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Specialist orthodontics · UK

Invisalign and clear aligners, by a specialist orthodontist.

Where fixed braces are the honest answer, we say so.

A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What Invisalign costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our specialist orthodontic network.

In short

£1,500-£6,500, plus lifelong nightly retainers.

Package Indicative range
Specialist orthodontist consultation and iTero scan £150-£350
Invisalign Express (up to 7 aligners, minor relapse) £1,500-£2,800
Invisalign Lite (up to 14 aligners) £2,800-£3,800
Invisalign Moderate (up to 20 aligners) £3,500-£4,500
Invisalign Comprehensive (unlimited aligners) £4,000-£6,500
Vivera retainers (set of 3, both arches) £280-£450

Prices vary by clinic, by which specialist plans and monitors the case, and by case complexity. Comprehensive packages include unlimited aligners and refinements; Lite and Express charge extra for refinements beyond the initial set.

The journey

From first photo to final retainer - in order.

One specialist team from your first appointment to your lifelong retention protocol.

  1. 03

    Before

    Specialist consultation and iTero scan

    Usually within one to two weeks. Digital iTero intraoral scan, clinical photographs, panoramic X-ray, occasionally CBCT. No goopy impressions.

  2. 04

    Start

    ClinCheck 3D plan review

    You see a 3D simulation of tooth movement week by week, including attachments, IPR and the final result. You approve the plan before any aligner is made.

  3. 05

    Start

    Attachments bonded and first aligners fitted

    Small tooth-coloured composite bumps are bonded to selected teeth for grip. Your first two aligners are fitted and you leave with the next tray set.

  4. 06

    Start

    Wear 20 to 22 hours a day

    Removed only to eat, drink hot liquids and clean. Change trays every 7 to 14 days. Six to eight weekly reviews at the practice.

  5. 07

    After

    Refinements and lifelong retention

    Most cases need 1 to 2 rounds of refinement aligners for finishing detail. Clear Vivera retainers are then worn nightly, forever, or the teeth will drift.

Typical Express: 3-6 months. Comprehensive: 12-24 months. Retention: lifelong.

When it helps

When aligners fit - and when fixed braces are the better call.

The cases that suit clear aligners, and the ones where a specialist orthodontist will recommend fixed appliances or orthognathic surgery instead.

  • Mild to moderate crowding

    Where there is not enough room in the arch - aligners can expand and align very predictably in this range.

  • Spacing and diastemas

    Small gaps between teeth, including a midline diastema - closed predictably with aligners plus attachments.

  • Mild deep bite

    Aligners can intrude upper incisors and level the curve of Spee for a mild to moderate deep bite.

  • Post-orthodontic relapse

    The classic Express case - lower incisor crowding years after teenage fixed braces.

  • Pre-restorative alignment

    Aligning teeth before veneers, bonding or implants so the final restorations are conservative and predictable.

  • Severe rotations (especially canines)

    Aligners struggle with rotations over 20 degrees on rounded teeth. Fixed braces do this better - we say so.

  • Large extraction cases

    Premolar extraction cases with big space closure - possible with aligners, but fixed braces remain more predictable.

  • Significant skeletal discrepancy

    Class II or III jaw imbalance beyond dental compensation - needs orthognathic surgery and orthodontic planning, not aligners alone.

Aligner brands and alternatives

Invisalign is the default. Not the only option.

What each aligner system actually involves, plus where fixed braces are the honest answer. The orthodontist planning your case matters more than the brand of tray.

  • Invisalign (SmartTrack polyurethane)

    Largest evidence base and case volume worldwide. SmartTrack material gives steady continuous force.

  • Spark by Ormco

    Marketed as more transparent and stain-resistant, with a scalloped trim. Growing evidence base. A reasonable alternative when Invisalign is not preferred.

  • ClearCorrect

    Thinner tri-layer material owned by Straumann. Competitive on price and finishing. Sensible for mild to moderate cases in the right hands.

  • Angel Aligner and eON

    Newer entrants competing on price. Less long-term outcome data than Invisalign. Ask the orthodontist why they chose this brand for your case.

  • NHS fixed braces

    Available for under-18s with IOTN grade 4 or 5. Fixed appliances, not aligners. Waiting lists are long and adults are not eligible.

  • Direct-to-consumer aligners

    SmileDirectClub ceased trading in 2023. Any GDP-only or postal aligner service without in-person orthodontist supervision carries real risks and is not something we support.

  • Fixed braces (when aligners are not enough)

    Ceramic or metal brackets for severe rotations, big extraction cases, complex bite work. Often faster and more predictable than aligners for these cases.

  • Second-opinion review

    A specialist review of an existing aligner plan - sometimes the answer is a different package, a different brand, or fixed braces instead.

What to know before you start

The honest small print of aligner treatment.

Clear aligners are safe and predictable in the right cases. The things worth planning are wear-time discipline, attachments and IPR, refinements, and lifelong retention.

  • Wear time is not optional

    20 to 22 hours a day. If you cannot commit to that, aligners will not work and you will end up in fixed braces anyway. Be honest with yourself before you start.

  • Attachments are visible up close

    The small tooth-coloured composite bumps bonded to teeth for grip are noticeable in close conversation. They are not invisible. Removed at the end of treatment.

  • Interproximal reduction (IPR)

    Between 0.2 and 0.5 mm of enamel is filed between selected teeth to create space. Painless, well within safe limits, but permanent.

  • Speech and saliva in week one

    A slight lisp and extra saliva for a few days as your tongue adapts. Settles within a week for most people.

  • Root resorption is uncommon but real

    A small amount of root shortening happens in any orthodontic movement. Rare cases show more significant resorption. Monitored with X-rays.

  • Refinements are the rule, not the exception

    Most cases need 1 to 2 rounds of extra aligners at the end for finishing detail. Included in Comprehensive packages, sometimes charged extra in Lite or Express.

  • Retention is lifelong

    Clear Vivera retainers worn nightly, forever. Stop wearing them and the teeth will drift back within months. This is the deal, not the small print.

  • Aligner hygiene

    Rinse trays every time they come out, brush them gently with a soft brush and cold water. Do not eat with them in and do not drink anything hot or coloured.

  • When to call the orthodontist

    Attachment falls off, a tray no longer seats fully after two days of chewies, or a tooth suddenly feels loose or painful beyond mild ache. Do not just skip ahead to the next aligner.

Reading your treatment plan

Your plan in four parts. Read retention first.

Whichever aligner brand you choose, the plan the specialist sends you keeps to the same shape.

  1. 01 Header

    Diagnosis and IOTN grade

    The specialist orthodontist records your malocclusion (crowding, spacing, deep bite, class II or III), IOTN grade and photographs of your starting position.

  2. 02 Plan

    ClinCheck 3D treatment plan

    A week-by-week 3D simulation of tooth movement, showing where attachments will go, where IPR is planned, and the projected final position. You approve this before any aligner is made.

  3. 03 Package

    Aligner count, timeline and fee

    Which Invisalign package (Express, Lite, Moderate or Comprehensive), number of aligners, treatment length, refinements included, and total fee with retainers.

  4. 04 Retention

    Retention protocol

    Read this first: which retainers you will get (Vivera, Essix, fixed bonded wire, or a combination), how often to wear them, and how often they need replacing.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about Invisalign.

Quick answers on cost, alternative brands, attachments, IPR and retention.

  • What are clear aligners and how do they work?

    Clear aligners are a series of transparent removable trays, custom-made from a digital scan of your teeth. Each aligner moves the teeth by roughly 0.25 mm. You wear each tray for 7 to 14 days, 20 to 22 hours a day, taking them out only to eat, drink hot liquids and clean. Over a course of 7 to 40 or more aligners the teeth are moved into their planned position.

  • Is Invisalign better than other clear aligners?

    Invisalign has the largest global evidence base, the widest range of case types treated, and the SmartTrack polyurethane material used in most published studies. Spark, ClearCorrect and Angel Aligner are reasonable alternatives in the right hands, but the orthodontist planning your case matters more than the brand. Direct-to-consumer aligners with no in-person supervision are a different category and one we do not support.

  • How much do Invisalign and clear aligners cost in the UK?

    Roughly £1,500 to £2,800 for Invisalign Express, £2,800 to £3,800 for Lite, £3,500 to £4,500 for Moderate, and £4,000 to £6,500 for Comprehensive. Vivera retainers add £280 to £450. Consultations run £150 to £350.

  • Will clear aligners work for my case?

    Aligners are excellent for mild to moderate crowding, spacing, mild deep bite and post-orthodontic relapse. They are less predictable for severe rotations (especially canines and premolars), large extraction cases and significant skeletal discrepancies. A specialist orthodontist will tell you honestly whether aligners fit your case, or whether fixed braces or orthognathic surgery is the better answer.

  • What are attachments and IPR, and are they permanent?

    Attachments are small tooth-coloured composite bumps bonded to selected teeth to give the aligners grip for specific movements. They are visible in close conversation and are removed at the end of treatment. IPR (interproximal reduction) is 0.2 to 0.5 mm of enamel filed between selected teeth to create space for alignment. IPR is painless and well within safe limits, but the enamel does not grow back.

  • Do I really have to wear retainers forever?

    Yes. Teeth have memory and will drift back towards their original position within months of treatment ending. Clear Vivera retainers worn nightly, forever, is the standard protocol. Some cases also get a fixed bonded wire behind the lower front teeth. Skipping retention is the single biggest reason people end up back in aligners a few years later.

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