If you’ve ever dreamed about getting a perfect smile, but the thought of painful, unsightly braces gives you nightmares, you’re not alone. Luckily, that’s where clear aligners come in. In general, clear aligners are faster, more comfortable, more affordable, and nearly invisible compared to braces.
It’s no surprise that clear aligners, often called invisible braces, have become the best alternative to metal braces. And as a result, there are plenty of clear aligner brands available across the country. Montana is no exception. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the options, don’t stress. We’ve done the work for you.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the top clear aligner options in Montana. But before we jump in, please note that orthodontic care is a very individualized area. There are lots of different facets to treatment: cost, in-office vs. at-home treatment, treatment speed, company size and track record, treatable cases, and more.
Everyone has different priorities, but we’ve done our best to weigh each of those categories to help you pick the best clear aligners in Montana.
Understanding Your Options: At-Home vs. In-Person Clear Aligners
When choosing a clear aligner, the first decision you should make is whether to use an at-home method or an in-person treatment. Both methods use clear aligners, but in-person treatments are administered at a local dentist or orthodontist’s office; at-home treatments are delivered right to your door instead.
At a glance, here are the primary differences between the two types:
At-home treatments | In-person treatments |
|---|---|
| Cost:flat rate; sticker prices range between $1,145 and $2,300 | Cost: variable depending on provider, condition severity, and location, but typically falls between $3,000-$10,000 |
| Orthodontist oversight: minimal; treatment design phase only (exception: Candid) | Orthodontist oversight: constant, from initial consultation to aftercare retainers |
| Office visits: not required | Office visits: required every 6-8 weeks |
| Treatment speed: 6 months on average | Treatment speed: 12-18 months on average |
| Treatable cases: mild cosmetic misalignments (with the exception of Candid, which offers more comprehensive treatment) | Treatable cases: Mild to fairly severe cases of misalignment and bite issues |
Why the huge cost variability for in-person treatments? A lot of factors influence the price tag you’ll pay for a product like Invisalign. Nationwide, Invisalign costs roughly $5,000.
Invisalign prices in Montana are usually in line with the national average, thanks to the state’s affordable cost of living. That said, compared to other states, Montana has a low population density (people are more spread out). As a result, there aren’t as many Invisalign providers in each town. There are still enough to get treatment without too much hassle, but you won’t be able to “shop around” as much. That said, regardless of whether you live in the biggest city of Billings or a college town like Bozeman or anyplace in between, you can expect to pay somewhere between $4,000 and $6,500 for Invisalign treatment.
If that sounds like a lot to shell out, consider using an at-home method like byte. Byte costs just $1,895, so you could potentially save thousands compared to Invisalign.
7 Best Clear Aligners in Montana
Now that we’ve established the distinction between at-home and in-person treatments, let’s dig into your top options in Montana. Thanks to our research, we’ve narrowed it down to the 7 quickest, safest, and most affordable options:
Byte | #1 Aligner
Founded in 2018, Byte prides itself on being the fastest at-home aligner on the market. But “fast” doesn’t mean “sloppy.” Byte also uses SmileScience to create a treatment plan that will transform your smile into a grin that complements your unique facial features.
Here’s a snapshot of Byte:
- Treatment type: At-home
- Cost: $1,895 for daytime treatment; $2,295 for byte At-Night (their premium nighttime aligners)
- Speed: 3 months (5-6 months for nighttime treatment)
- Start-up process: Impression kits only, but offers video appointments to assist with the process
- Financing: Automatic approval makes a payment plan accessible to all
Byte is our #1 pick because they combine it all: excellent customer service, a great bang for your buck, speedy treatment, a fantastic Byte-for-Life guarantee, and flexible treatment options.
Byte’s Los Angeles isn’t extremely far from Montana, but ultimately, the total distance doesn’t matter; you don’t get price-gouged for it. Your sticker price is the same as an LA resident’s (but you won’t pay any sales taxes), and shipping is free.
Candid | #2 Aligner
Candid, our second pick, was founded in 2017, and they’re just as lovable as byte. With Candid, you have the option to start your treatment with either an impression kit or a visit to a Candid Studio (the appointment is entirely free, and much easier than an impression kit).
Here’s a snapshot of Candid:
- Treatment type: At-home
- Cost: $1,895
- Treatment speed: Approximately 6 months
- Start-up process: Impression kits or a visit to a Candid Studio
- Financing: offered through Affirm, so a credit check is required
One of our favorite aspects of Candid’s treatment is their ability to move all your teeth, including the molars. Other providers focus mostly on your front six upper teeth (also known as the “social six”). Candid’s ability to consider your smile as a whole makes them the most comprehensive at-home clear aligner provider on the market.
Unfortunately, Candid hasn’t established any Candid Studio locations in Montana yet. We won’t say that they never will, though. Candid is constantly expanding the reach of their retail locations. Thankfully, the lack of a Candid Studio doesn’t mean you can’t use Candid. An impression kit is still an option for Montana residents. There’s no risk to buying a kit, either; if you take impressions and it turns out that you’re not a good candidate for treatment, Candid will send you a full refund on the kit price.
Curious about Candid? Check out the full review.
AlignerCo | #3 Aligner
Founded in May of 2019, AlignerCo is the “new kid on the block” on the clear aligner scene. But they’ve quickly made their mark on the industry as the most affordable option on the market (they’re less than half the price of Candid).
Here’s a quick glance at AlignerCo:
- Treatment type: At-home
- Cost: $1,145 ($1345 for nighttime treatment)
- Treatment speed: 6 to 11 months
- Start-up process: Impression kits only, but offers video support
- Financing: Two financing plans (SmileFlex and SmileFlex Easy) make financing accessible to all, regardless of credit score
It’s hard to argue with the sheer value of AlignerCo, so if you’re looking for a cost-effective method, look no further. They’ve also recently introduced nighttime treatments, so they offer flexible treatment options. AlignerCo is headquartered in New York, so Montana residents will have to be a bit patient for shipping times, especially compared to someone living in the Northeast.
Check out the full AlignerCo review for more information.
Smile Direct Club | #4 Aligner
Founded in 2014, SmileDirectClub is the oldest at-home clear aligner company. There’s a good chance you’ve heard of them already, since they’ve served more than a million customers to date.
Here’s a quick glance at SmileDirectClub:
- Treatment type: At-home
- Cost: $1,895
- Treatment speed: approximately 6 months for daytime treatment; 8 to 10 for nighttime aligners
- Start-up process: Impression kit or scan at a SmileShop location
- Financing: SmilePay adds a downpayment instead of a credit check, for a total cost of $2,290
SmileDirect has established a lot of SmileShops across the country, Montana included. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID crisis, SmileDirect had to close all of their locations nationwide. Currently, they’re reopening when it’s deemed safe to do so based on local conditions. As far as we can tell, there aren’t any locations currently open in Montana. For a list of all the locations that are currently open in Montana and other states, (and please note that this is an ever-changing list), look here.
Invisalign | #5 Aligner
Invisalign is, without a doubt, the king of clear aligner treatment; they pioneered the treatment method in the 90s. But unlike the at-home aligners we’ve listed above, Invisalign is only offered in-office by participating dentists and orthodontists. As a result, Invisalign can add in Smartforce attachments and elastics to create a powerful treatment. Invisalign can treat even the most troublesome cases.
Here’s a quick overview of the clear aligner giant:
- Treatment type: In-person
- Cost: $3,000-$8,000 nationwide
- Treatment speed: 12 to 18 months
- Start-up process: Initial consultation with local provider
- Financing: Determined by treatment provider, but almost always available
In Montana, there aren’t tons of local Invisalign doctors, but there are enough that you should be able to find treatment without too much difficulty. You’ll have the best luck in larger cities like Bozeman or Billings. But regardless of where you find one, you’ll find different providers with respective price points and differing levels of experience. Your Invisalign price tag will probably fall somewhere between $4,000 and $6,500. That’s in line with the national average.
Top-Rated Invisalign Providers in Montana
With Invisalign, there are so many providers in Montana that it can be hard to pick the right one for you. Practically speaking, you can pick almost anyone, but if you want to work with a proven provider, here are some practices to look into:
- Bennion & Lambourne Orthodontics: As the only Platinum Invisalign Provider in Billings and the surrounding area, Bennion & Lambourne Orthodontics is a great treatment resource. They offer both Invisalign and Invisalign Teen. And with more than 300 positive Google reviews, you can rest assured that your smile is in good hands.
- Winterholler Dentistry: Dr. Winterholler and his team at Winterholler Dentistry might specialize in general dentistry, but that doesn’t exclude them from orthodontic excellence! In fact, Dr. Winterholler’s team has administered enough Invisalign to win a Gold Plus designation. They have two locations: Billings and Laurel.
- Helena Orthodontics: Helena may be a small town, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave town to get excellent Invisalign treatment. Dr. Foster and Dr. Wood lead the treatment team at Helena Orthodontics; you can find their office on North Last Chance Gulch.
- Rector Orthodontics: As a Montana Native, Dr. Rector of Rector Orthodontics is proud to serve the Bozeman community with Invisalign treatment. And as a Gold Plus provider, he’s the most experienced Invisalign doctor in the entire area, too.
- Granite Peak Orthodontics: Missoula is home to Granite Peak Orthodontics, one of the best local resources for Invisalign treatment. They’re also the city’s premier provider for the Damon System, so if you’re still weighing your treatment options, Dr. McDonough and his team can help.
ClearCorrect | #6 Aligner
ClearCorrect got its start in 2006 when their founder, Dr. William Pumphrey, had patients who needed clear aligners; he decided to manufacture his own. As a result, ClearCorrect became one of the top competitors to Invisalign in the in-office treatment category. In practice, they accomplish the same thing as Invisalign, but their brand network is smaller.
Here’s a quick glance at ClearCorrect’s features:
- Treatment type: In-person
- Cost: $4,000-$6,000
- Treatment speed: 12 to 18 months
- Start-up process: Initial consultation with local provider
- Financing: Determined by treatment provider, but almost always available
ClearCorrect providers are located in all 50 states, including Montana. You can find a provider on their website, but please note that they don’t have nearly as much reach as Invisalign. That said, there are plenty of locations, including Billings, Libby, Belgrade, and more.
Top-Rated ClearCorrect Providers in Montana
If you’re leaning towards ClearCorrect, it can still be overwhelming to find the best provider in your area. Of course, this isn’t a comprehensive list, but here are some of the top Montana ClearCorrect providers we found:
- Murdock Family Dentistry: Billings is home to Murdock Family Dentistry, where Dr. Murdock and his team provide top-notch treatment—a wide variety of them, in fact. They strive to provide comprehensive dental care, and they include ClearCorrect among those treatment offerings.
- Yellowstone Family Dental: If you’re craving an opportunity to work with a larger, well-established practice in the Billings community for your ClearCorrect treatment, check out Yellowstone Family Dental. Together, Dr. Larsen, Dr. Pearson, and Dr. Blackwell have led the team to win more than 600 positive reviews on Google.
- Dr. Steve Davidson: Dr. Davidson serves Libby and the surrounding area with comprehensive dentistry services and nearly comprehensive orthodontic treatments, too. Dr. Davidson provides the “big three” of discreet (in-person) orthodontic treatments: ClearCorrect, Invisalign, and Six Month Smiles.
- Premier Choice Dental Center: Dr. Bennion and Dr. Boswell are proud to offer ClearCorrect treatment from their office in Belgrade. They also offer oral surgery, general dentistry, restorative dentistry, and more, so they can be your go-to for orthodontic treatment and many things in between.
Six Month Smiles | #7 Aligner
Six Month Smiles first appeared on the scene in the mid-2000s, and true to their name, their treatment lasts 6 months on average. Their treatment is specifically designed for dentists, not orthodontists, allowing for more versatility at their offices. For patients, however, Six Month Smiles presents a unique advantage: you can get clear aligners, clear braces, or a combination of both.
Let’s take a quick glance at Six Month Smiles:
- Treatment type: In-person
- Cost: $3,500-$5,000
- Treatment speed: 6 months
- Start-up process: Initial consultation with local provider
- Financing: Determined by treatment provider, but almost always available
There are Six Month Smiles providers located across the country, mainly in major cities. For example, in Montana, you can find providers—including gold and silver providers with lots of experience—in Libby, Butte, and more. You can find your closest provider with a ZIP Code search.
Top-Rated Six Month Smiles Providers in Montana
Not all Six Month Smiles providers are created equal, so if you’re leaning towards this treatment method, you’ll want to pick the best provider you can. We’ve rounded up some of the top-rated SMS providers. This isn’t a comprehensive list, of course, but it might be a good place to start.
- Dr. Steve Davidson: Dr. Davidson serves Libby and the surrounding area with comprehensive dentistry services and nearly comprehensive orthodontic treatments, too. Dr. Davidson provides the “big three” of discreet (in-person) orthodontic treatments: ClearCorrect, Invisalign, and Six Month Smiles.
- Butte Family Dental: Dr. Tara Gilbreath is recognized as a Silver provider for Six Month Smiles, and she proudly provides treatment along with other members of her team in Butte. They’ve won more than 100 positive reviews, too, so you can be confident that your smile will be perfect once your treatment is complete.
What Are the Most Affordable Clear Aligners in Montana?
Honestly, this is a tricky question to answer. Technically speaking, AlignerCo is the cheapest. No other brand can compete with the flat $1,145 price tag. And in our opinion, a flat price is one of the big advantages of at-home clear aligners.
But as you’ve probably noticed, we can’t give you a straightforward answer for in-office clear aligners. There are a lot of reasons for that. Most importantly, your treatment cost for methods like Invisalign and ClearCorrect will largely depend on the severity of your case. Naturally, minor cases cost less. Some treatment providers also charge more or less based on their personal experience with the treatment method. For example, an orthodontist who’s well-versed in Invisalign treatment might charge a bit more for their expertise.
But more specifically, your location dictates some of your cost, too. Montana’s cost of living is right in line with the national average. Plus, that cost of living is fairly consistent across the state. Even Billings, the state’s biggest city, has a fair living cost. Not only does that help keep your personal bills low, but it also helps keep your dentist’s bills pretty low, too. When a dental provider has low overhead costs, he or she can keep your service bills low, too.
In a lot of states, the cost of in-person treatments is also affected by state taxes. That’s still true in Montana, but lucky for you, the tax impacts are pretty small. The state’s corporate tax is 6.75%. Technically, you don’t pay that tax yourself; your treatment provider does. But it’s not uncommon for dentists and orthodontists to raise their prices a smidge to accommodate for that tax.
The best news? Montana doesn’t have a sales tax (you’d pay it personally if it did). So the treatment price quote you get is what you’ll pay. All told, Montana has relatively affordable in-person aligner prices.
Unsure How to Compare Your Options?
Ultimately, only you can pick the right option for your unique grin. So, to narrow down your choices, ask yourself: what do you want from your treatment? Speed? Affordability? Convenience? One-on-one time with your treatment provider? Overall value?
If you’re looking for your best bang for your buck, check out Byte. If you need the convenience of at-home aligners but want a more comprehensive treatment, check out Candid. Affordability is AlignerCo’s claim to fame. But if you’re leaning towards in-office treatment and you’re willing to spend more, look into Invisalign.
It’s up to you to do your research to find which is best for you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, or you’re leaning towards two specific options, check out our home aligner reviews and service comparisons.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for teeth straightening in Montana, you’re in luck; there are plenty of great options. But as we’ve seen, those options can be a bit overwhelming! You need to pick whether you want in-home or in-person treatments, decide how much you’re willing to pay, how long you’re willing to wait to see your perfect smile, and more.
If you’re not sure which treatment fits your priorities, feel free to click one of the links throughout this guide to continue your research.
No matter what your treatment priorities are, you’re sure to find the right treatment to fit your needs. We hope this guide has helped you do just that, and best of luck with your new smile!