Clear braces, often referred to as clear aligners, invisible aligners, or invisible braces, are a discreet alternative to traditional metal braces. Designed with transparency in mind, they offer a more subtle way to straighten teeth without the noticeable brackets of conventional options.
Clear braces gradually move your teeth into alignment, helping you achieve a straighter smile in small, controlled increments. While they typically cost more than metal braces due to advanced materials and technology, their aesthetic appeal and convenience make them a popular choice for adults seeking orthodontic treatment.
In This Article
How Much Do Clear Braces Cost?
Metal | Ceramic | Clear/Invisible |
 |  |  |
$2,500 - $7,500 | $3,000 - $10,000 | $700-$8,500 |
Clear braces typically cost between $700 and $8,500, depending on the type of treatment and provider. By comparison, other braces options, such as metal, ceramic, or lingual braces, generally range from $3,000 to $10,000.
At-home aligners are a more affordable alternative to in-office aligners and traditional braces. However, they aren’t suitable for everyone. Candidates with severe teeth or jaw misalignment may need more robust treatment options, such as:
Clear Braces Costs with Insurance
If your dental insurance plan includes orthodontic coverage, it may help offset the cost of clear braces or ceramic braces. Many plans cover up to 50% of treatment costs, but it’s important to note that annual coverage limits may not fully cover the total cost of clear braces, leaving you with some out-of-pocket expenses.
To make treatment more affordable, ask your orthodontist if they offer interest-free payment plans or financing options to help you spread out the cost over time.
Not sure if your dental insurance covers clear braces? Dentalinsurance.com can simplify the process. This online marketplace provides clear explanations, helpful articles, and tips for choosing the best dental insurance plan to fit your needs.
You can get started by visiting their website—just enter your zip code and date of birth to explore plans. For personalized assistance, call one of their licensed agents at 888-626-0057.
Can You Use HSA/FSA Funds to Pay for Clear Aligners?
Yes, you can use a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to cover the cost of clear aligners. However, there are specific guidelines regarding what qualifies for coverage.
For the expense to be eligible, the treatment must be deemed medically necessary for your oral health. Cosmetic treatments, on the other hand, are generally not covered.
Our recommendations for using these accounts have been updated to reflect recent changes among clear aligner providers.
Types of Clear Braces
Clear braces come in two main types:
- In-Office Aligners
- At-Home Aligners
In-Office Aligners
In-office aligners, like Invisalign and ClearCorrect, require you to visit an orthodontist for your treatment. Your progress is closely monitored through regular appointments, making these a great option for more complex cases or severe misalignment issues.
At-Home Aligners
At-home aligners, such as ALIGNERCO and NewSmile, are designed for minor to moderate teeth misalignment. These aligners are convenient, as you can complete the treatment process from home without visiting a dentist or orthodontist. However, they are not recommended for severe alignment issues or bite problems like overbites or underbites.
Always consult a dental professional to determine which type of clear braces is best suited for your specific needs.
Clear Aligner Brands
There are many brands that offer at-home aligner treatment, but not all of them provide the same level of care and customer service. Have a look at some of the top brands to see which best suits your needs:
- Most affordable options
- Single and dual arch, day and night options
- Convenient AlignerTracker app
- Free teeth whitening
Aligner32 offers a convenient and affordable way for individuals to straighten their teeth using custom-fit clear aligners. Their service is designed for at-home use, allowing customers to avoid frequent orthodontist visits while still achieving professional-grade results.
Aligner32 provides two main treatment plans tailored to suit different needs:
- All-Day Plan: The All-Day Plan requires 22 hours of daily wear and offers faster results, with treatment lasting between 4 to 6 months.
- Night Wear Plan: The Night Wear Plan is ideal for those who prefer a more flexible routine, requiring just 10 hours of daily wear, typically at night, with a treatment duration of 6 to 8 months.
Both plans are designed to treat a range of orthodontic issues, including crowding, spacing, overbites, underbites, and crossbites.
With affordability in mind, Aligner32’s clear aligners are significantly less expensive than traditional braces, which can cost between $5,000 to $8,000. Customers can also use flexible payment plans, making it easier to manage the cost.
Additionally, Aligner32 offers a free teeth whitening kit with their aligner packages, making the treatment even more appealing. The company emphasizes comfort, convenience, and professional care, making it a popular choice for those seeking a better smile without the high costs and hassle of conventional orthodontic treatments.
- Complete treatment 100% remotely
- Amazing customer service
- Nighttime-only option
- $1,495 or $55/month
NewSmile aligners are made from the clearest Essix plastic and come with a daytime or nighttime-only option to suit you. For just $1,495 you’ll receive everything you need to straighten and whiten your teeth – and maintain your new smile:
- Home impression kit
- Full aligner treatment
- Free whitening
- First set of retainers
- A full refund if you’re not a good fit
NewSmile goes above and beyond to provide a great experience to all their customers, beginning with a live video call to help you with your teeth impressions. Mail these back, and they’ll send a 3D Treatment Preview for you to approve before going ahead.
- Smileie Pro offers hybrid treatment!
- Single-arch treatment option
- Nighttime aligners available
- Free refinements & 2 sets of retainers
- $699 (single-arch) or $999 (dual-arch)
Smileie’s aligner treatment is not only affordable, but flexible too. You have the option of Smileie Pro, which is hybrid treatment that involves in-office visits with a dentist.
That means more accurate, safer and effective treatment or a wider variety of cases.
But you can also opt for single-arch treatment for just your top or bottom teeth, as well as nighttime-only treatment. And whichever package you choose, monthly payments are available.
On top of this, Smileie offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee which includes free refinements if needed. Their aligners are made in the US and treatment takes 4-6 months on average.
Get Smileie Pro for just $1499, or —
Get the best discount on the standard plan, with 100% remote treatment, when you purchase your aligner package up-front, including:
- Home impression kit
- Teeth whitening kit
- Two sets of retainers
- A full refund if you’re not a good candidate
Packages start at $699 for single-arch treatment. Click below to check for current discounts!
Best value - Complete treatment 100% remotely
- 4-6 month average treatment time
- Nighttime-only option
- $770 or $64/month
If you’re looking for the best value aligner package, here it is! For just $895 you’ll get:
- Impression kit
- Full aligner treatment course
- Free teeth whitening kit
- Your first set of retainers
In short, everything needed to straighten your teeth remotely and keep them looking great, with a full money-back guarantee if you’re not a suitable candidate.
This low price doesn’t mean you’re compromising on quality of care, though. ALIGNERCO just choose not to put so much into marketing, and they pass on the savings to their customers. They are also known for their responsive and helpful customer care, which is important when you’re doing things from home.
Nighttime-only aligners are also available for anyone who doesn’t want to wear aligners during the day.
Brace wearers may want to remove their aligners for important meetings or special occasions, and clear aligner braces offer this flexibility.
To find out more about the costs and the practicalities of wearing Invisalign braces and other types of invisible aligners, read more on aligner braces. You can also check out our comparison of Invisalign vs. braces.
Despite their benefits, these aligners can present some inconveniences. If you have clear aligner braces, you should clean your teeth after eating or drinking anything other than water. Cleaning helps to prevent bacteria from getting trapped within the aligners, decreasing your chance of dental caries and gum disease.
They also require the wearer to have some willpower because you need to have the discipline to only take them off when necessary, and if you lack this, fixed braces may be the better choice.
Other than the fact that both options are constructed with clear/light-colored materials, there aren’t many similarities between clear braces and clear removable aligners like Invisalign. They’re different products and different ways of fixing misaligned teeth.
Clear braces are simply traditional braces with wires, except they’re less noticeable. Aligners are plastic trays that you can take in and out to eat, brush or attend an event like an important business meeting.
Products like Invisalign are less noticeable than clear braces because there are no brackets or wires.
When making a decision between clear braces and Invisalign, start at the beginning and think about whether you’re interested in traditional braces or removable aligners. With aligners, the patient is responsible for wearing them 20 hours a day to achieve optimum movement.
On the other hand, braces are attached and cannot be removed. Determine if you would prefer to be in control of your aligner wear or let the braces do their work. In addition, keep in mind aligners are not always the best treatment option in severe cases of teeth misalignment.
Dr. Clarke Stevens, Braces Omaha
Who can wear clear braces and aligners?
Clear braces and aligners are effective in the teenage years for teeth straightening when the teeth and jaw are still developing, as we explain in this article on braces for kids.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t wear braces later in life. In fact, many adults also undergo orthodontic treatment with great results. You do not have to feel self-conscious about wearing braces as an adult.
According to the American Association of Orthodontics, many adults get braces and make up 40% of orthodontic patients in the US.
Thanks to the advanced technology of invisible aligners, you might not even detect if someone is wearing braces.
One thing that may limit your choice of braces is the severity of your case. For example, Invisalign braces can treat 90% of orthodontic cases, but in the other 10% where teeth are badly misaligned, braces that use a wire and bracket system might be the only option.
Six Month Smiles is one brand that offers both clear braces and aligners, depending on the complexity of your case. Tooth-colored ceramic braces are another option for people who want a subtle way to straighten their teeth.
The choice between clear and tooth-colored braces may depend on the natural color of your teeth, although they function in the same way. Based on the tooth color, transparent braces are typically the least noticeable option for individuals with naturally bright, light teeth.
On the other hand, tooth-colored ceramic material appears more natural for those with darker tooth shades.
Other Clear Braces Options
Damon Clear braces
There’s an important difference between Damon Clear braces and metal braces.
Damon braces are a kind of self-ligating brace—one which ‘tightens’ itself. This has several benefits over the traditional system:
- The adjustment process happens continuously over time, so it is more comfortable than adjustments in stages
- The sliding mechanism means less pressure on the teeth
- Fewer dental checkups are needed
- They are easier to keep clean as they don’t use elastic bands
- Available without any visible metal parts
However, these braces still share concerns of discoloration from staining beverages or mouthwashes. In addition, there is also the risk of enamel fracture in the debonding or bracket removal process, as with other brands of ceramic brackets.
Despite the higher cost of these braces, many patients are willing to pay for the convenience, discreetness, and comfort offered by Damon Clear braces.
Watch a patient with Damon braces share her experience three months into her treatment:
3M Clarity ADVANCED
Clarity ADVANCED clear braces from 3M are designed to be stain-resistant, so you don’t need to restrict your food and drink choices to avoid discoloration.
The brace brackets have rounded corners and a low profile to reduce the chances of irritation to the inside of the mouth. Comfort is certainly a top consideration when it comes to choosing the right braces for you.
Although you’re probably choosing clear braces to make them less noticeable, these ones do come with the option to wear your clear braces with colored bands if you fancy a splash of color for a change.
Radiance Plus
American Orthodontics makes Radiance braces. They are extremely strong since they are made of sapphire (the next strongest thing to diamond).
Their glass-like appearance makes them the clearest braces available on the market. In fact, they’re actually rather alluring as far as braces go.
This is definitely a luxury option, though, as they are one of the most expensive brands of braces available.
Conclusion
Adults and teens looking for a less obvious option to straighten their teeth can consider clear braces as an alternative to traditional braces. If you only want to make mild adjustments you may want to look into clear, at-home aligners.
If you’re still unsure which type of brace is right for you, take a look at our full article on orthodontics and teen and adult braces, or our article on “hidden” lingual braces. You can read our article about the best clear aligners for more on invisible braces and clear aligners for teeth straightening.
While Invisalign is the leading brand of invisible braces, it is also one of the most expensive options and may not fit into your budget. If that’s the case, you can take a look at our pages on Byte, Smileie, ALIGNERCO reviews, NewSmile reviews, Candid, and SnapCorrect braces to learn more about each of them and find out which is best for you.
You can also read more about Invisalign alternatives in our complete guide.
Our goal at Dentaly.org is to give you all the information you need to make the right decisions when it comes to your oral healthcare. We hope you found this article helpful!
FAQs
You can get clear rubber bands for braces as clear, transparent, and invisible bracket braces can have tooth-colored or clear ceramic or polymer brackets.
Clear metal braces are not a type of clear braces. However, you can choose to have clear teeth braces on your front teeth and metal brackets on the back teeth that are not readily visible. You can also get clear braces on your top teeth, metal braces on the lower teeth, or clear bands on your metal brackets.
Clear braces for adults can cost anywhere from $3,800 to $8,000 without insurance. Less noticeable clear and invisible materials cost more than traditional metal braces.
No, clear braces do not turn yellow, but the clear elastic bands holding the wire to your brackets can change color over time due to exposure to certain foods, drinks, or poor oral hygiene. You can maintain the color of your clear braces through regular adjustment visits to the orthodontist for replacements and cleaning.
Yes, clear braces can break, but it’s not common. Any of the following can cause them to break: hard or sticky foods, inappropriate cleaning, or accidental physical impact. Your orthodontist can detect and repair any issues during your scheduled visits.
Yes, you can enjoy pizza and ice cream while wearing clear braces. However, cutting pizza into small pieces and avoiding ice cream hard toppings like nuts is advisable to prevent damage. Remember to follow approved diet recommendations and limitations set by your orthodontist.
Clear braces typically last between one to three years, depending on your teeth straightening needs. You stand a chance at shorter durations if you follow your orthodontist’s recommendations of regular visits and cleaning.
AAO: Why the number of adults seeing an orthodontist is at an all-time high. Consulted 6th February, 2023.