By Tracey Sheetz Bartos, MBA
We love our kids and will do anything for them. And yet, the cost of raising a child is up nearly 40% from 10 years ago, according to the Department of Agriculture. For one-child single parent households, the Department reports that raising a child from ages 2-17 can cost from $9,710 to $11,440. As a single mother of two I feel the pressures of raising my children in these trying economic times. There are, however, some resources today that are designed to help parents like us feel some relief. As the director of graduate and adult studies at Seton Hill, I’ve become familiar with one such resource: the university’s Center for Orthodontics. My son is now one of their patients, and we are thrilled with the excellent service, friendly doctors and staff, and quality treatment that we have received.
The Center is associated with Seton Hill’s Orthodontics Program, which combines advanced instruction in biomedical and clinical sciences with teaching, research and clinical experiences to fully prepare residents to provide the best orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic care. Residents in the program – who are all licensed dentists working under the supervision of expert faculty orthodontists – serve the community by providing direct care to patients in the Center for Orthodontics. The Center provides affordable braces for patients of all ages. All Medical Assistance patients are welcome and the Center accepts all insurance plans.
The Center, which was designed to provide the best in modern technology for both learning and patient care, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. All types of orthodontic treatments and appliances are available, including “clear” braces, self-ligating brackets, and invisible removable aligners. Patients of all ages are carefully screened prior to comprehensive orthodontic care. The Center provides free screenings, and at your complimentary initial visit a course of treatment will be determined along with an estimate of the treatment costs. If you decide you would like to move forward, the Center can take the required X-rays and make an appointment to proceed with your orthodontic care.
Located right off Route 30 in Greensburg, Seton Hill University’s Center for Orthodontics provides the highest standard of treatment and an enjoyable experience in a warm and caring environment. They understand that we are busy and our kids are involved in sports and other extracurricular activities and accommodate us by offering a variety of appointment time slots. These include evening hours extending to 6:30 p.m. and early morning hours starting at 7:00 a.m. Yes, the economy is troubled and healthcare costs have risen, but we still have good options available to us, and Seton Hill’s Center for Orthodontics can help give your kids – and you! – a reason to smile.
