So you have minor orthodontic issues and wonder if you’ll pay the same for Invisalign as someone who has a lot of tooth movement? The good news is that minor cases cost less than complex ones because you need fewer aligners and less time to treat. Knowing what a minor case is and how much you can expect to pay will help you determine if Invisalign is in your budget.
A minor case means your teeth are slightly spaced, slightly crowded or slightly rotated and need to be fixed. You might have one or two teeth that are a little crooked, or maybe there’s a small space between your front teeth that bothers you. These can usually be fixed in 6-12 months which is less than situations with a lot of crowding, big bite problems or teeth that need to move a long way.
For minor cases we charge between $3,000-$4,500 at Marrecau Orthodontics. That’s a lot less than the $5,000-$8,000 that moderate to severe cases would cost. The lower price is because you won’t need as many aligners overall. A simple case might only need 15-25 aligners whereas a more complex case might need 40 or more. Since you’re only wearing each set for a shorter amount of time you’ll also have fewer check up appointments during your treatment.
There are several factors that will determine where your cost falls within this range. The kind of movement you need is important. It’s usually easier to close small gaps than to rotate teeth or fix small bite problems. The price also depends on how many teeth are involved. If only your front 6 teeth need to be moved the treatment will be less complex than if a lot of teeth in your mouth need to be moved.
Some people with moderate cases are eligible for Invisalign Express which is designed for minor fixes. This type of Invisalign treatment uses fewer aligners and is less expensive than full treatment. Invisalign Express could be 10 aligners over a few months for minimal changes. This option isn’t available to everyone but for those who are it’s a more affordable way to get what you want.
Like any other orthodontic treatment, insurance covers minor cases as well. If your dental insurance covers orthodontic work it usually covers Invisalign no matter how bad your case is. Most plans pay 50% of the cost until they reach their lifetime limit. If you have insurance that covers $1,500 you’d only have to pay $2,000 out of pocket for a moderate case that costs $3,500. This makes it easy for a lot of people in Parkland to get treatment.
Even if you don’t have insurance the lower cost of moderate cases makes your monthly payments more manageable. If you pay for a $3,500 treatment over 12 months you might have to pay about $290 a month. A lot of patients say this is easy to fit into their budget especially when they think about how having straight teeth will benefit them in the long run.
We get asked often if patients should just deal with minor orthodontic problems instead of getting treatment. This is a personal choice but we think patients should think about more than just how it looks. Even a little bit of crowding can make it harder to clean your teeth well which could lead to cavities or gum problems later on. Food can get stuck in small spaces and cause irritation. Taking care of minor problems now could prevent worse ones from happening later.
Another benefit is that mild cases don’t have to be treated for very long. A lot of patients say 6-9 months seems doable even though they were hesitant about getting braces at first. It’s less scary to know there’s an end point in the near future.
We’ll evaluate your teeth during your consultation at our Parkland office and let you know if your case is mild and how much it will cost. Some problems that seem small actually need more movement than patients think, while others are even easier than they look. You can only know for sure by getting a professional evaluation.
People think treating minor cases will cost more than it does but it’s often less than they think. Especially when you think about how much better your teeth will look, how much easier it will be to clean them and how much better your oral health will be in the long run. For many patients it’s worth the investment because they can be proud of their smile. Surgical orthodontics, also called orthognathic surgery, corrects severe jaw or bite issues that braces alone cannot fix. This treatment enhances both function and appearance, creating long-term improvements in your smile and facial balance.