Invisalign is a popular orthodontic treatment that is used to straighten teeth and correct misalignment. It is a great option for those who want to improve their smile without the hassle of traditional braces. But do dentists make money with Invisalign?Invisalign places each of its providers on a scale called “Invisalign Advantage”, which consists of eight levels, ranging from Bronze to Diamond II. Dentists and orthodontists earn points for every Invisalign treatment they complete, allowing them to advance to higher levels.
A comprehensive Invisalign package, for example, is worth 100 points. To reach the highest level (Diamond II), a supplier needs 20,000 points, so suppliers classified as Diamond have a lot of experience. The cost of Invisalign treatment can vary depending on the location and the provider. Some places are simply more expensive to do business. In the United States, people living in the Northeast or West Coast tend to pay more.
Also, if your doctor's office is in a city or other expensive area, your rent, utilities, etc. may be higher than in other areas. Ultimately, this may mean higher costs for patients. When you're looking for treatments that can cost a few thousand dollars, paid plans can be comforting. These financing options divide that intimidating price into manageable monthly portions.
Some financing options require a credit check to qualify, while others don't. If you're not sure about your credit score, you'll want to look for one that doesn't require it. And while monthly payments are good, they also allow interest to accrue, increasing the final cost. For this reason, it's best to pay upfront if you have the financial flexibility. If your dental insurance includes orthodontic benefits, they are likely to cover part of your Invisalign treatment.
Of course, insurance coverage varies on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes an insurer considers a cosmetic treatment with clear aligners and refuses to cover it. In other words, you shouldn't assume that Invisalign will be covered just because your dentist recommends it; check with your insurance provider first to make sure. If your insurance covers orthodontic treatment, Invisalign treatment may be fully or partially covered. For more information, visit our guide to insurance coverage for Invisalign. Both orthodontists and general dentists offer Invisalign.
Before scheduling an appointment with either of the two professionals, it's helpful to find out how Invisalign works and how best to choose a provider. Dental offices that do a lot of advertising and offer offers like a free cleaning or a free whitening often do so simply to get to the door, so they can prescribe a great treatment plan for the job you may or may not need. Disproportionately, they are national corporate-owned chains, such as Aspen Dental. Compare all of that to a dentist who may have taken a single training course to become a certified Invisalign provider, and it's clear that orthodontists have the upper hand when it comes to experience. Due to a few different factors—the lack of oversight, the increase in debt incurred during dental school, and the increase in corporate dental chains driven by fees—there is a good chance that you will visit a dentist who is making decisions based on profit rather than the work you actually need. A dentist or orthodontist may not be upfront about all the costs that consider treatment but this is not so much a hidden cost of invisalign as it is not being transparent as a practice. But the dentists I interviewed told me that you should doubt any new dentist who prescribes a lot of work unless you're going to come in because of pain. To make sure you get the best smile possible, you need to choose the right provider but you'll find that you can get Invisalign from either a dentist or an orthodontist.
If you're lucky, your own dentist is a certified Invisalign provider and you won't have to look any further. Whether a patient consults a general dentist or a family dentist, they are the ones who best judge which type of treatment will give the best results. However, more acute conditions require more time and supplies to correct and your dentist's time and supplies cost money. The system assigns one of eight levels ranging from Bronze to Diamond+, with a VIP designation for dentists who have additional experience in any of the eight levels. In order to offer general or cosmetic dental services, dentists need a lot of tools and equipment to create things like crowns, veneers, fillings and more. He has helped hundreds of doctors earn more money in their offices using their proven internet marketing techniques. Finally, talk to your dentist or any dental professional you're thinking of going for Invisalign about all costs associated with treatment before making any decisions. If you're on the full Invisalign treatment plan refinements don't usually come at an additional cost but you should ask your dentist or orthodontist to confirm this. In conclusion, dentists do make money with Invisalign treatments but there are many factors that go into determining how much money they make from each patient including location and experience level.
