What is the Cost of Invisalign?

Invisalign costs range from $2,400 to $9,000. The price varies depending on several factors:

• The specific condition or multiple conditions causing the dental misalignment
• Severity and complexity of the misalignment
• Length of treatment
• Use of insurance coverage
• Experience of the Invisalign orthodontist
• Office providing the Invisalign treatment

Invisalign tends to be more expensive than braces, due to its advanced technology and high-grade materials. However, there are many benefits to Invisalign that make it the preferred treatment for millions of orthodontic patients worldwide. You can learn more about Invisalign from the experts.

There are a variety of Invisalign treatments designed for different conditions and cases: each includes different costs and length of treatment.

Treatment Type	Length of Treatment	Cost
Full Invisalign	12-36 months	$3,000-$9,000
Invisalign Teen	12-36 months	$3,000-$6,000
Invisalign Express	6-12 months	$2,400-$6,000

Invisalign Cost in New York City

Depending on the factors listed above, Invisalign costs in New York City range from $2,400 to $9,000. Many orthodontic practices offer Invisalign in the New York City area; finding an experienced Diamond Plus or Diamond Invisalign Provider in a free-standing orthodontic facility can lower the costs of your treatment.

Associated Costs

Successful Invisalign treatment includes a variety of components, which are either included in the price of treatment or charged separately.

• X-Rays or 3D-Imaging
• Office visits
• Attachments for extra aligner grip
• Refinements to achieve optimal results
• Retainers

Before selecting an Invisalign provider, ask about these associated costs to ensure you know the full price of your effective treatment. Some providers – particularly DIY mail-order brands that offer non-Invisalign aligners – may tout low costs that don’t include these important parts of treatment.

Aftercare Costs to Consider: Retainers

When you’re done with Invisalign, you’ll wear retainers to protect your new, healthy smile. Without retainers, your teeth will drift back towards their pre-treatment positions, and the gains made by your orthodontic care will be lost.

There are a variety of retainers used post-treatment: Invisalign produces a line of retainers called Vivera™. Vivera clear retainers look similar to the Invisalign aligners, but they are specifically designed to keep teeth in place, rather than move them into proper alignment.

Retainers may or may not be included in the cost of your Invisalign care: ask your doctor about treatment costs, and how much retainers will cost if separate from your care.

When purchased separately, Vivera retainers cost between $600 and $1200. That cost includes four sets of top-and-bottom retainers (8 total retainers), custom-molded to your teeth.

Other retainers include:

• Essix clear retainers
• Hawley retainers
• Permanent bonded retainers

There are different costs associated with each of these retainers; read the full retainer guide for more info.

How to Save on Invisalign

There are many ways to save money on Invisalign! While the up-front costs range from $2,400 to $9,000, the amount you pay can be significantly lower thanks to cost-saving measures.

Insurance Coverage and Health Savings Accounts

Invisalign may be covered by your insurance provider. While state-subsidized plans like Medicaid generally cover only traditional braces, and only for children, private insurance may cover a significant portion of your Invisalign costs. In addition, many employers offer Health Savings Accounts, such as FSA, HSA, HRA or LCFSA plans, which generate funds over time that can be used to pay for Invisalign. Check with your insurance provider about orthodontic coverage for Invisalign, and ask your employer about opening or using a health savings account to cover your care.

Monthly Payment Plans

You don’t need to pay the entire cost of Invisalign up-front (although there may be financial benefits to paying fully ahead of treatment). Most orthodontists offer monthly payment plans that allow you pay only a small portion of the Invisalign cost each month. These are often flexible, so you can adjust the monthly installment should your financial circumstances change. Be sure to ask whether there is interest accrued by paying monthly: interest-free payment plans don’t incur extra cost.

Care Credit Cards

Using a healthcare credit card can offer significant savings and help you cover the costs of dental care, including Invisalign. Care credit cards can be helpful if you need immediate financial assistance to cover orthodontic care.

Promotional Deals & Seasonal Savings

Orthodontic offices want your business! Most offices run frequent promotional deals or seasonal savings, such as back-to-school specials, family discounts for multiple family members, or holiday deals. Look on the provider’s website for any offers on Invisalign, or ask when you schedule your appointment.

Seek Treatment from an Orthodontist, Not a Dentist

Generally, Invisalign will be cheaper with a licensed orthodontist, rather than a general dentist. Why? The higher the number of Invisalign cases treated by an office, the lower the lab costs required to create the Invisalign aligners for each patient. Orthodontists treat more patients with Invisalign than general dentists, who perform a much wider variety of dental procedures every day and thus see fewer Invisalign patients. Because Invisalign rewards high-volume offices with lower lab costs per patient, orthodontists save money by treating more patients, and they pass those savings onto you, the consumer.

More Experienced Orthodontists = Lower Prices

Because a higher volume of patients means lower lab costs, you also save money by seeing an orthodontist with the greatest amount of Invisalign experience. Invisalign uses the following system to rank orthodontists by their experience with Invisalign:

Diamond Plus and Diamond Invisalign Providers have the most Invisalign experience and treat the highest-volume of Invisalign patients. For that reason, their prices are likely lower than local competitors. Invisalign offers a Locator Tool so you can find the most experienced Invisalign provider in your area.

Invisalign vs. Braces

Because Invisalign tends to cost more than braces, some people wonder: is Invisalign actually worth it? Every patient’s preferences are different, but there are many appealing benefits of Invisalign that make it a preferable treatment method for lots of people.

Invisalign Aligners are Discreet and Nearly Invisible When Worn

Invisalign aligners changed the world’s ideas about orthodontic care. Using transparent, plastic aligners, Invisalign moves teeth without any metal components. The attachments are tooth-colored to blend in with the teeth, and the aligners are nearly invisible when worn. Millions of patients prefer the subtle look of Invisalign over metal braces, which is great for professional working adults, as well as selfie-conscious teenagers!

Invisalign Aligners are Low-Maintenance and Easy to Clean

Invisalign aligners are removable, so you can eat and drink anything you want during treatment, as long as you remove the aligners beforehand. Braces, on the other hand, require many food restrictions to avoid breaking or damaging the metal brackets and wire. Invisalign aligners are easy to clean: simply brush them with a toothbrush and warm water, or soak in mouthwash or Invisalign cleaning crystals. While compliance is important – Invisalign aligners must be worn 22 hours a day to be effective – caring for your aligners is easier than braces.

Invisalign is Designed for Comfort

No poking wires, no loose brackets: Invisalign aligners are seamless, steamlined, and designed for a comfortable fit. Custom designed by your orthodontist to fit your teeth perfectly, they insert snugly over your teeth. A scalloped edge follows your natural gumline for extra comfort. If the edges are irritating your gum, you can easily trim them at home using a nail clipper or cuticle scissors. Many patients prefer the comfortable fit on Invisalign over metal braces. Get the full breakdown on Invisalign vs. metal braces.

Braces vs. Invisalign: The Breakdown Chart

	Braces	Invisalign
Treatment Length	1-3 years, depending on individual case	6 months to 2 years, depending on individual case
Removable?	No	Yes
Cleaning	Regular brushing and flossing with specialized floss threader, routine dentist visits	Regular brushing and flossing, brushing and soaking aligners, routine dental visits.
Maintenance	Regular cleaning and orthodontic visits, avoid certain foods.	Wear 22 hours a day, remove for meals, clean thoroughly before putting back in. Soak aligners regularly.
Orthodontist Visits	Every month - every other month	Every 3 months; begin new set of aligners every 2 weeks.
Cost	$1,700-$6,000	$2,400-$9,000
Expedited Option?	No	Yes
Benefits of Treatment	Effective for very severe or complex cases Less expensive Permanent bonding means consistent progress Colorful rubber bands  Multiple braces types  Time-tested reliability	Discreet, nearly-invisible look  Removable aligners easy to care for  No food restrictions  Professional look for working adults  Comfortable and easy to wear Whiten teeth during treatment
Ideal Treatment For:	Noticeable metal appliance  Food restrictions  Can trap bacteria  Can be uncomfortable/cause irritation in mouth May be difficult to clean	Must remember to wear aligners 22 hours a day More expensive Must remove before eating/drinking anything but water  Aligners can stain or discolor More easily broken, damaged, or lost  May require supplemental braces treatment for complex cases
Ideal Treatment For	Kids and teenagers; budget consumers	Adults or responsible teenagers, working professionals

Are There Cheaper Alternatives to Invisalign?

Invisalign is one brand of clear aligner treatment; there are other competitors. Invisalign was the first to introduce invisible braces to the market, and they still lead the field as the most popular form of aligner care, as well as the most commonly used by orthodontists.

Recently, other brands have cropped up offering clear aligners not made by Invisalign. Some of these offer lower prices than Invisalign. But what’s actually included in the cost of these non-Invisalign aligners?

Brands like these – particularly DIY companies offering mail-order clear aligners – may offer what seem like lower costs, but many necessary parts of treatment are simply not included in the price.

What’s Missing?

• X-Rays
• Diagnostic records
• Extra aligners for refinements or more complex cases
• Attachments for aligner grip
• Option for permanent (bonded) retainers
• Follow-up visits
• Direct, in-office supervision by a licensed orthodontist
• Lifetime smile maintenance
• Post-treatment follow-ups
• Dental check-ups during visits

When these costs are included, the cost of non-Invisalign clear aligners may in fact be just as high if not higher than Invisalign treatment. Cost is one of the many differences between Invisalign and mail-order aligners.

Plus, only Invisalign is clinically proven to provide faster, more predictable results. Invisalign provides industry-leading materials and technology, resulting in smiles you can trust to last for years to come.

Invisalign vs. Mail-Order Aligners: The Breakdown Chart

	Mail-Order Aligners	Invisalign
Full Diagnosis by Licensed Doctor	No	Yes
X-Rays	No	Yes
Face-to-Face Supervision by Licensed Doctor	No	Yes
Aligners Made of SmartTrack™ Material	No	Yes
Attachments for More Effective Treatment	No	Yes
Up-Front Insurance Coverage	No	Yes
Post-Treatment Follow-Up	No	Yes
Cost	$2,000-$10,000	$2,400-$9,000

Advice on Choosing an Invisalign Doctor

As mentioned above, the Invisalign doctor you choose can greatly impact the cost of your Invisalign aligner treatment.

But more importantly, they are also the most important asset for your care and the health and future of your smile! The more experienced an orthodontist is with Invisalign, the more you can trust the safety of your health and teeth in their hands.

Look for a Diamond Plus or Diamond Invisalign Provider: you can find a doctor with this experience using Invisalign’s Doctor Locator Tool.

Look for a licensed orthodontist in a free-standing orthodontist’s office, rather than a general dentist: these dedicated orthodontists have the most experience treating patients with clear aligners, and higher volumes of Invisalign cases mean lower lab costs and lower prices for you, the patient.

Frequently Asked Questions About Invisalign Costs

Why is Invisalign So Expensive?

Invisalign tends to be more expensive than braces because of the lab costs to produce the aligners. Invisalign is made of patented SmartTrack™ plastic, which is a premium-grade material specifically designed by Invisalign for use in medical orthodontic appliances.  SmartForce™ attachments offer some of the industry’s most effective enhanced tools to correct misaligned teeth. In addition, Invisalign uses state-of-the-art 3D iTero imaging, digital modeling, and predictive software to create a custom treatment plan for your smile. These premium materials and technology lead to somewhat higher costs than other orthodontic treatment – but, as discussed above, there are many ways to lower the final costs of your Invisalign treatment.

Is Invisalign More Expensive than Braces?

Invisalign is generally slightly more expensive than braces. It depends on the specific case: some cases can be completed by Invisalign for less than the cost of braces. Insurance may covers both treatments, although state-subsidized plans may only cover metal braces, and only for qualifying patients. Talk to your orthodontist about which treatment is best for your smile and your wallet.

Is There a Cheaper Alternative to Invisalign?

Braces tend to be less expensive than Invisalign clear aligners. In addition, there are multiple off-brand clear aligner companies, which may offer clear aligners for a lower cost. Some of these companies offer DIY at-home aligners, which boast that they can correct your smile without you ever having to visit an orthodontist. However, these non-Invisalign companies may offer a lower-quality treatment using generic plastic and less effective tools. In addition, their lower prices may actually hide costs that are charged separately or require customers to purchase at another facility, such as x-rays, retainers, or in-office visits for disruptions to care.

How Much is Invisalign per Month?

Many orthodontist offices offer payment plans to make it easy to cover the cost of your Invisalign. The monthly price will vary depending on the office and your financial situation: many practices offer a monthly payment less than $100/month. Make sure the Invisalign doctor offers an interest-free payment plan, so you’re not accruing extra costs while you pay off your care. And ask about flexible payment plans: many offices will allow you to restructure you payment plan when needed, to complement your finances and make it possible to cover the cost of your smile.