Is Invisalign Worth It? A Cost Guide for Patients in 2024
We’ve had many patients come to our Cary, NC, office curious about Invisalign®, the popular clear aligner system. Specifically, patients wonder if Invisalign is worth it. And yeah, with competitors like ClearCorrect®, SmileDirectClub™, byte®, and other emerging clear aligner systems, it makes sense to comparison shop.
While treatment recommendations for correcting misalignment can vary depending on your specific case, I believe Invisalign still stands as one of the most versatile and effective brands on the market.
Here’s a quick cost guide to Invisalign as we head into 2024. Let's see how Invisalign compares to its competitors, and note the benefits of having us in your corner during treatment.
Similar Costs for Clear Aligners Across the Board
Overall, the cost of your clear aligner treatment will likely be about the same whether you choose Invisalign or a competing brand. This is because the price of orthodontic treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all price. The cost of treatment will vary based on how complex your case of misalignment is and how long treatment will take to get you to your ideal smile.
The Average Cost of Invisalign
According to Invisalign's own estimates, the national average cost ranges from $3,000 to $7,000 depending on the length of treatment.
This price is close to the average cost of full orthodontic treatment from other competing brands. For instance, ClearCorrect costs $4,000 to $5,500 for a full treatment plan.
When it comes to clear aligners, the costs from various brands often mimic each other. This is why I recommend you look at other factors that aren’t numerical but add to the overall value of your treatment.
Important Factors to Consider Beyond Cost
Here are a few factors that I think make Invisalign a worthy treatment even against competing brands in 2024.
1. Invisalign Treatment Is Overseen by a Dentist
One of the special features that our clients experience from Invisalign treatment at our Cary dental office is having their treatment carefully supervised. Having a professional guide your journey can ensure that your treatment is optimized.
Many clear aligner brands offer at-home treatment from start to finish. This can sound enticing, especially when the price point is lower than what you’d find with professional Invisalign treatment. However, this means from start to finish, you’re not under the watchful eye of a dentist.
Why Dentist Supervision Matters
The quality of your treatment can suffer in little ways, such as the initial impressions. At-home clear aligner treatment requires you to take your own dental impressions with messy, gag-inducing putty. In contrast, our Cary dental office uses an iTero® digital scanner that’s mess-free, gives you a preview of what your finished smile will look like, and is easy to access and send to Invisalign for treatment planning.
As your dentist, I can also make changes to your treatment plan and better predict how long treatment may take.
When you’re using an at-home service, there’s a limit to how thorough your treatment can be. With in-office Invisalign treatment, these limitations are stripped away.
2. Comfortable Treatment With Patented Materials
When you choose clear aligner treatment over traditional orthodontics, one of the big factors many of my patients have in this decision is comfort. They want the comfortable nature of a smooth plastic aligner over metal braces. They also want to easily slip the aligner in and out of place when they need to remove it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and any snacks in between.
Invisalign Uses Exclusive Materials for Aligner Trays
Invisalign is the only brand to use the patented SmartTrack material to fashion their aligners. This material has been proven to provide patients with a better fit and better comfort. SmartTrack also makes the process of removing and inserting aligners easier.
Competing clear aligner brands aren’t using this material, putting them far behind the aligner evolution that Invisalign has gone through.
3. Aligner Trays Are Trimmed to Your Gumline
One of the things I like most about Invisalign is their commitment to personalizing treatment for each patient. One of the ways treatment is personalized to best serve our clients is through the positioning of the aligners with the gumline.
Invisalign aligners are trimmed to line up perfectly with your gumline. Using the digital impressions we send over, Invisalign can craft your aligners to lay perfectly flush with your gumline.
Optimized Comfort and Appearance
This alignment leads to less irritation of the gums, making for a more comfortable treatment experience. It also looks more natural since the plastic SmartTrack material stops at your gumline.
This is just one of the ways Invisalign ensures that your treatment is fully personalized to your needs. Other tray systems may take a generalized approach for a “one-size-fits-all” treatment.
When it comes to clear aligners and orthodontic care, the treatment should fit you and not the other way around.
Is Invisalign Treatment Covered by Insurance?
Invisalign treatment is covered, at least in part, by many insurance plans. However, this sentiment is true with many clear aligner brands and traditional orthodontic treatments.
We accept most insurance providers at our Cary dental office. My team is happy to assist you with checking if your insurance covers treatment.
For a lot of patients, the knowledge that Invisalign is open to working with many insurance providers can offer peace of mind when picking a comfortable orthodontic treatment.
Financing Options Are Also Available for Invisalign Treatment
In addition to insurance, we also accept financing through lenders like CareCredit® to help you afford treatment with manageable monthly payment plans.
Get Honest Insight from a Dental Health Professional
When it comes to choosing which orthodontic method is best for you, it’s important to talk with a dental professional to explore all of your options. When you visit my dental practice here in Cary, NC, you’ll see that I take the time to inform patients about all possible options for orthodontic treatment.
While I believe in the consistency, reputation, and ability of Invisalign, I will also be honest with you on whether treatment is right for your health or your current financial situation.
Straighten Your Smile
Set Up an Invisalign Consultation
Ultimately, starting with a consultation can help you determine if Invisalign is worth it for you in 2024. Contact my dedicated dental care team and me today to learn more. We look forward to helping you straighten your smile.
About Jeffrey S. Kearney, DDS
A dentist since 1992, Dr. Jeffrey Kearney has extensive training in TMJ and sleep-breathing disorders. He is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and a fellow of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
Read Dr. Kearney's Full Bio | All Posts by Jeffrey Kearney
