How Much Does Invisalign Cost?

The major factors impacting the cost of Invisalign are the complexity of the case and length of treatment, says David Chen, D.D.S., a dentist based in Long Island City, New York, as well as a cost that dentists pay to Invisalign. There are several different options for Invisalign treatment, depending on your age and orthodontic needs, according to Dr. Chen (though costs vary considerably on a case-by-case basis):

Very mild to mild: 

• Invisalign Express  (up to five aligners): $1,200 to $1,800
• Invisalign Express (up to seven aligners): $1,500 to $2,000

Mild to moderate

• Invisalign Lite (up to 14 aligners): $3,000 to $4,500
• Invisalign Moderate (up to 20 aligners): $3,500 to $5,000

Moderate to severe

• Invisalign Comprehensive (unlimited aligners): $4,500 to $8,000

Growing children: 

• Invisalign First Comprehensive (unlimited aligners): $3,000 to $4,500
• Invisalign First Comprehensive Phase 2 (unlimited aligners): $3,000 to $4,500

“More severe cases require the full comprehensive treatment package from Invisalign, which consequently costs the most, from $4,500 to $8,000,” says Dr. Chen.

What Impacts the Cost of Invisalign?

According to Brad Eckhardt, D.M.D., a dentist at Elite Dental Center in Greeley, Colorado, the following factors influence the cost of Invisalign treatment:

Complexity of treatment: If only a few teeth need correcting, or if your bite is only slightly misaligned, your treatment will likely be short, straightforward and cost less. But if you have complex malocclusion (dental alignment) issues, more aligners will be needed to fix the condition, which means a higher overall price.

Dentist experience: Among professional orthodontists of the same caliber, the cost of Invisalign aligners should be fairly consistent. If an orthodontist is providing treatment at a very discounted rate, it might be useful to confirm their professional experience working with Invisalign treatments specifically to ensure your treatment is efficient and effective.

If a dentist is providing Invisalign at a much cheaper cost than other practices, chances are they’re inexperienced, says Dr. Eckhardt, and choosing them might lead to unsatisfactory results.

Patient’s Consistency: The results of Invisalign aligners are dependent on a patient’s compliance–they must be worn 20 to 22 hours per day, as directed by their orthodontist or dentist. As the aligners are removable, some patients may forget to follow the strict guidelines for use, such as how long they need to wear them each day, which leads to longer treatments and higher overall costs.

Does Insurance Cover Invisalign?

Most (PPO) dental insurances do cover Invisalign, says Dr. Chen, but it depends on whether your company’s human resources department negotiated for it as a benefit. If your plan does include this benefit, most insurance companies will cover between 25% to 50% of the treatment’s total cost, adds Dr. Eckhardt, but most have a maximum amount they are willing to pay of $1,500 to $2,000, so that percentage varies based on the total cost of your treatment.

“The vast majority of insurance plans we’ve seen all cover Invisalign at 50% as stated in the insurance contract, but that is actually misleading,” says Dr. Chen. Most dental insurance plans have an average orthodontic benefit maximum of $1,500 to $2,000. For example, explains Dr. Chen, if your total Invisalign cost is $6,000, but you have an orthodontic benefit maximum of $2,000, the maximum contribution from your plan would be $2,000, leaving you with an out-of-pocket cost of $4,000, even after 50% coverage from insurance.

There are three ways you can pay for Invisalign, says Michael Gorlovsky, D.M.D., an orthodontist at Windermere Orthodontics in Suwanee and Cumming, Georgia. These options include using your dental insurance, using your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), asking your doctor for a monthly payment plan.

Payment Plans

Payment plans are used for Invisalign on a regular basis, says Dr. Chen. Some typical payment plan offerings include twenty four months of no-interest payments, or 36 months with no money down, according to Dr. Chen and Dr. Corlovsky.  However you may need to qualify for the financing, so your credit score should be in good standing.

Salomon Maya, D.D.S., a dentist at Maya Dental in Studio City, California, says his practice offers several payment plan options, as well. Patients may pay in full (with a discount), pay in three installments, or use CareCredit, a financing company that allows you to pay your balance over 12 to 48 months. Speak with your Invisalign provider to see if they offer payment plans and which might be right for you.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

An HSA is a savings account you can use to put untaxed money aside to use for qualified medical expenses—including Invisalign, which is an eligible expense for HSA funds, says Dr. Gorlovsky. “Under HSA, you are reimbursed for expenses with pre-tax dollars. You pay for Invisalign first, and then you can get reimbursed from the account.”

In 2022, patients with a High Deductible Insurance Plan (a minimum of $1,400 for an individual and $2,800 for a family) can contribute up to $3,650 (individual) or $7,300 (family), which rolls over year to year if not used—unlike an FSA, which expires after a year.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Invisalign qualifies for payments from an FSA account, says Dr. Gorlovsky. A flexible spending account (FSA) is an employer-sponsored healthcare account that you can put money into to pay for medical expenses. Similar to an HSA, after making a payment, a patient can seek reimbursement from their FSA account.

Your employer may offer an FSA program that allows you to contribute pre-tax funds on an annual basis. The limit of how much you can contribute is determined by your company, and usually expires two and a half months after the end of the year (some companies may allow you to carry over $500).

Dental Schools

At dental schools, students provide Invisalign treatment under the supervision of professional dentists, says Dr. Eckhardt. These schools offer lower prices for Invisalign treatment, making them a good option for people who can’t otherwise afford the cost. However, while Invisalign is less expensive through a dental school, the savings aren’t as significant as you might expect, says Dr. Chen, adding that you’ll probably save 10% to 15% at most. Other factors to consider include longer wait times, lengthier office visits and stricter protocols, he says.

Medicaid and CHIP

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide required insurance coverage for some low-income families, children, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities and the elderly for necessary medical procedures, says Dr. Eckhardt. Medicaid does not offer coverage for Invisalign as it’s considered cosmetic. “However, if the medical (dental) condition of the child is severe to the extent their daily [quality of] life is suffering, then they might offer the financial coverage needed,” he says.

Invisalign , was the only clear aligner treatment available for many years, says Greg Nalchajian, D.D.S., an orthodontist at Nalchajian Orthodontics in Fresno, California. However, now that many of the company’s key patents have expired, there are many clear aligner providers, all of which have pros and cons and require a lot of research before a doctor can guide patients regarding the best choice, says Dr. Nalchajian.

There are many do-it-yourself (DIY) clear aligner options on the market, such as Byte, Candid and NewSmile, which come at a fraction of the cost of Invisalign (usually 40% to 60% less), says Dr. Chen. “From our experience, these DIY options work best for very simple cases and work really well for people who’ve had orthodontics but relapsed about six to12 months ago,” he says. “For moderate to severe cases, you’re much better off going straight for Invisalign.”

Invisalign moves teeth via artificial intelligence algorithms, which is why it’s a more effective system than DIY options, says Dr. Chen. “The more data you have, the more predictably [the aligners will] be able to move your teeth. Invisalign has the most data since they’ve been around since 1997. These newer brands of aligners only have a handful of years at most—in other words simply not enough data,” he explains. Additionally, the progress of DIY aligners is not monitored by dentists or orthodontists.

Many orthodontists now offer in-office aligner alternatives where they use software and 3D print technology to design and create their own versions of clear aligner treatments, adds Dr. Nalchajian. “These can be very good and cost-effective aligner options for most patients, but it’s important to find a provider who is experienced in their in-office systems for best results.”

If you’ve decided to invest in Invisalign, experts recommend making the most of your experience  to get the best results and finish treatment as quickly as possible. Unlike braces, where you’re forced to have them on at all times, Invisalign trays are removable. However, if you don’t wear them for the recommended 20 to 22 hours per day, your teeth won’t move, says Dr. Chen.

To make the most of your Invisalign experience,  Dr. Gorlovsky recommends the following tips:

• Invest in a removal tool. Clear aligners must be removed for eating, drinking and brushing, and it can be challenging to remove them with your nails. A removal tool makes this process easier.
• Purchase a storage case. Prevent your clear aligners from germs (and any pets) by storing them in a protective case.
• Soak your aligners. When you’re not using them (for example, while eating), soak your trays in a diluted, dye-free mouthwash or denture cleaner to keep bacteria to a minimum.