Invisalign Cost in New York State – Prices And Alternatives Explained

Many adults looking to straighten teeth opt for Invisalign. In fact, it’s been the country’s go-to orthodontic treatment for over 20 years, where it’s provided 10+ million patients with life-changing smiles from Los Angeles to New York. Yet while Invisalign continues to deliver consistent results, the Invisalign cost can vary greatly depending on where you reside.

Take New York, for example. The state itself differs geographically from the peace and serenity of Upstate New York through to the hustle and bustle of Downtown Manhattan and while the scenery and way of life varies, so too does the cost of Invisalign.

Typically you can expect to pay somewhere between $4000 and $8000 for Invisalign treatment in New York State and while that’s a hefty price swing, where you fall between those price points depends upon factors like the complexity of your treatment and where you live.

So, while it might seem that we’re sitting on the fence when it comes to nailing down the Invisalign cost, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered! By the end of this guide, you’ll have a better idea of what you can expect to pay for Invisalign treatment in New York. So, sit back, relax, and read on.

For those of you looking into teeth straightening options for the first time, you may be a little unsure about wh at Invisalign is. To put it simply, Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that straightens teeth using a series of removable aligners (known as trays). But how did it all start?

In the mid 1990’s, a young Stamford University student Zia Chishti was undergoing orthodontic treatment. During treatment he endured many of the inconveniences that come with wearing fixed ‘bracket-and-wire’ style braces for 24 hours a day. Chishti felt that there had to be a better way and it came to him when he was given his retainer after treatment had finished. He wondered if teeth could be straightened using a series or plastic removable retainers, rather than fixed braces. With that thought, he teamed up with Kelsey Wirth another Stamford student and in 1997, started to work on the development of their product – Invisalign.

Now called Align Technology, the team already had access to Stamford’s CAD/CAM 3D modelling and printing equipment and began to develop mock-ups of what the aligners would look like. At the same time, they worked on a software program that could create a model of a person’s current bite, then simulate what that bite would look like after treatment, and the stages in between. They used this as a basis to custom -design each aligner. Finally, after one year of product development, it was approved by the FDA in 1998.

At first, acceptance was slow, but as time progressed, dentists and patients alike found that Invisalign was effective, reliable and safe. By 2004, 175,000 people had success with Invisalign and by 2012, that figure had grown to over 2 million. In the 4th quarter of 2019, Invisalign announced their 8 millionth customer and by last year ( 2021), that figure had grown to over 10 million.

In the early years, Invisalign had no competition due to a series of water-tight patents but in 2019 many of those patents lapsed opening the door for other companies to introduce their own brand of clear aligners.

One of the most significant advantages of clear aligner therapy is that it is so different from conventional braces treatment that we know. Here’s a comparison guide:

There’s no getting away from the fact that New York has a high cost of living – especially if you live in the city itself. And while Invisalign costs vary, all this adds up to more expensive treatment. The upshot is that New York State has a ton of dentists and orthodontists who currently offer Invisalign treatment. In fact, according to Invisalign’s Find A Doctor Tool, there are over 500 certified Invisalign providers within the city itself. This allows you to consult multiple dentists to get the best price.

Another factor that may help keep Invisalign cost down is that New York State borders six other states, including New Jersey, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. If you reside near state lines, it might be possible to seek out treatment in neighboring states where you may be able to save yourself around 20%

Of course, NY state also borders Canada, so you might consider traveling north of the border to seek out cheaper orthodontic treatment. Prices for Invisalign treatment in Canada are roughly the equivalent of the US national average, so they come in around $3000 -$5000, so again, there may be a small saving to be had if you live close to the border.

The other factor to bear in mind regarding costs is taxes. The average rate of General Service Tax (GST) in NY state is 4%, although, in some areas, this can be as much as 8.875%

While factors like the treatment complexity dictate higher or lower prices across the board, there are other factors to consider for people living in NY State in particular.

Other factors that influence how much you will pay for Invisalign treatment include the level of specialism. Okay, so this isn’t specific to NY State per se, but it will make a difference to the end result.

Orthodontists, for example, specialize in treating irregularities of the teeth and jaw, including tooth movement. Then you have general dentists who have large portfolios of completed Invisalign cases and are registered as Platinum or Diamond providers. Typically specialist orthodontists or Invisalign top-tier providers will charge more money than a general dentist who has just started offering Invisalign to their patients. So, in some cases, you may need to decide between experience and cost.

So what’s the difference?

As the name suggests, with Invisalign, a patient would only receive treatment by going directly through their local Invisalign dentist/orthodontist. This was the only way to receive clear aligner treatment until recently.

Orthodontists or dentists can also support store-based aligner companies, but instead of visiting a local dental office, interested parties would visit a local store and undergo a check-up by a clinician to see if they are eligible.

Finally, home-based aligner services are based purely online, which means that every aspect of treatment is carried out in the comfort of your own home. This includes registration, impression-taking, and even virtual check-ins.

Some Invisalign alternatives, however, are a hybrid of these three options:
Here are three of the best Invisalign alternatives

As you can see, finding out how much Invisalign costs isn’t as straightforward as providing a one-size-fits-all price for everyone. Instead, many other factors can affect the price, including treatment complexity, whether you opt for an Invisalign alternative, and even where in New York State you live.

Hopefully, we’ve given you all the information you need to better evaluate the costs and make an informed dental decision. Of course, if you love Invisalign but are concerned about the price, then it’s worth shopping around. Alternatively, if you aren’t bothered about the brand but would like reliable teeth straightening options that fall into a cheaper budget, there are various other options available.

In short, you don’t have to settle for a mouth full of metal when you can have discreet clear aligner treatment. Instead, there is an option for every budget, case type, and need. It’s just a matter of finding it!