Shopping for a dentist/orthodontist

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Spunky - 13 May 2006 00:56 GMT

Aloha. College aged year old male here in Honolulu, HI. I had
conventional braces as a kid but failed to keep up with retainers and
have some minor crowding on the lower center teeth. I am ready and
willing to correct this now with clear aligners and looking around town
for invisalign providors.

What is the best way to do this? I've called a couple places and it
seems everyone wants me to come in for an initial examination and
charge me $67, plus another $30 if they want to take molds.

I think shopping around and being an informed consumer is very
important, but I find it very difficult to do if each Dr. I look in to
is going to charge me $67 - $100. Can anyone offer any advice while
shopping around for invisalign? I have an appointment with one doctor
Monday, who "has alot of invisalign patients". It's very stressfull, as
I do not want to make a wrong decision where I'm paying $4,000 and
likely more.

Aloha kakou,

Reply to this Message

Bill - 13 May 2006 21:35 GMT

Considering the fact that Invisalign costs so much, the $67-100 is
cheap insurance.

You might be well advised to check with an orthodontist about the use
of an MTM (Minor Tooth Movement) device for the lower teeth. Such
devices were available for years before Invisalign was invented, and
can be appropriate for ordinary crowding if there are no other
positional complications.

There are also many general practitioners who utilize removable
othodontic appliances for minor tooth movement. Most of these minor
removable appliances are far cheaper than Invisalign, as they don't
involve the huge fees that dentists pay to the Invisalign company for
the use of their trademarked devices.

However, if your tooth crowding is more than just crowding and involves
actual loss of arch length (as often happens in crowding cases), then
you would probably be better off seeing an orthodontist.

I have heard from local orthodontists that they can correct most cases
more cheaply than by using the trademarked devices.

- dentaldoc

Reply to this Message

Spunky - 14 May 2006 01:47 GMT

Thanks for your response! The dentist called me back today, it seems
the lady I spoke with had confusion. They said to forget any fees
stated before, and that the only cost would be $30 for the consultation
which would include the analysis, taking the pictures, etc and we'd
know exactly where I stand that day.

They said they offer Invisalign Express, as well, which has a shorter
time for less severe situations. For others who may be following, they
said on the phone that invisalign express typically costs $3300-$3500
for upper and lower (And around $2500 if I just wanted the lower), and
normal invisalign runs about $4700.

So I will find out exactly where I stand on Monday. Hopefully I can use
invisalign express, and only on the lower. I am also much happier with
the $30 charge. I am really impressed with this dentist office so far
with their communications. Aloha!

Reply to this Message