Is Invisalign Worth It? Cost, Effectiveness, and Value Comparison

Invisalign can straighten 90% of cases, and discreetly on top of that. But is Invisalign worth it?

If you’ve got crooked teeth and you want to straighten your teeth discreetly, Invisalign is an effective way to do that.

However, Invisalign also comes with a hefty price tag. So many are left wondering if it’s really worth it to straighten your teeth with Invisalign when perhaps there are other orthodontics options out there, that might cost less.

In this article we’ll talk about:

• How Invisalign works
• The cost of Invisalign
• Who Invisalign can treat
• Alternative options

We hope that this helps you decide if, indeed, Invisalign is worth it to you.

How Invisalign works

Invisalign is a type of invisible braces or clear aligner. Some types of clear aligners can be ordered from home and monitored remotely, while others require in-office visits just like regular braces.

Invisalign is the latter — your treatment begins, middles, and ends with in-office monitoring from your Invisalign dentist.

That means that first you’ll have a consultation in-person with a dentist who offers Invisalign. They will take scans of your teeth and decide whether or not you are a good candidate for this type of braces treatment — 90% of cases are.

Only the most severe cases, where bites are drastically misaligned, or teeth extremely crooked, might require traditional braces treatment, and additional types of treatment as well, including jaw alignment surgery and headgear.

With Invisalign, you will visit your dentist every 4 to 6 weeks, at which point they will exchange your old aligner trays for your new aligner trays until you’ve finished treatment and both you and your dentist are satisfied with your results.

How long does Invisalign take?

Invisalign treatment can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years — it all depends on the severity of your dental malocclusion. The price depends on the length of your treatment as well.

In cases where only slight corrections are needed, Invisalign offers Express and Lite treatments, which are less expensive than the Invisalign Comprehensive treatment (formally known as Full).

That being said, the average treatment time for Invisalign is 12 to 18 months.

What’s included with Invisalign treatment?

Included in Invisalign treatment is your:

• Consultation with your dentist
• Treatment plan
• Aligner trays
• In-person monitoring
• Adjustments if necessary

Invisalign price breakdown

Invisalign can cost anywhere from $3,500 to $8,500 for the Comprehensive treatment. So why does it cost so much, and what goes into that cost?

Invisalign costs a lot because not only are you paying for (in most cases) comprehensive braces treatment — you’re also paying for newer technologies and the services of your dentist.

Most dentists will offer financing options like an Invisalign payment plan. These plans will vary in how much coverage they offer from clinic to clinic.

Please do keep in mind that individual quotes will vary — you can call 866-383-0748 to find an Invisalign dentist near you who can give you a detailed price quote.

In the video below, Dr. Nate helps break down the costs of Invisalign a bit more:

It seems as though most of our adult patients have recently been asking about Invisalign. People are mainly concerned about the costs because they have done their research before coming in on the process. First off, let me say the cost is almost always way more expensive than braces. The down payment is also a lot more, but you are getting Invisalign for the look and the ability to move your teeth without braces. Check out the video to learn more about the cost. In case you are in the DFW area, we are running a special on Invisalign, so check out our site for more information. ———————————————————————————————————- Make sure to subscribe for new videos weekly, or else you are doomed to never get Invisalign😋 https://www.facebook.com/ThriveDentist​​ https://www.instagram.com/thrivedentist https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.natecoughlin ———————————————————————————————————– More information at https://www.thrivedentist.com #invisalign #orthodontist #invisalignsmile

With insurance

Your orthodontic insurance might also offer coverage for Invisalign treatment, at least a percentage. With some orthodontic insurance plans, it’s not a percentage, but a predetermined amount.

If you do have ortho insurance that covers Invisalign treatment, you might get anywhere from 25% to 50% coverage.

Different types of treatment

And then of course the cost of your treatment will vary depending on the type of Invisalign treatment you get:

• Invisalign Teen: The cost of Teen is comparable to that of Comprehensive Invisalign treatment. The main differences are that these aligners come with compliance indicators to help keep teens more responsible in terms of wearing their aligners according to their treatment plan.
• Invisalign Express: This type of treatment can take as little as 3 months and is for cases where only slight aesthetic corrections are needed.
• Invisalign Lite: Invisalign Lite is another treatment option for those who don’t need severe corrections in alignment. Again, it will take less time than Comprehensive treatment, and will cost quite a bit less.

Vivera retainers

Invisalign has its own brand of retainers that you can purchase once you’ve finished treatment. These are called Vivera retainers and they cost from $400 to $1,000, depending on the package you choose and your treatment needs.

Is Invisalign worth it?

The short answer? It depends.

Does Invisalign work? Yes, in most cases, it is very successful in straightening teeth. In fact, there are a lot of pros to using Invisalign treatment:

• Invisible: This treatment makes it very difficult for others to know you are wearing aligners
• Convenient: You can take them out for photos or special events
• Diet: You don’t have to stop eating certain foods as you do with normal braces
• Comfortable: Aligners are often more comfortable than having metal brackets and wires and rubber bands all over your mouth

The cons?

• Expensive: Invisalign is one of the more expensive options for teeth straightening
• Accountability: Your treatment will only work if you wear your aligners at least 22 hours per day, following your personalized treatment plan. If you suspect that you will have trouble remembering to wear your aligners, or complying with your treatment plan, then you should consider traditional braces instead. You don’t necessarily have to have metal brackets, there are clear options that are also less noticeable

To sum it up, if your teeth are pretty crooked, and you have the money to pay for Invisalign, then yes, it’s worth it. Otherwise, we’ll now talk about some alternatives you can consider.

Cheaper alternatives that are worth it too

If you only need mild to moderate corrections in the alignment of your teeth, you may want to consider cheaper options like at-home clear aligners. These are more affordable because they aren’t meant to treat severe cases, so you can complete treatment by doing remote monitoring. This reduces the costs that come with in-office professional services.

Have a look at the table below which sums up our top picks for clear aligner treatment:

Conclusion

Invisalign is one of the best invisible braces brands out there. It’s also known for being one of the most expensive. So given the hefty price tag – is Invisalign worth it?

Invisalign is an effective way to treat 90% of cases. That means that it can straighten teeth that are pretty severely crooked, and even helps realign bites. It’s also invisible, convenient, and comfortable.

So if you have the money to pay for Invisalign, and your Invisalign dentist says you are a good candidate, then yes, Invisalign is worth it.

But, if you don’t have the money to pay for Invisalign, and you only need minor aesthetic changes, then at-home aligners are definitely worth considering. You can read more about Invisalign alternatives in our full guide here.

FAQs

Is Invisalign worth the cost?

Invisalign is worth the cost because it is an effective teeth straightening method. But only if it’s a cost you can afford without stressing your wallet too much.

Is Invisalign worth it for adults?

For many adults, Invisalign is worth it, even though it’s expensive. Adults may be willing to pay more to have discreet treatment that others don’t necessarily notice.