Those who are thinking about getting Invisalign or have been recommended by a dentist to have Invisalign done may be wondering how much it would cost. Unfortunately, the answer is not a simple one to answer because the pricing really depends on many different factors. Generally speaking, Invisalign costs more than conventional braces. Unlike conventional braces where the doctor has complete control of the fees without having to pay a third party, Invisalign treatment is dependent on a set fee that needs to be paid by the dentist to Align (the company behind Invisalign) before treatment can be started. This makes Invisalign usually anywhere between $500 to $1000 more costly than regular braces for the same treatment plan. However, Invisalign comes with the convenience of being able to take the aligners off to eat and brush your teeth as well as its esthetic appeal of being barely noticeable.
In this article, we will go into a few other factors that might affect the final pricing of Invisalign treatment as well as options to help pay for Invisalign.
Different Invisalign Products:
One of the main reasons that costs may vary is the complexity of the treatment needed for the patient. Moving and rotating multiple teeth into the right position will be more work than just moving one or two teeth a few millimeters. Invisalign offers several different products based on the complexity of the case. The most basic treatment options are known as Invisalign Express and Invisalign Lite. As their names suggest, they’re a relatively fast treatment option that involves anywhere between 5 to 14 aligner trays (worn for about 2 weeks at a time). These short course treatment options are ideal for very simple orthodontic cases where only one or a few teeth need to be moved into alignment. The caveat with these products is that their refinement aligner trays are not complimentary and that there are a finite number of times that Align will allow for refinement trays (usually just one or two trays). Refinement aligners are trays that can be additionally ordered if the patient and/or dentist still feels that more improvements can be made after the initial course of treatment has completed. Overall treatment fee for these Express packages can vary between $2500 to $4000.
Because of the limitations placed on the Invisalign Express and Lite packages and the comparatively high fee associated with them, many dentists treatment plan their patients for the highest level of Invisalign product which provides much more freedom in treatment planning and refinements. This is the Invisalign Comprehensive option. It allows for an unlimited number of aligners and a “reasonable number” of additional refinement aligners at no additional cost within five years after beginning treatment. Comprehensive Invisalign can cost anywhere between $5000 to $8000.
Your Dentist’s Experience:
Another factor that determines the final cost could be the dentist’s experience level with Invisalign. If you are seeing an orthodontist for Invisalign instead of a general dentist, it’s likely that the orthodontist might charge a little more. Also, if you are seeing a dentist who has had extensive Invisalign training in more complex cases, they are likely to charge more for their treatment.
Your Dentist’s Location:
If your dentist is located in a more affluent neighborhood, the cost will most likely be higher than in other neighborhoods. This is because when setting dental office fees, most dentists go by what’s called the usual customary rate (UCR). The UCR is based on the average procedure fees that other dentists in the same area charge.
Invisalign and Dental Insurance:
Can you use dental insurance to help cover the cost of Invisalign? It depends on your dental insurance plan. If you have a dental plan that covers orthodontics, you may be eligible to use this benefit to help cover the Invisalign fee. Many plans place a maximum dollar amount that can be used for orthodontics that’s much lower than the full cost of Invisalign, so dental insurance alone won’t help cover the entire cost. Also, many insurances place age limits for orthodontic treatment, so make sure that you get the full breakdown.
Most dental offices will be more than happy to look up your insurance plan’s policy and let you know whether or not you qualify and what the estimate of coverage would be. Make sure to ask your dentist or call the insurance company for more information.
Payment Plans:
Because orthodontic treatment is not cheap, most dentists and orthodontists provide payment plan options for their patients that allow for the total fee to be split into multiple payments throughout the course of the treatment. Some offices have their own in-house payment plans. Many offices use a third party lender such as Care Credit or Square Installments to help patients pay for their treatment. Care Credit offers many flexible payment options and promotions. Make sure to ask your dentist about payment plans that are offered.
