Is Invisalign Really Right For You? Read Our Full Guide
Invisalign can straighten teeth perfectly within a year and can offer patients a more private procedure than other bulky and obvious brace treatments.
Perfect for adults and older teenagers looking to perfect their smiles, Invisalign offers patients an affordable and effective way to correct their bites issues without the use of metal brackets or wires.
The benefits:
- Invisible, discreet and barely noticeable
- Made from smooth plastic they offer improved comfort
- Better oral health and cleanliness
- Completes treatment twice as fast
- Removable and effective
- No limitations on diet
Read more: Pros and cons of Invisalign.
Alternatives tooth straightening systems:
- Traditional, fixed braces: Average treatment takes around two years to complete and can be highly effective at fixing extreme overbites. With no cosmetic benefits, the treatment often is associated with a lot of stigma and is known to be the most uncomfortable. More.
- Lingual braces: Often referred to as hidden braces, they are fitted to the back of the teeth rather than the front. More.
- Six Month Smiles: Another clear aligner and brace system that is designed to straighten your teeth in less time. More.
- Ceramic braces: These are tooth-coloured wired braces, which work exactly like traditional braces, however, they are most discreet and blend better with the natural tooth. Patients can expect treatment to be completed four to six months, on average.
Cost vs others
Most adult orthodontics start from £2,000.
Invisalign is actually priced really fairly and does not cost more than any other conventional or older brace system on the market.
Considering the cosmetic benefits, the length and effectiveness of treatment, we believe that Invisalign is actually great value for money when compared to other systems.
- Invisalign: From £2,000
- Six Month Braces: From £2,000
- Traditional Braces: From £3,000 – can be available via the NHS for less
What’s involved in the cost?
- Consultation
- Smile analysis
- Multiple appointments
- Set of custom clear aligners
- Retainer
- Hygienist appointments
What’s involved in your treatment for free?
- Free consultation
- Free quotation
- Free advice from our special Invisalign treatment co-ordinator
- Interest-free payments with 0% finance over 24 months
Ask a patient: See what it’s really like…
Does it hurt?
I would not say it felt uncomfortable, I’ve also had normal braces in my teens so was nothing compared to that.
It mostly just felt a little weird, especially when talking but it did not take long to get used to it.
What I would say, is that every time you jump on to the next aligner that it can feel tight, which I knew was normal because you swap out your aligners for new ones every few weeks or so as your teeth begin to adjust and move.
My advice is to begin wearing your new aligner for the first time in the evening, and if you feel some slight pressure that takes paracetamol to avoid any discomfort. I always found in the morning it was OK and would not bother me.
How long does it take?
For my treatment, I had to alternate between 20 sets of trays, which I would wear one set per two to three weeks.
Honestly, within a few weeks you do start to see some results and little changes, by six months I was really amazed at the difference – but still had a long way to go.
Treatment times can vary, my treatment was 12 months for my particular bite issue and halfway through my treatment I am already beginning to feel more confident with my smile.
How long did you wear your aligners?
I have known other people to forget or opt to not wear their aligners for the recommended amount of time and they have seen their teeth slip back into crooked positions.
However, because I was spending my own money on the treatment I wanted it to be as effective as possible, but in reality, I probably wear my clear aligners for around 18-20 hours a day.
Is it permanent?
My dentist has told me that the purpose of Invisalign is to straighten teeth for life, however, following my treatment I will need to wear retainers around 3-5 times a week.
The great thing about Invisalign compared to other brace treatments is that you do not have to wear retainers all the time or forever to ensure your treatment is permanent.
This is because once 12 months have passed, there should be enough bone deposited around the teeth to keep them in position and stable.
Invisalign is not the only option
However, even though we think Invisalign is amazing, it has its limitations.
- Patients with pegged, short or round teeth may have difficulty with the aligners as they struggle to have a good grip with this shape.
- Teeth rotated past 20 degrees will not be able to be shifted into correct alignment with Invisalign
- Invisalign is only effective at closing 6mm of space between teeth
Whilst we recommend this treatment to many of our patients, we always like to make them aware that if they want to fix multiple problems in one go, then instant orthodontics like veneers are a great option.
Teeth tweaks like composite bonding and veneers offer patients the chance to fix their smiles, straighten their teeth and change their colour all within one appointment.
Veneers are now being opted for when some adult patients do not wish to proceed with Invisalign and instead want something more instant.
Learn more about veneers here.