OrthodonticsTreatment Cost
Lake Forest, IL – When it comes to clear aligner treatment, the cost matters, like so many other things in life. Cost is often one of the main questions patients ask when they visit an orthodontic practice for their initial evaluation.
You might have seen in the ads, options range from professional in-office clear aligner treatments like the ones we offer at Deerpath Orthodontics to cheap cookie-cutter mail-order ones.
In this article, Dr. Stosich, a board certified orthodontist who has treated over 8,000 cases in northern Chicago, and the director of the orthodontic team at UChicago, goes over the cost of clear aligner treatment and discusses how a kit that promises a smile in a few months and shows up in the mail differs from a professional in-office treatment that’s scientifically planned out and executed by a board-certified orthodontist.
So, how much do clear aligners cost in Lake Forest and Highland Park?
For treatments planned and supervised by an orthodontist, the cost can range somewhere from $3,500 to $8,500, with full-arch cases costing between $6,500 and $8,500, and limited treatment that fixes a minor issue in one arch costing around $3,500.
What does treatment usually cost, and why the wide range?
Here’s how the numbers stack up side by side.
| Option | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Limited clear aligner treatment (minor corrections, one arch) | About $3,500 |
| Comprehensive full-mouth clear aligner treatment | $6,500 to $8,500 |
| Clear aligner treatment by a general dentist (not an orthodontic specialist) with limited aligner experience | $6,000 to $8,000 |
| In-office Chicago area average (all case types) | $3,500 to $8,500, most near $6,500 |
| In-office national average (all case types) | About $6,000 |
| Mail-order aligners, national | $649 to $1,499 |
Why such a spread? The main answer is treatment difficulty. Clear aligners can cover a vast range of orthodontic corrections, from minor issues to more complex cases. Closing a small gap in the front teeth differs from correcting crowding, a crossbite, or a deep overbite. More difficult cases can translate to lengthier treatment time, more trays, more visits, and more of the orthodontist’s attention.
Also, treatment length can differ from patient to patient, with some patients responding faster to teeth movement while some might just biologically need more time to respond to the aligner forces. That’s why individual evidence-based treatment planning done in-office by an experienced orthodontist is the key value a patient gets from clear aligner treatment.
So, two patients with the same teeth might require a very different treatment planning.
What should the price include?
Aligners treatment usually includes the entire cost of the treatment, not just the plastic trays. When you compare offices, ask what’s in the number:
- Records and planning. The exam, X-rays, and 3D scans that the treatment plan is built on.
- The aligners. Every tray in the plan, plus any extra trays if a tooth doesn’t track the way it should.
- Monitoring visits. Someone qualified checking that your teeth are moving safely, not just on schedule.
- Retainers. Teeth drift back without them, and some offices bill them separately.
That last one catches people off guard. A low sticker price that leaves out refinements and retainers isn’t low for long.
At Deerpath Orthodontics, your aligners consultation ends with a clear, itemized breakdown of the cost that we go over with you before you decide anything. No hidden fees. “Your smile is worth much more than just a price tag,” says Dr. Stosich. “Investing in orthodontic care is an investment in your oral health, your confidence, and your future.”
Why do quotes differ from one office to the next?
Four factors can move the pricing for clear aligner treatments, and they’re the same ones that we walk our Lake Forest patients through when they first come to our office for their consultation visit:
- How complex the problem is
- How long treatment will take
- Which type of appliance fits the case
- The experience of the orthodontist planning/supervising the treatment
That last factor might be the hardest one to see on a price sheet. Two offices can quote similar numbers and deliver very different care. One has every tooth movement planned by an experienced orthodontist who sees you in person at each visit. The other hands off a scan to software and checks in by app.
That doesn’t mean that the cheaper quote is always the wrong one, and the higher one is automatically the better. But the difference is worth understanding before you sign and commit to a treatment.
Should I see an orthodontist, a dentist, or go the mail-order route?
An orthodontist is a dental specialist who completed additional years of training focused only on moving teeth and aligning jaws. A general dentist might offer aligners too, but only for simple cases. Mail-order companies skip the office visit altogether.
The risk with the mail-order aligners is real, and it’s getting more and more attention lately. Just in this month, the FDA published guidance stating it has not authorized clear aligners for direct-to-consumer sale without a prescription and supervision by a dentist or orthodontist. It warned that a treatment that is not supervised by an orthodontist can cause uneven bites, unintended tooth movement, pain, and even tooth loss. The American Association of Orthodontists has raised the same concerns for many years.
“An aligner treatment can only be as safe as the planning and the diagnosis that the planning is derived from,” says Dr. Stosich. “If your gums, your roots, and your bite are not thoroughly checked by an expert, nobody knows if your teeth can move the way the plan says they should.”
At Deerpath Orthodontics, Dr. Stosich is our board-certified orthodontist. He is also the Director of Orthodontics at the University of Chicago and has over 15 years of clinical experience. Dr. Stosich works under one roof with Dr. Gerel Emgushova, who leads the general dentistry side of the practice. Thanks to our dual specialty practice, if a cavity or gum problem comes up during your exam or regular visits, it can be handled in the very same office.
Yes, mail-order can still be cheaper, but that’s for a reason:
- It might only work for very simple cases that normally fall under the lower cost range for in-office treatments.
- Your insurance can’t be applied in most cases.
- Your treatment is not directly planned and supervised by an experienced orthodontist.
- And if anything goes wrong, fixing it usually costs more than doing it right the first time.
Will insurance help pay for clear aligners?
Usually, a little. Plans that cover orthodontics typically pay 25% to 50% of the treatment, up to a lifetime maximum, which will be somewhere between $1,000 and $3,500. That’s capped to once for your whole life, not per year.
Two things are worth verifying before you assume anything:
- Does it also cover aligners? Check if your plan covers both braces and in-office aligners (most plans exclude mail-order programs entirely).
- What is the lifetime maximum? If a child already used part of theirs, for example, during phase one treatment, that means less is left for phase two.
Military families in the area should also look at the TRICARE Dental Program, which lists a $1,750 lifetime orthodontic maximum that can be shared with eligible dependents who are within a certain age limit, for up to 50% of the cost. TRICARE’s own overview doesn’t mention clear aligners specifically, so ask about aligners when we verify your benefits.
Other than insurance, you can also pay for your clear aligner treatment with your health savings account (HSA) or your flexible spending account (FSA). At Deerpath Orthodontics, we do accept most dental insurance plans as well as major credit cards and we also offer payment plans built around your budget. Our insurance and financing team verifies your benefits and handles the paperwork for you, so you can know your out-of-pocket cost up front.
Who should Lake Forest and Highland Park patients see for clear aligners?
An orthodontist who has experience treating many patients, who diagnoses in person, plans the treatment themselves, and puts the full cost on paper before you commit. In practice, that means a board-certified orthodontist.
For patients from Lake Forest, Highland Park, Libertyville, and the nearby North Shore and Lake County communities, Deerpath Orthodontics & Family Dental is located at 560 Oakwood Avenue, Suite 102, in Lake Forest. At our practice, Dr. Stosich is our head of orthodontic care, while Dr. Emgushova takes care of general dentistry under the same roof. With an average rating of 4.9 across more than 590 Google reviews, Deerpath Orthodontics is one of the highly reviewed and top rated practices in the area.
Whoever you choose, the following questions can always help:
- Who will plan my treatment? You want an experienced orthodontist looking at your X-rays and scans, not an algorithm.
- Is the fee all-inclusive? Ask about refinement trays and retainers by name.
- What happens if a tooth doesn’t move as planned? The answer should be a plan, not a shrug.
- Will I be seen in person? Some visits can be quick, but they shouldn’t disappear.
Highland Park and Libertyville are a short drive from Lake Forest, and families there get the same standard of care as our Lake Forest patients: evidence-based and never one-size-fits-all.
Ready for a real number?
No online quiz can tell you what your teeth need or if the aligner is the right option, but a short consultation visit (in most cases free of cost) can tell. Call us today at 847-579-4979 to set up a consultation appointment with Dr. Stosich and take your very first step toward a smile as unique and wonderful as you are yourself.
