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5.6

Overall Score

LAST UPDATED: March 22nd, 2024

Invisalign is probably the most recognized name in the invisible braces industry. Founded in 1997, Invisalign revolutionized the orthodontic industry with its digital-led Invisalign system. Even now, the company continues that spirit of innovation and is continuously creating new orthodontic technology.

Invisalign has nearly 100,000 Invisalign-trained dentists and orthodontists in over 90 countries. The company has helped over 6 million people transform their smiles, including 1.4 million teens.

We recommend reading through our Invisalign reviews to see what others are saying about their before and after Invisalign transformation and whether or not they'd recommend working with them.

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The Good

  • Benefits of Invisalign
  • High-Quality Products
  • SmartForce Attachments
  • Invisalign Teen

Benefits of Invisalign

There are numerous reasons why people choose Invisalign clear aligners over traditional metal braces. Some of Invisaligns benefits include the following:

  • Easily removable — makes it easy to keep up with good oral hygiene
  • No emergency dentist or orthodontist visits due to broken brackets or wires
  • Virtually invisible — clear plastic trays made from high-quality plastic
  • Often cheaper than traditional braces — may be covered by an orthodontic insurance plan

Invisalign is an excellent option for those looking for straighter teeth, without interrupting their life with regular braces. While many other companies in the industry are limited to fixing mild and moderate alignment issues, Invisalign is continually finding ways to fix more complex orthodontic issues.

High-Quality Products

Invisalign creates its aligners using industry-leading technology based on an individual treatment plan. In order for its product to be "invisible," every Invisalign aligner is customized and engineered to fit the patient's teeth.

Using the iTero Element® scanner, patients can have a 3D image of their teeth in just a few minutes. Invisalign prides itself on the fact that it has eliminated the need for goopy molds made from putty. The iTero Element allows doctors to get a high-resolution, interactive image that helps to simplify the aligner process.

Invisalign aligners are also made of SmartTrack® Material. The company engineered the material specifically to help get the best fit possible.

SmartTrack® Material applies a gentle, constant force, helps improve control of tooth movements, straightens teeth with 75 percent more predictability, ensures a snug fit, and reports treatment times up to 50 percent faster.

Invisalign even takes the time to trim each aligner individually, so it doesn't bother the patient's gum line. Every aligner is examined to ensure it meets Invisalign's high-quality standards.

SmartForce® Attachments

Patients with more complex dental issues might want to check out Invisalign's SmartForce® attachments. The attachments are small tooth-colored shapes that are bonded to the teeth either before or during the Invisalign treatment. It should be noted that getting the attachments doesn't require any drilling or numbing shots. They are simply attached to the front of the teeth and when the treatment is done can easily be polished off. The attachments merely give the aligners something to push on and help force the teeth into the right position.  

SmartForce® Attachments are generally only used in more complex cases and not everyone who uses Invisalign will need the attachments.

Invisalign Teen

While invisible braces or clear aligners are generally more popular among adults, Invisalign notes that its technology is a great option for people of all ages. The clear aligners with precision wings can help fix class II malocclusions — this is where the upper and lower jaw don't line up. The mandibular advancement feature can help tweens and teen correct overbites while straightening their teeth at the same time.

Invisalign First is great for parents with younger children, ages 6 to 10, to start addressing any developing orthodontic problems. While many parents are hesitant to start their child's orthodontic treatment while they're so young, the Invisalign First clear aligner was designed for predictable results and a positive experience to better address the unique needs of growing children.

The clear aligners for teens have a built-in indicator dot that helps monitor progress. If your teen is wearing Invisalign correctly and for the recommended amount of time, the blue dot will fade. If your teen isn't wearing them as the treatment plan suggests, the blue dot will be visible to your orthodontist or dentist.

Invisalign is a viable option for both kids and teens, as the product is easily removable — making it easier to brush and floss, and the clear aligners were designed to be extremely comfortable — no more discomfort with metal brackets or poking wires tearing up the mouth.

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The Bad

  • Doctor Visits Required
  • Is Invisalign Right For You?
  • Invisalign Cost

Doctor Visits Required

Invisalign requires doctor visits in order to take an impression of your teeth, make adjustments to aligners, and to make payments. Other invisible braces companies cut out the doctor's visits and work directly with the customer, making the treatment time much quicker for.

Dentists and orthodontists act as a middle man between the customer and the Invisalign treatment. Although a dental professional is necessary for accurate teeth alignment, they do complicate the process when customers have to make regular appointments.

Invisalign suggests scheduling regular appointments with your doctor every four to six weeks.

Is Invisalign Right For You?

One of the most attractive features of invisible aligner providers is that most of them offer in-home teeth assessments and remote-doctor directed treatment, a foreign luxury to conventional braces. Invisalign works exclusively through individual dentists and orthodontists.

Those looking into getting clear braces can fill out Invisalign's Smile Assessment questionnaire to see if an Invisalign treatment is a viable option. However, Invisalign warns that the Smile Assessment does not replace the need for a consultation with a dentist or orthodontist, as only a trained Invisalign provider can determine whether a customer is a good candidate. While this is helpful information to know, it would be more useful if Invisalign stated whether the company offers a free consultation or not.

Invisalign Cost

How much does Invisalign cost for you? Invisalign advertises that the only thing its invisible aligners have in common with traditional metal braces is the price. Unfortunately, the price is the worst part about metal braces.


Invisalign could cost you anywhere from $3,500 to $7,100, without insurance, to straighten your teeth.

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The Bottom Line

Invisalign is a great alternative to metal braces and a top contender in the invisible aligner industry.

While the company is the oldest invisible aligners provider in the industry that hasn't slowed its progress. Invisalign is continually introducing innovative technology and eliminating outdated, undesirable steps in the aligner process (no more goopy, gross tasting putty molds).

Patients working with online invisible aligner companies are often limited in the extra features aspect. Since Invisalign patients are working with a trained orthodontist or dentist, they often get a more personalized treatment plan. With Invisalign, complex orthodontic cases can determine if SmartForce® Attachments are needed either before or during the treatment plan. That's something other invisible aligner companies don't offer.

However, even though Invisalign offers impressive features and new technology, it comes at a price. The average cost for Invisalign braces is between $3,500 and $8,000. While insurance may cover some of the cost, it is significantly higher than other companies in the industry. Invisalign also doesn't make any mention of additional expenses such as replacement trays or how much its recommended Vivera® retainer will cost. While the final cost may vary depending on the Invisalign provider (whether that be an orthodontist or dentist), it would be helpful to customers to know a ballpark range of what the total cost will be.

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Star Rating

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3.8

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255 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

64%

4 grade

21%

3 grade

6%

2 grade

5%

1 grade

4%

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Jennifer Newport News, VA

I was told I would have them for 17 weeks. I was shown on computer what my teeth would look like. There was only 3 questions I had at the beginning 1. Would they correct my 2 front teeth? 1 is overlapping the other a little. 2. My 2 front teeth are longer? Can it correct? 3. I was hit by a wave which knocked my bottom teeth loose. I had a root canal on 4 of them. Can Invisalign straighten them? I was told yes on 1 & 3 and #2 they said when my teeth were straightened it would appear that my teeth were the same length. The computer generated improvement was wonderful. My front teeth move back to 1 overlapping when I have mine out for 3 hrs. It seems to me that they don’t correct your teeth at the gum level but only align your teeth at the ends of your teeth.

3 years ago

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Emma Morrill

Invisalign is extremely overpriced. There are many other competitors that have the same product for a much lower cost. They also use care credit for payment plans which require it to be paid in full before the year ends. Most people who need dental work don’t have six grand to spend on braces without one year.

10 months ago

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Cat Mendez Apache Junction, AZ

it does straighten ur teeth but it’s so intensely painful the entire time. taking them out to eat doesn’t work because ur teeth ache so bad that touching them sends jolts of pain everywhere. this doesn’t get better the more u wear them. i’ve had them for more than a year and they are still insanely painful to wear and especially to take out. my teeth are slightly straighter but they do not do a good job of rotating crowded teeth.

3 years ago

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Joshua Smith Semmes, AL

The product works somewhat, however, it did not completely close every part of my teeth as they said it would. The estimated duration was also incorrect, as the dentist had to keep on making adjustments, far beyond the time when it was supposed to have been completed already. I feel like I overpaid for this product becasue it did not do everything they said it would do before I agreed to the purchase.

2 years ago Edited June 7, 2022

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Margaret Beus Richland, WA

My dentist recommended Invisalign to straighten my teeth so I agreed. They did a fairly good job of straightening but ruined my bite. Consequently, I had to have regular braces that still weren’t completely successful. This product is likely good for people whose teeth were once straight and just need to be returned but I wouldn’t recommend using them for the initial straightening.

3 years ago

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Koerrea LR O'Fallon, IL

Just too expensive for me. I wasn't willing to spend that much money for my teenage son. I do like the process and how the product is made. Like how you get your steps and its great for braces. I just wasn't willing to spend so much money. My bestie had them as she refered us but yeah for a teenager iono about cost.

2 years ago

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Brenda Spanish Fork, UT

I have had Invisalign for nine months it has been a very difficult process I still have two more years to go. I would not recommend Invisalign or this type of product.

4 years ago

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Red259 Orlando, FL

I didn't like the fact that the product didn't straight en my teeth. It was very uncomfortable in my mouth. It felt tight.

1 year ago Edited June 27, 2022

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Dale L Farmer Littleton, CO

They say they do more than they can. They say they can do complex cases when these types of cases need traditional braces.

4 years ago

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shawne bradley San Francisco, CA

This company had really bad customer service and the braces never came. It was difficult to get a refund.

1 year ago

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Gayle Greene ,

My daughter did Invisalign and we were not impressed. It was expensive and she didn’t get a great result.

3 years ago

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Kurt Lucas Olney, MD

I was not happy with the results achieved when I used Invisalign. Won't use them again.

2 years ago Edited September 14, 2021