Teeth Straightening: Costs and Options for Dental Misalignment

Teeth straightening — or orthodontics treatment — is typically advised for patients with malpositioned teeth or bite misalignment. In some cases, however, you may want to straighten your teeth for cosmetic reasons. Braces are the most common teeth straightening treatment option, but there are others.

In this article, we'll talk about:

• Teeth straightening options
• Teeth straightening costs
• The cheapest way to straighten teeth
• Benefits of teeth straightening

Keep reading to determine whether you should consider straightening your teeth, and learn about the best options and their costs.

Teeth straightening options and costs

Traditional metal braces

Metal braces are a tried and true way to straighten teeth — from mild cases to some of the most complex. Metal brackets are attached to the teeth, and a wire is threaded through them to pull the teeth into position.

Small elastic bands hold the wire in place – you can usually choose different braces colors to add a touch of style to your braces. Adjustments take place every month or so.

Who is a candidate?

Candidates for traditional braces are those with mild to complex cases. For severe cases of bite misalignment, overlapping, or crookedness, your orthodontist may recommend braces along with surgery or headgear.

Cost

The cost to straighten teeth with metal braces is anywhere from $2,500 to $7,500, depending on the severity of your case, where you live, and the prices set by your orthodontist.

Pros and cons

Find a dentist who offers teeth straightening treatment in your area by calling 866-383-0748.

Ceramic braces

Clear bracket braces work in the same way as metal braces but use ceramic materials, which are clear or tooth-colored, making them much less obvious.

Who is a candidate?

Ceramic or clear braces can treat mild to complicated cases, just like regular metal braces. They require close orthodontic supervision and can be combined with teeth straightening surgery or headgear when needed.

Cost

You can straighten teeth with ceramic braces for $3,000 to $10,000. They are more expensive than traditional braces, because the ceramic material costs more.

Pros and cons

If you want to help find an orthodontist near you that offers clear and ceramic braces, call 866-383-0748.

Invisible braces

These include brands like Invisalign and ClearCorrect. These use clear plastic removable trays to align your teeth. They require in-office visits with your dentist or orthodontist just like regular braces, and typically must be worn for 22 hours per day. Find out more in our guide to the best invisible braces.

Who is a candidate?

People with mild to complex cases can use this kind of treatment, although if your case is more severe, you may have to go with regular metal braces. To find out if you are a candidate, you must have an in-person consultation with a dentist that offers this treatment.

Cost

Invisible braces teeth straightening treatment costs from $3,500 to $8,500. Again, these costs depend on the severity of your case (which will determine how many aligners you need) as well as where you live, and the cost determined by your dentist.

Pros and cons

It's easy to find an Invisalign dentist near you by calling 866-383-0748.

At-home clear aligners

For mild and moderate treatment there is also the option of at-home aligners from companies like Byte, Smileie, NewSmile, ALIGNERCO, Candid, and Smile Direct Club. With these, you can complete your entire treatment at home via remote monitoring, cutting out the inconvenience (and expense) of visiting a dentist.

In recent years, these sorts of home teeth straightening kits have become quite popular in the US as more people wonder how to get straight teeth without braces or Invisalign.

Important: these kits are not to be confused with fake braces DIY options.

At-home aligners are less expensive than getting braces at the dentist because they cut out the middle man and everything is done by mail. This makes them popular among people looking for a way to lower the cost to straighten teeth or a cheaper alternative to Invisalign.

Who is a candidate?

At-home aligners can treat mild and sometimes moderate cases of malocclusion, but typically they should only be used to make slight, non-medical adjustments to the appearance of teeth. We recommend you consult your dentist before you choose any sort of orthodontic treatment, including clear aligners.

Cost

At-home teeth straightening costs between $900 and $2500 give or take some on either end. Prices are low because you aren't paying for the services of a dentist or orthodontist — at least not in-person, as check-ins and monitoring are done remotely.

Pros and cons

Orthognathic surgery

Orthognathic surgery, or jaw surgery, is for severe cases of jaw misalignment. This treatment is typically best for teens who have a mature skeletal structure and is used when a patient suffers from sleeping and eating problems. The treatment is completed with an orthodontist and oral surgeon.

It is advised for teenagers or young adult patients who have permanent teeth present and have typically completed the growth phase. Since this is a surgical procedure, both medical and dental insurance are typically used in the coverage.

Teeth straightening surgery may also be required to treat certain malocclusions such as a severe open bite, underbite, overbite, or crossbite. This is usually done in conjunction with orthodontic work. It may seem scary to consider surgery, but the before and after are usually worth it.

Who is a candidate?

Jaw surgery may be appropriate for teens with skeletal maturity whose severe jaw misalignment negatively impacts their health and quality of life.

Cost

The cost to straighten teeth with jaw surgery is anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 (give or take a few thousand). Your child's dental insurance may cover it, as this is a medically necessary procedure.

Pros and cons

Learn more about orthognathic surgery in the video below:

Dr. Shafer discusses the reasons patients may require orthognathic surgery, along with the treatment process and healing period afterward. Learn more about corrective jaw surgery at MyOMS.org. Check out MyOMS.org to learn more and find an OMS in your area. Stay connected with us! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myoms Twitter: https://twitter.com/aaoms Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myoms/

Veneers

If you're wondering how to straighten teeth without braces, you may want to consider veneers. Veneers can't change the position of teeth, but they can make them look straighter.

To achieve this, dentists drill down part of the crooked tooth or teeth and then apply a porcelain veneer on top. The result is that the teeth look better aligned, even though, underneath, the original teeth are still crooked. This technique only works on mild cases.

Veneers can help improve the aesthetic appearance of your teeth — for instance, if you have a gap between your front teeth or slightly crooked teeth, veneers may be able to cover these imperfections.

Veneers can also be used to close small gaps between teeth, or diastema. However, the success of veneers is dependent on the amount of teeth crowding you may have, or the positioning of your teeth. Crowded teeth with little space between them aren't a good case for veneers.

Read more about the process in our complete guide to teeth veneers.

Who is a candidate?

This may be a suitable treatment option if you don't experience any negative side effects from your tooth and jaw misalignment. In other words, if all you want is to improve the appearance of your smile, without actually moving your teeth or changing your bite, then this may be a viable choice.

Cost

A single composite veneer costs from $250 to $1,200 and a porcelain veneer costs from $500 to $2,500.

Pros and cons

The benefits of teeth straightening

You might think that teeth straightening is all about esthetics, but there are actually some valid medical reasons for getting straight teeth.

Crooked teeth can cause various problems, depending on the severity of the misalignment:

• Speech problems
• Difficulty eating
• Muscle strains
• Risk of damage to other teeth
• Problems maintaining good oral health

That last point can affect anyone with even slightly crooked teeth; if the teeth aren't correctly aligned, it's harder to clean them properly. This, in turn, means a greater likelihood of plaque buildup leading to tooth decay. A thorough oral health regime can help manage this risk.

Of course, the appearance of non-straight teeth is also an important factor for many people. Those who aren't blessed with a perfect smile can be self-conscious about their teeth and may opt to get them straightened even if there isn't a medical need to do so.

We have a separate guide that covers the different types of malocclusion (bite misalignment). Here you can read about which malocclusions pose a medical risk, what causes crooked teeth in the first place, and possible treatments.

Can teeth be straightened at any age?

The best time to straighten teeth is in the teenage years before the jaw bone and teeth roots are fully developed. This is why it's important to take your child for regular dental checkups. The need for orthodontic treatment should be diagnosed by an orthodontist, which can happen in children eight or older.

If your dentist identifies a need for orthodontic treatment, he or she will plan this for the optimal time according to your child's development.

That said, teeth straightening for adults is still very effective. Our teeth can change position as we get older, usually becoming more crooked, so teeth that used to be quite straight may start to bother you later in life. Or, perhaps you have always had crooked teeth but just never got braces as a child.

Whatever your age, if you're unhappy with the way your teeth look, then there are various ways to fix your smile.

How much does teeth straightening cost?

The table below shows approximately how much it costs to straighten teeth using the different methods we've mentioned. You can see that the range is thousands of dollars.

The cheapest is not necessarily the best, so consider your options carefully. Consult a dentist to decide whether you need treatment at all before parting with any money.

Can you get teeth straightening on Medicaid?

Children whose treatment has been deemed medically necessary can get free teeth straightening in the US on CHIP or Medicaid. This covers metal braces and retainers, plus any surgery (if required). Our guide to braces for kids has more information about the eligibility criteria for children's teeth straightening on state-funded insurance.

You can also check out our article on Medicaid and Medicare for dental to find out more about eligibility for adults and children.

What's the cheapest way to straighten teeth?

As you've seen above, home straightening kits are probably the cheapest way to straighten teeth, but they are not suitable for more severe cases.

Patients who are not deemed eligible, or who would prefer in-office treatment, will usually find that metal braces are the cheapest teeth straightening option.

Invisible braces like Invisalign teeth straightening treatment can be comparable in price to metal braces, especially if you don't need a long treatment course.

How can I find cheap teeth straightening near me?

When looking for teeth straightening near you, it's a good idea to check prices from two or three dentists. Teeth straightening prices can vary a lot from one to another, so you should check. You can call 866-383-0748 to get connected with dentists offering braces near you now, and check their prices for the different treatments we've talked about here.

You might also want to check out your dental finance options. There are ways to make your treatment more affordable, for example by spreading payments with a dental loan or payment plan.

Conclusion

When deciding how to straighten your teeth – whether it's a significant correction or just a mild adjustment you need – there are several different options to consider.

Braces are the most common treatment for teeth straightening, whether metal or ceramic brackets fixed to the teeth, or clear aligners that straighten teeth without it being so obvious.

At-home aligners are a good choice if you're looking for affordable teeth straightening prices and mild or cosmetic straightening. Otherwise, you should visit a dentist to discuss your options for straight teeth.

If you can believe it, some people even try homemade braces to straighten teeth. Please don't try this as you can damage your teeth and jaw, and make your problem worse. 

Veneers may be appealing because they are so quick and convenient. Remember they are not truly straightening the teeth – just masking the problem. You need to consider the longer-term cost and inconvenience of replacing them when they fail.

Whatever you decide, we hope this article has helped you understand more about your teeth straightening options.

FAQs

How much does it cost to straighten teeth?

The cost to straighten teeth is anywhere from just under $1,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on the type of treatment you get. Clear aligners will straighten teeth for less.

Jaw surgery is meant for severe cases of jaw misalignment and is the most expensive procedure. However, the teeth alignment cost with surgery may be covered by your child's insurance if it's considered medically necessary.

How long do braces take to straighten teeth?

It's natural to want to know how long braces will take to straighten your teeth, but there is no simple answer. Treatment can be over in 3-6 months if you only need mild correction. An example of this is if you only need to straighten your front teeth or a couple of bottom teeth.

For more severe cases, treatment can take two years or more. The type of braces you choose for your treatment will also affect your treatment time to some degree.

We can say that teeth straightening with braces takes 12-18 months on average, but you'll need to visit your dentist for a more precise treatment plan.

Can teeth straighten themselves?

It is possible for teeth to straighten themselves, but only during the stage while they are still erupting. The first few permanent teeth might come in crooked and then correct themselves. In adults, though, teeth are likely to become more crooked over time, not straighter.

Can you get your teeth surgically straightened?

Jaw surgery may be carried out in addition to treatment with braces. This doesn't surgically straighten individual teeth but it does re-align the jaw so that the teeth can come together properly. 

How long does Invisalign take to straighten teeth?

The amount of time it will take to straighten your teeth with clear aligners depends entirely on the individual. If you have a very mild case of malocclusion, it can take as little as 6 months. But if your condition is more severe, you may have to wear your invisible braces for up to 2 years. 

Can I straighten my teeth without braces at home?

The closest option would be a home straightening kit. This requires no office visits and can be more affordable than other options, and works for mild to moderate cases. If you're wondering how to straighten your teeth without braces naturally, there's really no DIY way to do this while guaranteeing results and without risk to your oral health. 

Do retainers straighten teeth?

The primary use for retainers is to keep teeth aligned after orthodontic treatment. It's possible that your orthodontist may recommend a retainer for very slight adjustments, but it's not too common.