People Also Ask
How much does Invisalign cost with insurance?
Invisalign costs with insurance will be cheaper than without. The exact amount is dependant on both the dental insurance and Invisalign providers. You will need to ask both parties as to the exact amounts they are willing to provide. Your insurance provider may ask the reasons for treatment as they may only payout if the treatment is considered a health matter not just aesthetic. You are advised to check and double-check what your insurance provider is willing to payout.
How much does Invisalign cost without insurance?
You will have to pay the full amount. The full amount can be divided up and a monthly payment agreement can be arranged. This is generally set by the orthodontist’s office.
How much does Invisalign cost monthly?
The exact monthly cost is dependant on the provider. You can expect to pay from $100 to $2oo per month over the duration of the treatment. Other providers may have their own monthly payment system but generally, you’ll find the monthly payments are uniform across the country.
Is Invisalign cheaper than braces?
No. It is slightly more expensive. With the extra expense comes a lot of good things. Like less pain, no change in eating habits and smartphone scanning apps to allow you to send in your progress from your own home. The extra cost is worth it. If only to avoid bleeding gums.
The Cost of Invisalign
You may have noticed Invisalign treatment is more costly than that of traditional braces. This is due to different factors. We will get into those factors below. For now, let’s look at the price you can expect for a full term of Invisalign. There are different treatment types for all needs. The cost is generally dependent on the length of treatment.
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Above you can see the three basic cost estimates of each treatment and the time it needs to complete. The cost depends on the time and the time depends on a range of factors.
- Issues causing the misalignment
- Severity of the misalignment
- Complexity of treatment
- Insurance
- Orthodontist experience
- Invisalign treatment provider
- Treatment length
Cost of Invisalign in Manhattan Beach
The cost of Invisalign in Manhattan Beach is comparable to that elsewhere in large popular cities. There is a high amount of Invisalign providers in the Manhattan Beach CA area. You’ll find an expert in Manhattan Beach that holds an Invisalign Diamond Provider status. The Top 1% of all Invisalign doctors in the United States will carry this award.
Other Costs to Consider
When undergoing Invisilign treatment you’ll need to consider various costs associated with the ongoing measurement and aftercare too. The cost or inclusion of them in the overall cost is dependant on the individual provider.
- X-Rays or 3D-Imaging
- Office visits
- Attachments for extra aligner grip
- Refinements to achieve optimal results
- Retainers
It is recommended by the industry to seek clarity on what is included and what is not. And to check whether the brand bring used for treatment is the Invisalign brand or another brand. Mail-Order braces, (a subject we will cover later) are known for using a non-Invisalign brand. Less cost may mean less quality and zero input from an expert orthodontist.
Aftercare
Retainers
After the treatment comes retention. This is done with retainers. You’ll wear them for 6 months, day and night. Then just at night for the remainder of your life. Without retention, your smile will creep back to the pre-treatment position. All that cost and hard work wasted. Plus, retainers protect the new position and the teeth minimizing the risk of movement.
Retainers may or may not be included in the overall cost of Invisalign treatment. Check beforehand and what brand retainer is preferred by the expert. There are differences in retainer brands. So do your research.
Plastic Retainers
Vivera retails between $600 & $1100. For this price, you will receive 8 retainers in total. 4 sets of retainers for both top-and-bottom. These will be custom-made for your teeth. There are other brands you may encounter with your provider. Essix clear retainers, Hawley retainers, and permanent bonded retainers. These will be similar in cost but check with your provider as to the brand and cost of the brand they use.
Discounted Invisalign Cost
You can agree to a discounted Invisalign cost with the orthodontist if you pay the entire cost upfront. A healthy discount may be available, dependant on current promotions.
Manhattan Beach Invisalign Teen
Beach Braces was one of a small select group of orthodontic offices to be chosen by Invisalign to conduct early initial clinical testing of Invisalign Teen. Can Invisalign Teen help perfect your smile using clear aligners so your teenage memories can be captured with confidence?
The aligners used have a blue dot indicator embedded on the plastic. This allows the parents and orthodontist to see how much compliance the teen has given toward the treatment. With this, you can be confident you are not wasting money and expertise on treatment if the teen is not into it or for another reason.
Monthly Payment Plans
There are simple ways to pay the cost over an agreed period. You won’t get a discount but you will be able to arrange a monthly payment schedule. This cost will be affordable and spread over a decent time scale. You may be able to adjust the payment amount. There should never be interest to pay. Anything other than interest-free payments is suspicious.
An Orthodontist or a Dentist?
Getting Invisalign treatment from an orthodontist will be cheaper than seeing a dentist for the same treatment. You may ask why. Well, the more treatment provided by the practice means lower lab costs and a quicker more in-depth treatment will occur.
A dentist has many roles within the oral health spectrum. Invisalign treatment will be just one part of a whole range of services and will not be a focal point in expertise like that of an orthodontist. The Invisalign company rewards providers that treat more patients, therefore reducing the cost of each treatment. This reduction in price will then be passed to you the consumer. These rewards are shown with level ranking. Let’s get into that.
Invisalign Levels
Seeing a high-ranking provider will save you money and give you a sense of comfort, knowing the provider has worked many cases before you. Platinum Plus and Diamond Invisalign Providers have the most Invisalign experience as they have treated the most Invisalign patients. Invisalign has a Locator Tool. This means you can search for your nearest expert and check their status. So you can find the most experienced Invisalign provider in your area.
Invisalign vs. Braces
Virtually Invisible. One of the biggest advantages to choosing this unique type of clear braces rather than traditional metal braces is that they are virtually undetectable when being worn. When patients wear these braces, other people see their warm smiles rather than an unattractive mouthful of metal.
It is the choice of the orthodontist as to the preferred treatment. In some severe cases, traditional braces will be the most efficient and usable type. Why is Invisalign preferable?
Invisalign is easy to maintain and clean
Most patients say it’s a hardship to give up many favourite foods while wearing traditional braces. But with clear braces, you can continue to enjoy all of the same foods as before. And unlike traditional braces which must be permanently fixed in place during the treatment process, clear braces can be removed from the mouth whenever necessary.
You can even continue to floss and brush your teeth as you normally would to ensure good oral hygiene throughout the treatment process. This prevents tooth decay and plaque build-up from occurring while wearing braces so that once the braces have been removed and the treatment period is over, your teeth will be healthy and present a beautiful smile.
More Comfortable
A notable benefit of Invisalign is the comfort factor. They are designed with a smooth durable plastic material proven to give less irritation to the teeth, cheeks and gums.
Traditional braces can cause mouth sores, continuous pain and more pain post tightening. With Invisalign, the teeth are pushed rather than pulled and the smooth surfaces will not irritate the mouth as much as the wires and brackets of old.
Invisalign vs Fixed Braces
A quick, patient-friendly comparison
| Feature | Invisalign | Fixed Braces |
|---|---|---|
| How does it work? | Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable aligners to straighten your teeth without wires or brackets. | Fixed braces use wires and brackets to move your teeth into straighter alignment. |
| Nearly invisible. |
Yes |
No. Most fixed braces are noticeable. |
| Removable during treatment. |
Yes |
No. You cannot remove fixed braces until treatment is completed. |
| Treatment does not involve metal that can irritate teeth and gums. |
Yes |
No. The metal wires and brackets used can cause mouth irritation. |
| Allows you to brush and floss normally during treatment. |
Yes |
No. Fixed metal braces hinder the ability to reach the entire tooth and gum area when flossing. |
| Provides a clear, defined virtual treatment plan from the start to the completion of treatment. |
Yes |
Although your dental practitioner has a clear, defined treatment plan, you will not be able to see what your teeth may look like during and after treatment. |
Cheaper alternatives exist. If one can save money they will but buyers beware of the cheaper options. Cheaper options like mail-order aligners fall well short in terms of quality, expertise and aftercare. Getting aligners from a mail-order means a lacking in overall treatment. Below we list what is not included in the treatment price.
- Dental check-ups during visits/Follow-up visits
- Supervision by a licensed orthodontist
- Lifetime smile maintenance
- Post-treatment follow-ups
- Attachments for aligner grip
- X-Rays
- Diagnostic records
- Extra aligners for refinements
- Retainers
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Advice on choosing an Invisalign Provider
Seeking a treatment that is both costly in money and time you’ll need to thoroughly research your intentions and what you wish to get from your treatment. It is a big step to undertake costly and time-consuming health treatments that will go on overtime and need your complete dedication for the entire treatment which may last years.
Invisalign FAQ’s
Invisalign straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It’s virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you’re straightening your teeth. These are some common FAQs for new patients wearing Invisalign.
1. What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an orthodontic appliance that works similarly to braces and is completely removable. Invisalign is created using nearly invisible dental aligners made of thermoplastic. The aligners look very similar to teeth whitening trays that you may use it the dentist or you may have purchased from your local drugstore. As you progress through Invisalign treatments you will need to change these aligners to gradually adjust your teeth into the position for your ideal smile.
2. How do the aligners work?
Over time you will need to change out the aligners to move your teeth into their correct position. The aligners will put a controlled force on teeth to slowly move them into their position. Orthodontists will map out these forces and dictate how aligners should be adjusted to properly adjust your teeth. Over the length of your treatment, your teeth will gradually move as you change each aligner until they are eventually formed into their correct structure.
3. How would Invisalign treatment affect me?
Unlike braces and some other forms of traditional orthodontic appliances, Invisalign is completely removable. Patients are only required to wear Invisalign for 20-22 hours a day for the best results. Removing the aligners to eat or drink means that you are not restricted in the types of food that you would regularly eat and you will also have no difficulties cleaning your teeth.
The best part is the aligners are virtually invisible so it will be very difficult for anyone to know that you are undergoing orthodontic treatment. Invisalign may be a bit uncomfortable for the first few days that you wear the aligners, but after that, they have a minimal effect on your life.
4. Do I need to take care of my aligners?
You will need to clean your aligners regularly. You can do this by both brushing them as you would your teeth and rinsing them with lukewarm water, or looking into the specialty Invisalign cleaning system. Changing your aligners whenever your orthodontist recommends is also required as part of your treatment.
5. How long does the treatment take?
Treatment will depend on how severe your individual case is. The average amount of time that the aligners are used is around 12 months for adults. Your orthodontist will be able to give you an indication of the amount of time your treatment may take but ultimately the deciding factor will be how well you personally adjust to treatment with the aligners.
Treatments can also be speeded up using Acceledent. Using this technology patients can decrease their overall treatment time up to 30%, effectively reducing a 12-month treatment plan to 8-9 months.
6. How often will I need to schedule appointments?
Invisalign will require fewer appointments than with traditional braces but you should still see your orthodontist at least once every 4 to 6 weeks to track your progress.
7. How much does Invisalign cost?
Only your individual orthodontist will be able to determine the full cost of Invisalign. It depends on the amount of treatment that you need individually and the number of aligners that you might need to complete your treatment. Some of the factors on pricing include the area that you live in, the difficulty of your case and the amount of orthodontic insurance coverage you may have. The national average for the cost of Invisalign treatment in the United States is around $5000.
If you need more information about Invisalign, feel free to call us or contact our office.
Written by G. Wooding
Medically reviewed by Dr. Panucci on March 23rd, 2021.
Beach Braces – 1730 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Suite B, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 TEL: 310-379-0006 Fax: (310) 379-7051.
Invisalign Costs Explained