What decides the cost of Invisalign?
Three things, mostly, and all three are about your teeth:
- How far your teeth have to move. Straightening one crowded front tooth is a different job from closing spaces or turning several teeth.
- How complex the case is. Changing how the upper and lower teeth meet takes more planning than lining up the front teeth alone.
- Whether refinements are needed. Teeth sometimes lag behind the plan, particularly when aligners are not worn for about 22 hours a day, and a further set of aligners, called a refinement, may be made to finish the job.
Why the fee is quoted after the scan
Every plan starts with an iTero scan: a camera on a wand, a few minutes, and no impression putty. The scan becomes a three-dimensional model of your teeth, and the fee follows from the plan built on it.
That is why we quote after the scan rather than guessing beforehand. A figure given over the phone, before anyone has looked at your teeth, is a guess. The scan also shows whether aligners suit your bite at all, and if braces would do the job better, you learn that before you have paid for anything.
What the fee includes, in writing
Before you start, you get the fee in writing, along with what it covers. Work needed beforehand, such as a filling or gum treatment, is separate, because aligners move teeth rather than repair them. Read it before you sign, and ask about anything that is not clear. In the Invisalign fee itself, the points worth reading for are:
- Whether refinement aligners are included, or charged separately if you need them.
- Whether the check-up visits during treatment are included.
- Whether your first retainer is included.
- What happens if an aligner is lost or broken.
Does dental insurance cover Invisalign?
Sometimes, in part. Dental plans treat orthodontics differently from everything else, and two people with cards from the same company can have very different orthodontic coverage, so check yours specifically. We file the claim for you, and we can send the insurer a pre-treatment estimate first, so you know what they will pay before you commit. See insurance for the plans we work with.
Three things to look for in your plan:
- A separate lifetime maximum for orthodontics, which many plans have, apart from the yearly maximum for other treatment.
- An age limit. Some plans cover orthodontics only up to a certain age.
- Whether orthodontics is covered at all. Some plans leave it out entirely.
Can you use HSA or FSA money for Invisalign?
In many cases, yes. Orthodontic treatment is often an eligible expense for a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA). Your plan administrator has the final word, so check with them before you count on it.
With an FSA, ask about its deadlines as well, since the timing of treatment can matter.
The retainer is part of the cost
When the last aligner comes out, a retainer goes in. Teeth drift back otherwise, and the retainer is not optional if you want to keep the result you paid for.
So plan for it from the start, and ask what a replacement costs, because retainers get lost and wear out.
Questions patients ask
How much does Invisalign cost?
It depends on how far your teeth have to move, how complex your bite is, and whether refinements are needed. We quote after an iTero scan, in writing, rather than guessing at a number before we have seen your teeth.
Is Invisalign more expensive than braces?
We offer Invisalign here, not braces, so we cannot quote you for both. The fair comparison is the fee for your particular case with each, which means a written quote from us and one from an orthodontist.
Does dental insurance pay for Invisalign?
Some plans pay part of it under their orthodontic benefit, which often has its own lifetime maximum and sometimes an age limit. Call with your card and we will check what your plan covers before you commit.
Can I use my HSA or FSA for Invisalign?
Orthodontic treatment is often an eligible expense for both. Check with your plan administrator before you count on it, since they make the final decision.
Do I have to pay for a retainer?
You will need one at the end of treatment, because teeth drift back without it. Whether the first one is included is something your written quote should tell you, along with what a replacement costs.