Invisalign vs Braces Cost: What’s the Difference?

Both braces and Invisalign are great options for straightening your teeth, which one you choose depends on the severity of the crookedness of the teeth. If the orthodontic problems are a result of jaw misalignment, braces are necessary to fix more severe cases. If the crookedness is not severe, Invisalign is a better option as it provides a more discrete look, and is much easier to allow regular dental hygiene as the retainers are removable. Those who have had braces are familiar with the difficulty surrounding flossing, brushing, and overall hygiene associated with traditional braces since they are not easily removed for these tasks. Many people suffer from small complications post-braces because of their inability to properly clean their teeth, which makes the ease of dental hygiene with removable retainers such as Invisalign all the more appealing. Invisalign is also known to be much more comfortable but isn’t often recommended for children or teens as they require more discipline and maintenance to ensure that the desired results are achieved. If teeth straightening is more complex and requires work on the jaw alignment, braces are the better option.

Depending on how much adjustment needs to be done, Invisalign is typically a bit faster than braces at straightening the teeth. The approximate timeline for braces is typically around 18 to 24 months, whereas Invisalign treatment can often be completed within 12 months. The accurate timeline of the treatment is completely dependent on the severity of the case. For just simple teeth straightening, Invisalign will be faster. For more complex circumstances, braces are the better option overall and you’ll likely save time in the long run if you can get all of the maintenance needed to be done with the braces rather than starting with Invisalign and needing to add other treatments throughout the process.

Different health insurance plans will cover a portion of orthodontic treatments, so make sure to check with your insurance plan to see if either or both are covered to have a better estimation of total costs. Typically, Invisalign will cost around $5,000 but can range from $3,000 to $8,000, depending on how many retainers are needed over time to achieve the desired results. More So than with Invisalign, braces have a wider range of total costs depending on the amount of work that needs to be done. The starting range for braces is slightly higher than that of Invisalign, being around $4,000, and end up costing closer to $10,000. Generally speaking, Invisalign is more often than not the more affordable option, but they are fairly comparable so braces are worth the cost if the more extensive maintenance is necessary for the desired results.

The starting cost of Invisalign is typically around $5,000 total, but it is worth checking to see if your insurance will cover at least a portion of the treatment. There are a few insurance plans that cover orthodontic procedures at least a little bit, even 20% coverage could mean saving $1,000. Invisalign also offers different payment plans that could be as low as $99 monthly to make the treatment more approachable for most people.

Unfortunately, if your treatment will require more time and retainers to achieve the results you are seeking, it will be a bit more expensive, possibly reaching the higher end of $8,000. The range of cost is less drastic than most orthodontic procedures though, so Invisalign is one of the best options for those who just have minor to moderate straightening of their teeth that they would like to have done.

To learn more about treatment, please contact us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Mesquite TX, Dallas TX, Sunnyvale TX, Forney TX, Balch Springs TX, Garland TX, Rowlett TX, and BEYOND.