Even here, “cosmetic” dental work can be pricey. IIRC, my braces were covered by insurance, but the retainer wire after that had to be paid up front by my parents with some kind of “insurance will pay back 80% of it after ten years” clause. One has fully broken off and should have long been replaced, the other broke partially and should be replaced too, but I don’t really have the money to drop 600 on that right now if I don’t know how much I’ll get back.