Invisalign vs. Braces Cost in San Jose CA

Both the total costs of Invisalign and braces can vary greatly, with similar ranges, so it depends on what you need to be done through your orthodontic work. Invisalign will start a bit cheaper but can end up costing more than the average cost of braces at its higher range. Braces are slightly more expensive, to begin with, and, at their most expensive, can cost more than Invisalign. Essentially, they are quite comparable cost-wise, but the total costs will entirely depend on how much work needs to be done. More minor cases can end up being a bit more affordable with Invisalign and might not be worth the cost of braces, but more serious cases might require braces and be worth the extra costs.

It is common for a preference to be made more dependent on the severity of the work that needs to be done to result in straight teeth, regardless of whether your specific dentist prefers Invisalign or braces. For mild cases that only need minor adjustments, Invisalign is the faster and easier option for most people. If your teeth are more misaligned and will require more drastic treatment to become straight, braces are much more effective. Which method they recommend may also depend on your lifestyle or age, as Invisalign allows for more freedom, but its effectiveness will depend on how disciplined the patient is about wearing the retainer and if they can take proper care of the retainer. Braces are typically recommended more for children or teens to ensure that the treatment is done as intended and limit possible external factors that could influence the treatment.

As Invisalign functions by straightening all of the teeth at once, it is often the faster choice over braces. However, the time Invisalign takes to achieve the desired results varies much more than that of braces, and it mostly has to do with how disciplined the patient has been about wearing the retainers for at least 20 hours a day. However, Invisalign will not be effective on more complex cases, as it is not able to focus on specific areas that might require more work. The typical timeline for having Invisalign is around 7 to 18 months. Braces will take longer, even for the simpler cases, but will have much less variability since they are on 100% of the time. Braces will often take closer to 20 to 24 months to achieve the desired results.

One of the biggest benefits of Invisalign is the ability to remove the retainers, which makes eating, drinking, and dental hygiene significantly easier. With braces, it can feel nearly impossible to floss properly, and you have to be mindful the entire time regarding the kinds of foods you are eating to make sure that nothing damages the braces. Invisalign also typically takes less time in total and is often the slightly more affordable option. Additionally, the retainers used for Invisalign are always clear, making them much more discreet than typical braces.

As with all dental and orthodontic procedures, the total cost will depend on the prices offered by the dental or orthodontic clinic and how complex your dental work may need to be to achieve your desired results. Generally speaking, the total cost of Invisalign can be anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000, with the average cost being around $5,000. Braces can also cost as little as $3,000 or as much as $10,000 in total.

Visit NuSmile Dental & Orthodontics for quality dental care. We are conveniently located at 1319 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose, CA 95118. For more information, please contact us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from San Jose CA, Los Gatos CA, Campbell CA, Santa Clara CA, Cupertino CA, Sunnyvale CA, Saratoga CA, and Mountain View CA.