Orthodontic website design, compared

How to choose an orthodontic website company.

Orthodontics is a two-audience sale — parents researching for kids and adults researching for themselves — with a high case value that justifies doing the website right. Here's how the four real options compare.

01 — The four options, side by side

Healthcare specialization

Profit Zombies
Healthcare only — chiropractors, dentists, med spas, aesthetics, regenerative medicine
Traditional agency
Usually generalist; healthcare is one vertical among many
DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace)
None — generic templates for all industries
Template shop
Sometimes claims a niche, but same template reskinned

Pricing transparency

Profit Zombies
Published on our website: $2,500 setup + from $375/mo
Traditional agency
Custom quotes only; typically $5,000–$30,000+ per project
DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace)
$16–$50/mo, but your time is the real cost
Template shop
Low advertised price; add-ons raise the real total

Custom design

Profit Zombies
Custom-built for your practice, not a template
Traditional agency
Usually custom, at custom-project prices
DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace)
Template-based; you do the customizing
Template shop
Template with your logo and colors swapped in

ADA accessibility

Profit Zombies
Built to ADA standards; eligible for the IRS Disabled Access Credit (up to 50% back)
Traditional agency
Varies by agency; often a paid add-on
DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace)
Your responsibility — most DIY sites fail audits
Template shop
Rarely addressed

Ongoing edits & maintenance

Profit Zombies
Unlimited edits, hosting, and maintenance included
Traditional agency
Billed hourly or via retainer
DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace)
You do everything yourself
Template shop
Limited edits; extra charges are common

Local SEO

Profit Zombies
Included in every plan
Traditional agency
Separate engagement, often $1,000+/mo
DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace)
Basic tools; strategy is on you
Template shop
Rarely included in a meaningful way

Patient acquisition beyond the website

Profit Zombies
Full stack: Google PPC, social ads, pay-per-lead, email, SMS
Traditional agency
Depends on the agency's bench
DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace)
Not offered
Template shop
Not offered

Contracts

Profit Zombies
12-month website plans; no long-term contracts on advertising
Traditional agency
6–12 month retainers are standard
DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace)
Month-to-month
Template shop
Varies; watch for auto-renewals

02 — Who should choose what

Choose a DIY builder if

you're an associate years away from ownership and just want to reserve your name online.

Choose a traditional agency if

you're a multi-location ortho group with in-house marketing staff and a large project budget.

Choose a template shop if

you're in a one-orthodontist town with no meaningful competition for Invisalign and braces searches.

Choose Profit Zombies if

you want a custom orthodontic website that converts both parent and adult-aligner audiences, ranks for local braces and Invisalign searches, and includes unlimited edits — from a healthcare-only team that can also run your ads and exclusive lead programs.

03 — Orthodontists website FAQs

What makes orthodontic websites different from general dental websites?

Two distinct buyer journeys. Parents want trust signals: credentials, reviews from other parents, insurance and payment plans, and easy consult booking. Adult aligner patients want discretion, pricing clarity, and speed. A strong ortho site addresses both paths separately instead of funneling everyone through one generic 'request appointment' flow.

How much does a professional orthodontic practice website cost?

With Profit Zombies, pricing is published: $2,500 setup plus from $375/month, which includes hosting, maintenance, unlimited edits, and local SEO. Traditional agencies typically quote $5,000–$30,000+ for a comparable custom build, then bill separately for changes. DIY builders look cheaper ($16–$50/month) until you count your own hours and the patients a weak site never converts. Because our builds meet ADA standards, most practices also qualify for the IRS Disabled Access Credit (Form 8826), which can cover up to 50% of eligible costs.

Why not just use Wix or Squarespace for my orthodontic practice?

DIY builders are fine tools, but they leave the hard parts to you: writing copy that converts patients, local SEO, ADA accessibility, HIPAA-aware forms, speed optimization, and ongoing upkeep. Most orthodontists who start on a DIY builder end up with a site that looks acceptable but doesn't rank or convert. A purpose-built healthcare site pays for itself with a handful of new patients.

What makes Profit Zombies different from a traditional marketing agency?

Three things. First, we only serve healthcare — every playbook is built on what works for practices like yours, not adapted from e-commerce or restaurants. Second, transparent pricing published on our site, so you're never guessing. Third, we're accountable to patient volume, not vanity metrics: our stack includes pay-per-lead options where you pay only for exclusive leads, with no retainers and no management fees.

Can you take over a website another company built?

Yes. We regularly rebuild or migrate sites from other agencies, template shops, and DIY builders. We audit what you have, preserve anything that's ranking, fix what's broken, and redirect old URLs properly so you don't lose SEO equity in the move.

Classified — Wanted: orthodontists tired of guessing

See exactly what your orthodontic practice website would look like — and what it would cost — before you commit to anything.