Braces or aligners: how to compare orthodontists' prices
Braces or clear aligners: it depends on your bite
Metal, ceramic, sapphire, lingual and self-ligating braces look and work differently. Aligners (clear trays, such as Invisalign) are less visible, but they don't solve every case. The orthodontist decides this after an examination and diagnostics, so don't insist on a system in advance: write what you want and ask what suits your bite.
Why prices differ so much
- The system: ordinary metal braces are cheaper than aesthetic ones, and lingual braces are usually the most expensive.
- Complexity: mild crowding and a complex bite need different treatment times.
- One jaw or both.
- What the price includes: diagnostics, X-rays, monthly visits, retainers after the braces come off.
- Payment: some clinics offer instalments or monthly payments.
- The orthodontist's experience and the clinic's level.
It is worth comparing not just the cost of the "system" but the total cost of the whole treatment. Fitting, monthly adjustments, removal and retainers are often priced separately.
What to put in your request
- System — metal, ceramic, sapphire, lingual, aligners; or "the orthodontist's choice".
- Bite problem — crowding, deep or crossbite, gaps, open bite.
- Patient — age, for example a 13-year-old child.
- One jaw or two.
- What is included — diagnostics, scans, visits, retainers.
- Payment — upfront or in instalments.
- City or area, orthodontist's experience and budget.
Example: “An adult needs sapphire braces on both jaws, crowded front teeth. Cebu City. The price should include diagnostics, visits and retainers, and I'd like a year of instalments. Budget up to ₱52,000.”
How offers work on BlaBlaPrice
Your request is checked first, with no ads or contacts, and then dental clinics and orthodontists in your city reply in the chat: which system they recommend, the price and what it includes, and when you can come. Each clinic sees its place among the others, so terms, including instalments, often get better. BlaBlaPrice shows the best-value offer first, with reviews alongside. Only the clinic you choose gets your phone number. Read more on “How it works”.
What to ask before treatment starts
How long the treatment will take on average and how often the visits are. What happens if a bracket comes off, and whether that is covered. Whether there is a retention period and how much retainers cost. For aligners, ask how many sets of trays are in the plan and whether refinements are possible. Treating children has its own features, so for a teenager you may need specialists in children's dentistry.
A common mistake is to choose by the lowest price for the system alone and then pay extra for visits and retainers. Before braces you often need dental treatment and a hygiene cleaning. To start, create a request.
