Invisalign has long been the country’s go-to clear aligner treatment. From New York to California, they’ve crafted dazzling smiles and renewed confidence for over twenty years. And while Invisalign delivers consistent coast-to-coast results, their prices can vary based on where you live. Why? That’s a good question.
Numerous factors can sway Invisalign costs, depending on your home state. South Dakota might not have as many Invisalign providers as other states, but their location and low cost of living mean low average prices. You can expect to pay between $3,500 and $6,500 for your Invisalign treatment. However, where you fall in that range depends on several factors.
So, if you’re trying to plot out a budget, but don’t have a good Invisalign estimate, we’re here for you. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a better idea of what you can expect to pay for Invisalign in South Dakota.
| Area | Cost in South Dakota | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Urban | $4,000 - $6,000 | $5,000 |
| Suburban | $4,000 - $6,500 | $5,500 |
| Rural | $3,500 - $5,500 | $4,500 |
These ranges are estimates based on what we know about Invisalign costs and some information from a few South Dakota-based orthodontists. But they should give you a general sense of what you might pay.
Table of Contents
Why Is Invisalign So Expensive?
We won’t lie: Invisalign is pricey no matter where you live. But there are good reasons for this, and many people think it’s worth the expense.
Every part of your treatment will go through your dentist or orthodontist, which gives them the chance to make on-the-fly adjustments, implementing additional attachments and altering timelines where they see fit. This is the most drastic difference between Invisalign and at-home aligner services like byte, Candid, and SmileDirectClub. And it enables your orthodontist to treat a wide variety of severe conditions, even jaw misalignments like overbite and underbite.
The average Invisalign treatment time is 12-18 months and requires office visits around every six weeks. But your dentist or orthodontist’s time, facilities, and equipment aren’t free, which means Invisalign often costs substantially more than at-home alternatives.
Looking For Affordable Orthodontic Treatment in South Dakota?
Invisalign is a great product, but the price tag can be difficult to swallow. If you're looking to straighten your teeth without breaking the bank, there are more affordable options out there.
Home-based clear aligner brands like SmileDirectClub and byte sell similar products for a fraction of the cost of Invisalign. We've researched and reviewed these services to help you find the best solution for your smile (& your budget).
What Factors Influence Invisalign Costs?
No matter where you are, Invisalign is somewhat expensive. But just how expensive depends on numerous factors. Some apply to every state while others are based on where you live, but you can find all of them in detail below.
Condition Severity
This is the most significant price-determining factor. A minor case of crowding or spacing simply takes less time and aligners to correct than a severe case of crossbite. The fewer office visits and aligners your teeth require, the less you’ll pay. During your initial consultation, your dentist/orthodontist can evaluate your teeth and estimate how long your treatment might take.
Region
In general, orthodontic care costs more on the coasts and less in the middle of the country. The northeast is particularly expensive, while southern states like Arkansas and South Carolina boast some of the nation’s lowest costs. Taxes can also play a role. The state will add sales tax to your total Invisalign cost, and higher corporate taxes might cause your orthodontist to accommodate by raising prices.
Midwestern states (South Dakota included) generally have lower dental and orthodontic rates than states in other regions. On top of that, South Dakota has a cost of living that’s lower than the national average, and it’s fairly consistent throughout the state. As a result, you can expect reasonably-priced Invisalign treatment no matter where you live in South Dakota.
All of South Dakota’s neighbors (North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana) are pretty inexpensive places to live. As a budget-minded consumer, you might be wondering if this means you can cross state lines for even cheaper orthodontic care. It’s a good idea, but the only neighboring state with a lower cost of living than South Dakota is Iowa. If you live near the southeast border, it’s worth a shot, although the amount you save might not be worth the time and money you spend traveling.
Let’s not forget taxes either. South Dakota’s sales tax will add 4.5% to your final Invisalign price. Fortunately, that’s lower than the national average, so it won’t drastically increase what you pay. Even better is that the state doesn’t have a corporate income tax, which decreases the cost for your dentist to run his or her business, potentially lowering their rates as well.
Urban, Suburban, or Rural?
Not only are Invisalign prices different between states, but they also vary depending on your location within the state. Urban areas, for example, often have a higher cost of living, and it’s less expensive to live in a small town. Do you have high rent and utility payments? Then your dentist or orthodontist likely does too. Higher overhead costs usually result in more expensive orthodontic treatment.
Urban
South Dakota is one of the United States’ least-populated states, and a significant chunk of that population is located in Sioux Falls. With around 180,000 residents, Sioux Falls isn’t a huge city, but it’s definitely the largest one in South Dakota. It doesn’t have an exorbitant cost of living either.
In fact, the city’s cost of living is right in line with the state average (particularly in rent and housing costs), so you should be able to find good prices on Invisalign treatment. Unlike other similarly-sized cities, though, Sioux Falls doesn’t have a high concentration of Invisalign providers. You shouldn’t have trouble finding one, but you won’t be able to shop around.
Suburban
Many of Sioux Falls’ suburbs are just slightly more expensive (although still more affordable than most other states). If you live just outside the city, you can expect slightly more expensive orthodontic care, but not excessively so. Even though Sioux Falls doesn’t have that many Invisalign providers, you’ll have access to them, so you can take advantage of potentially cheaper prices.
South Dakota’s next largest city is Rapid City, although it’s less than half the size of Sioux Falls, and a bit more expensive and has much fewer Invisalign providers – just 7 within a 100-mile radius, according to Invisalign’s Doctor Locator. Chances are, you’ll pay a bit more for treatment in Rapid City than you would in Sioux Falls. Aberdeen, Brookings, and Watertown – each with a population of 20,000+ – are all (on average) slightly cheaper places to live. However, they each only have 1-2 local Invisalign providers.
Rural
South Dakota has no shortage of rural towns with low average costs of living. Dentists and orthodontists in these small towns usually have much lower rates than those you might find in Sioux Falls or Rapid City. The issue is that some South Dakota towns are so remote that they don’t have an Invisalign provider within 100 miles. So, you might be able to find a provider with affordable prices, but you might have to travel pretty far for your appointments.
Local Competition
When you have numerous dentists and orthodontists in a given area, they each need to find ways to stay ahead of the competition and attract new customers. Many times, this means lower prices and special offers or sales. So, if there’s a high concentration of Invisalign providers in your area, it can mean lower prices, giving you the ability to “shop around.”
Nowhere in South Dakota do dentists and orthodontists face serious competition. The state’s biggest city only has ~25 Invisalign providers. With less competition, these providers have less motivation to offer promotional deals and discounts. And the providers in places like Aberdeen or Brookings (where they’re the only option) have even less of a need to stand out since they have no local competition. That said, it’s still possible to find decent sales. Keep an eye on dentist and orthodontist websites to take advantage of any sales they do run.
Dentist or Orthodontist Experience
A seasoned dental professional with an impressive portfolio of Invisalign successes will often charge more than a novice who just started offering clear aligner treatment. So, in some cases, you may need to decide between experience and affordability (but not always!). Sometimes it can be helpful to “shop around” to weigh your options if you have multiple dentists and orthodontists nearby.
Invisalign has a tiered series of levels (ranging from bronze to platinum) that tell you how much experience a given provider has. When you search for providers through Invisalign’s website, they will show you the level of each dentist and orthodontist in your area.
Managing Treatment Costs
When you’re staring down thousands of dollars in orthodontic treatment, it can be intimidating. Fortunately, there are effective ways to lower and manage those costs, from promotional discounts to payment plans. Here’s what you can do:
Review Your Insurance Plan
Some insurance plans will include Invisalign treatment and others don’t. If your plan includes orthodontic benefits, there’s a good chance you might receive partial coverage. But you don’t want to begin treatment expecting help from your insurance provider, only to find out that it’s not coming. So don’t commit to an Invisalign plan without first reviewing your insurance plan and contacting your provider to see if you’ll receive coverage.
You can also pay for Invisalign directly from an FSA or HSA account if you have one. Consult your dentist or orthodontist to see how they handle these payments.
Search for Sales and Discounts
Unfortunately, you’re not going to find sales plastered across Invisalign’s homepage and you won’t receive floods of promotional emails advertising “$100 off!” or “20% discount!” Invisalign doesn’t do that. However, your specific dentist or orthodontist might. Give their office a call to see if they have any special Invisalign offers. Sometimes, dentist offices will post these discounts on Groupon. Just head over to Groupon.com and search for Invisalign deals in your area and you might just find some.
Universities with dental schools will also offer discounts if you don’t mind a student or resident administering your Invisalign treatment. These individuals are qualified and overseen by professors and experienced dental professionals, so you can be assured you’re receiving quality care.
But in South Dakota, you’re out of luck, since none of the state’s universities have a dental school. But you should still be able to find fairly affordable prices elsewhere.
Ask About Financing
Most people can’t pay thousands of dollars for treatment all at once, so in many cases, financing is a must. Invisalign doesn’t have any company-wide payment plan policies – they leave it up to each provider. So, speak with your dentist or orthodontist to see what types of financing they offer. Many offices partner with specific third-party companies like CareCredit or beWell to break Invisalign costs into more manageable payments.
Discuss Aftercare in Advance
Even after Invisalign treatment, teeth have a tendency to shift back to their old positions. Aftercare retainers keep that from happening. When you remove your last aligner, you’ll have a perfect new smile, and you’ll need to purchase a retainer to protect it. Retainer costs vary, but you can usually get one for $100 - $300. Ask your Invisalign provider what they charge so you can plan it into your budget.
Because your dentist can make tweaks and course corrections throughout your treatment, they can ensure that you’ll get a perfectly straight smile. But sometimes, teeth simply don’t move as expected. In the rare case that things don’t turn out as you hoped, you might be eligible for a refinement, where your dentist will craft new aligners to deliver the results you’re after. Of course, this will take more time and resources, so refinements often cost an additional fee.
3 Affordable Invisalign Alternatives
If you’ve come this far, you’re probably pretty serious about Invisalign, but it’s not ideal for everyone and there are some other high-quality options out there. Take a look at three of our favorites:
1. byte
byte is an at-home aligner service, so you’ll receive your full aligner series in the mail, then administer treatment from the comfort of home, no office visits required. We love byte because they combine a lightning-fast treatment time with top-quality care.
They can’t treat the same scope of conditions that Invisalign can, but for mild and moderate cases, they can usually deliver results in just 3 months. And they don’t sacrifice quality to make it happen. byte guarantees that your treatment will be designed and monitored by an orthodontist, not a general dentist or dental technician. Then, they ensure your smile forever with their byte-for-life guarantee.
Want to review byte and Invisalign side-by-side? Take a look at our byte vs. Invisalign comparison guide.
2. Candid
Here’s another home aligner company that we think goes above and beyond. Out of all home aligner options, Candid comes the closest to Invisalign’s in-office care. Their Remote Monitoring service lets you regularly check in with your assigned orthodontist to keep your smile on track and potentially shorten your treatment time. Their manufacturing partnership with ClearCorrect and orthodontist-only network means you’ll receive top-quality products and care.
Check out our Candid vs. Invisalign review for a more in-depth comparison.
3. ClearCorrect
ClearCorrect is Invisalign’s largest in-office competitor. Like Invisalign, ClearCorrect’s treatment is administered by a dentist or orthodontist, so you’ll need to make regular office visits. Much of ClearCorrect’s process is very similar. The advantage they have over Invisalign is that they charge dentists and orthodontists less for lab fees, which often makes treatment less expensive for the customer.
For a deeper analysis of these two companies, take a look at our ClearCorrect vs. Invisalign review.
Conclusion
One of the first steps in preparing for Invisalign treatment is working it into your budget, but it’s difficult when you don’t have an accurate cost estimate. But now that you know all the intricate pricing details in South Dakota, you can better evaluate how viable this treatment might be.
Of course, the only way to get a truly spot-on estimate is by consulting a dentist or orthodontist. If you love Invisalign but aren’t sure about the cost, don’t let that hold you back. Speak with your dentist to see how you might be able to make it more affordable. Or, check out one of the quality alternatives we’ve outlined here. Either way, you’ll be on track to the perfect option for your perfect smile.