How tf did I pay for braces?

I feel like sharing my Smile Journey would be incomplete without talking about something very unglamorous but very real: How the hell am I paying for all of this? 😂 Price was one of the biggest barriers—alongside my fear of the dentist—that kept me from pursuing braces until I was 34.

And there's an astrological irony in that which isn't lost on me. In traditional medical astrology, the teeth, bones and skeletal structure are associated with Saturn and Capricorn—themes of structure, time, limitation, maturity and things that develop slowly. Meanwhile, the 2nd house speaks to our material resources, money, possessions, values and sense of self-worth. (I also happen to have Saturn in the second house) So here I am, in my thirties, finally investing significant resources into restructuring something Saturnian that I couldn't afford to address when I was younger. Very on brand, Saturn. 😂

But underneath the cosmic symbolism is a much more ordinary truth. I couldn't afford braces. I want to be 100% transparent about that. I spent about ten years as an entrepreneur throughout my twenties and early thirties. And although I was able to sustain myself during that time, I never had the financial resources—or insurance coverage—to comfortably pursue regular dental let alone orthodontic care here in the United States.

It wasn't until I transitioned into a full-time job with good benefits that this kind of care finally became accessible to me. And I think that's worth saying publicly. Sometimes we talk about finally “investing in ourselves” as though access is purely a matter of deciding that we're worthy. Sometimes it isn't. Sometimes you know you're worthy and simply don't have the money. Having access to better insurance materially changed what was possible for me.

And while I'm deeply grateful for that, I don't want someone reading my Smile Journey without dental insurance to walk away believing that good dental care is completely inaccessible to them. So I did a little research.

If I didn't have dental insurance, here's where I'd start

1. Federally funded community health centers. HRSA-funded health centers provide dental care regardless of whether you have insurance, and fees can be adjusted based on income and family size. Find a HRSA health center near you

2. Dental schools and teaching clinics. I've gone to a few when I didn't have insurance. Especially for things like fillings and cleanings. I would search for accredited dental schools and dental-hygiene programs in my area and ask whether they operate patient clinics. Care in teaching environments is supervised, and these programs can sometimes provide lower-cost options. The ADA maintains information for locating accredited dental programs. Search accredited dental programs through the ADA/CODA

3. Medicaid or CHIP, if you're eligible.Dental benefits for adults on Medicaid vary by state, so I would specifically investigate what's available where I live. For children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, dental coverage is required. Learn about Medicaid dental benefits

4. Ask dental offices directly about payment options. I would ask about cash/self-pay rates, payment plans, financing and any in-house membership or discount programs. The ADA also has a resource specifically devoted to finding reduced-cost dental care and understanding payment options. Explore the ADA's dental-cost resources

And don't stop at national resources. Search locally for community clinics, nonprofit dental programs, county health departments and dental-school clinics in your own city and state. What's available can vary dramatically depending on where you live. One important distinction: these resources may help with general dental care, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll cover elective adult orthodontics like braces. I would always ask the individual program what services it offers and what you qualify for.

And then there's dental tourism...

I'm also no stranger to medical tourism. I've been doing extensive research into receiving dental work in different countries—and there is a LOT I want to talk about here: cost differences, choosing providers, what procedures may make sense abroad, what happens if something goes wrong after you return home, and when the cheaper option might not actually be the better option. That's getting its own conversation. 😂 And I'm going to be sharing what I learn directly with my Smile Journey subscribers.

💌 Come along for the Smile Journey

If you haven't joined my Smile Journey email series yet, now is a good time.

I'm documenting the parts of adult orthodontics that don't fit neatly into a before-and-after photo: money, fear, beauty, changing facial features, confidence, dental tourism, identity—and yes, even my psychedelic experiences at the dentist. 😂

[JOIN THE SMILE JOURNEY →] I've got some very interesting stories coming.

What getting braces has taught me about “self-investment”

There's a phrase we hear constantly: Invest in yourself. And yes, I believe in that. But this experience has made me think differently about what that phrase means. I didn't suddenly become more worthy of having the smile I wanted at 34. My access changed. My employment changed. My insurance changed. My resources changed. And once those things changed, I was finally able to make a decision I'd wanted to make for years.

Maybe that's another 2nd-house lesson. Our relationship with self-worth matters. But self-worth and material resources are not interchangeable. You can believe deeply that you deserve care and still encounter systems that make accessing that care difficult. So if you're reading this at 25, 35, 45 or 65 and there's something you've wanted to do for your smile but haven't been able to afford yet, I hope my story doesn't make you feel behind. My Smile Journey didn't begin when it was aesthetically ideal. It began when access, courage and opportunity finally met each other in the same place. And I'm really glad I started. ❤️

Sending love,

Mariya