Diamond+ is the highest provider tier Invisalign awards, and it’s earned through case volume alone. Align Technology, the company that makes Invisalign, reviews how many cases each doctor documents in a year and assigns tiers accordingly. Diamond+ sits at the very top, held by a small fraction of Invisalign doctors worldwide.
Here’s the part most people don’t realize: you can’t buy this ranking.
No advertising budget, sponsorship, or marketing package moves a doctor up the list. The tier is a straight reflection of completed treatment, which means it tells you something real about how often that doctor plans, adjusts, and finishes aligner cases.
At Bisig + Chermak + Rudnicke Orthodontics, Dr. Nic Bisig holds Diamond+ Invisalign provider status, and he’s also Board Certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. Those two credentials measure different things. One tracks volume. The other reflects a voluntary peer-reviewed exam process that goes well beyond the requirements to practice.
Understanding both helps you ask better questions when you’re choosing where to craft your smile.
How Invisalign Assigns Provider Rankings
Align Technology counts the number of Invisalign cases a doctor starts within a calendar year and assigns a tier based on that total. Rankings reset annually, so status has to be re-earned every single year. The system measures volume only. It does not evaluate specialty training, board certification, or clinical outcomes.
That distinction matters more than most families expect.
Here’s how the ranking process actually works:
- Cases are counted, not scored. Align tracks started cases submitted through its system.
- Tiers recalculate each year. A doctor who slows down drops a tier; a doctor who grows moves up.
- Thresholds are set by Align. The company can adjust the case counts required for each level.
- General dentists and orthodontic experts are ranked on the same scale. The tier itself doesn’t tell you which one you’re looking at.
That last point deserves a closer look. Any licensed dentist can offer Invisalign and climb the tier ladder. An orthodontic expert, on the other hand, has completed a full-time residency in orthodontics after dental school, typically two to three years of additional training focused solely on tooth movement, bite correction, and facial growth.
Dr. Bisig, Dr. Chermak, and Dr. Rudnicke each completed 11 years of training total: four years of college, four years of dental school, and three years of orthodontic residency. Dr. Chermak earned a Master’s degree in orthodontics. Dr. Rudnicke completed his residency at Vanderbilt University.
Volume plus specialty training is the combination worth looking for.
Why Provider Experience Level Matters for Your Results
Treating a high number of Invisalign cases each year exposes a doctor to a much wider variety of bites, crowding patterns, and spacing issues. That repetition builds judgment, and judgment is what shapes your results. A seasoned provider recognizes which cases move predictably with aligners alone and which ones need extra help from day one.
What high case volume tends to build:
- Range. Crowding, gaps, overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites all behave differently in aligners.
- Comfort with complexity. Deep bites, extraction cases, and adult relapse after childhood braces require planning most straightforward cases never touch.
- Fluency with attachments and elastics. The small tooth-colored shapes bonded to your teeth do the heavy lifting, and placement strategy makes a real difference.
- Combination planning. Some smiles finish faster when aligners work alongside a fixed appliance or a short phase of braces.
- Realistic timelines. Doctors who have finished hundreds of cases set expectations you can actually count on.
Refinement planning is another quiet advantage. Nearly every aligner case ends with a round of refinement trays to polish the final details, and anticipating that from the start keeps treatment moving instead of stalling.
Top-tier providers also tend to get early access to newer Invisalign features and materials as Align rolls them out.
None of this replaces a thorough exam. But when you’re comparing orthodontic homes, experience level is one of the few signals you can verify before you ever sit in a chair.
Invisalign Provider Tiers Compared: Bronze to Diamond+
Align Technology uses a seven-level tier system, from Bronze at the entry point to Diamond+ at the top. Each level corresponds to a minimum number of cases started annually, and the company can adjust those thresholds over time.
| Tier | Relative Annual Case Volume | What It Signals |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | Entry level | Doctor is actively treating Invisalign cases |
| Silver | Low | Regular, ongoing aligner treatment |
| Gold | Moderate | Aligners are a routine part of the practice |
| Platinum | Moderate-high | Substantial year-over-year aligner experience |
| Platinum Elite | High | Consistently high case volume |
| Diamond | Very high | Among the most active providers nationally |
| Diamond+ | Highest | Top tier; a small fraction of providers worldwide |
A few honest caveats are worth keeping in mind.
A higher tier signals volume. It doesn’t guarantee that a particular doctor is the right fit for your smile, your schedule, or your family. Chairside communication, office culture, and how carefully someone explains your options all matter, and none of that shows up in a ranking.
Read the tier alongside two other things: specialty training and how the free consult actually feels. If a doctor takes time to show you your scans, explain why they’re recommending one option over another, and answer the question you were nervous to ask, that tells you plenty.
It’s all about options, and a good provider helps you weigh them honestly.
Does a Diamond+ Provider Cost More?
Top-tier Invisalign status does not automatically raise your fees. Invisalign pricing is driven by your case, not your doctor’s ranking. Complexity, treatment length, the number of aligners you need, and refinement rounds carry far more weight in your final cost than any tier badge does.
What actually moves the number:
- Case complexity. Minor crowding costs less than a full bite correction.
- Treatment length and aligner count. More trays and more months mean a higher fee.
- Refinements. Additional aligner sets to fine-tune your finish.
- Records and monitoring. Scans, photos, and progress visits may be bundled into one fee or billed separately.
- Retainers. Ask whether your first set is included, because retention is permanent homework.
Most orthodontic insurance plans include a lifetime orthodontic benefit that applies to Invisalign the same way it applies to metal braces. Easy financing and budget-friendly monthly payment plans are widely available too.
There’s a practical upside to efficient planning. When a case is mapped correctly from the beginning, you’re less likely to need mid-course corrections, unplanned refinement rounds, or extra visits. Fewer detours often means less total time and less total cost.
Always ask for the full fee in writing before you start. A clear quote should cover aligners, visits, refinements, and retainers.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Invisalign Treatment?
Invisalign clear aligners work beautifully for a lot of smile seekers of all ages. Teens and adults with crowding, gaps, overbites, underbites, or crossbites are often excellent candidates, and there’s no age limit on amazing smiles.
Good candidates typically share these traits:
- Mild to moderate alignment concerns, though skilled providers regularly treat more involved cases.
- Willingness to wear trays 20 to 22 hours a day. Aligners only work when they’re in your mouth.
- Consistency with tray changes on the schedule your orthodontic expert sets.
- Healthy teeth and gums at the start of treatment.
- A habit of keeping visits every several weeks so progress stays on track.
Some situations call for a different plan. Significant skeletal discrepancies, severe rotations, or complex bite corrections sometimes respond better to braces, or to a combined plan that uses both. Growing kids and younger teens may need timing evaluated alongside jaw development, since working with growth is easier than working against it later.
The only way to know for certain is a real exam. Digital scans, photos, and X-rays let Dr. Bisig, Dr. Chermak, Dr. Rudnicke, or Dr. Seitz show you exactly what’s possible and lay out a personalized treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Diamond+ Invisalign Providers
What does Diamond+ mean in Invisalign?
Diamond+ is the highest provider tier in Align Technology’s ranking system, based on the number of Invisalign cases a doctor starts in a year. Align recalculates tiers annually, so the status must be re-earned. It reflects hands-on treatment volume rather than advertising spend or sponsorship.
How many cases does a Diamond+ provider treat per year?
Diamond+ providers treat a very high number of cases annually, well above what most Invisalign doctors handle. Align sets the exact threshold and can adjust it over time.
Is a Diamond+ provider always an orthodontist?
No. General dentists and orthodontic experts are ranked on the same tier scale, so a high ranking doesn’t confirm specialty training. Ask directly whether your doctor completed an orthodontic residency after dental school. Board certification through the American Board of Orthodontics is another credential worth asking about.
Do Diamond+ providers charge more than other providers?
Not inherently. Your fee depends on how complex your case is, how long treatment takes, how many aligners you need, and whether retainers and refinements are included. Ask for a written quote that spells out everything, and ask about financing options while you’re there.
Can Diamond+ providers treat complex cases?
Typically yes. High case volume means broader exposure to open bites, deep bites, extraction cases, and adult relapse, which builds the judgment those cases require. That said, some bites still finish better with braces or a combined plan, and a good provider will tell you so honestly.
How do I verify a provider’s tier?
Use the official Invisalign doctor locator, which lists each provider’s current tier, or simply ask the orthodontic home directly. A practice that has earned top-tier status will be happy to confirm it. You can also ask how many aligner cases the doctor completes in a typical year.
Choosing Your Orthodontic Home
Rankings are useful. Relationships matter more.
Bisig + Chermak + Rudnicke Orthodontics has served neighbors and friends across the Triad for over 35 years, and our family was named a Winston-Salem Journal Readers’ Choice Winner in 2024, a Readers’ Choice Favorite in 2025, and a Winner again in 2026. Dr. Bisig, Dr. Chermak, Dr. Rudnicke, and Dr. Seitz each bring 11 years of training to every personalized treatment plan they build.
We’re family serving family, and we’d love to show you what’s possible.
Our convenient locations in Winston-Salem (two orthodontic homes), Clemmons, and King welcome smile seekers of all ages. Schedule a free consult to see whether Invisalign clear aligners are right for you, and find your smile today.
