakdown, so you’ll know your costs before treatment ever starts.

Does insurance cover braces?

Many plans help with orthodontic treatment, though how much varies plan to plan. We accept most Florida insurance plans and check your benefits before your first visit, then walk you through exactly what yours covers at your free consultation. Not sure what you have? Bring your details and we’ll sort it out together.

What if my child doesn’t qualify for Smiles Change Lives?

You’ve still got options. Smiles Change Lives has its own eligibility rules, and it’s only one of the ways we help. Most families use a mix of insurance and our interest-free in-office payment plans to make treatment work. A free consultation is the easiest way to see what fits your budget.

How do I apply for Smiles Change Lives?

Applications go straight through Smiles Change Lives at smileschangelives.org/apply. Once a child is approved and matched with our practice, they’re cared for just like any other patient at Murray Orthodontics.

We’re proud to be part of this

Joining Smiles Change Lives fits who we’ve always tried to be: a practice that knows its patients by name and treats this county like the home it is. We’ve met plenty of parents who figured treatment was simply out of reach, then found that between insurance, payment plans, and programs like this one, it was a lot more doable than they expected. So if you’ve got a child who could benefit, or you’re just trying to find a way to afford the care your family needs, please reach out. We’d love to help.