Invisalign Clear Aligners
Straighter teeth without anyone noticing
Self-conscious about crooked teeth but don't want metal braces? Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners that are nearly invisible. Most people won't even know you're wearing them.
Removable for eating and cleaning. No food restrictions. No metal cutting your mouth. And you can see exactly what your teeth will look like before you start.
Most treatments take 12-18 months • Not suitable for everyone
Invisalign or traditional braces?
Both straighten teeth. Invisalign costs more and won't fix every problem. So when does it make sense to choose it?
Invisalign usually makes sense if:
- You don't want visible braces
For work presentations, photos, or just personal preference - Your alignment issues are mild to moderate
Crowding, gaps, minor bite problems - You want to eat normally
Remove them for meals, no food gets stuck - You're self-disciplined
Need to wear them 20-22 hours a day for them to work - Oral hygiene is easier for you
Remove to brush and floss normally - You can afford the higher cost
Invisalign typically costs more than traditional braces
Traditional braces might be better if:
- Your case is complex
Severe crowding, large gaps, major bite problems - You won't wear aligners consistently
Braces work 24/7 whether you remember them or not - Teeth need significant rotation
Braces can turn teeth more effectively - Cost is a major factor
Traditional braces are usually less expensive - You want the fastest result
For complex cases, braces can be quicker
The honest truth: About 20% of people who ask about Invisalign aren't suitable candidates. We'll tell you upfront if traditional braces would give you better results.
"I'm a lawyer and didn't want metal braces in court. Dr. Jandoo confirmed Invisalign would work for my crowding. Fourteen months later, perfectly straight teeth and nobody ever noticed I was wearing aligners."Michael T.
How Invisalign actually works
A series of clear plastic trays, each one slightly different, that gradually move your teeth into the position you want.
We use Invisalign to fix:
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
Create space so they sit properly - Gaps between teeth
Close spaces for a more even appearance - Crooked or rotated teeth
Straighten them gradually over time - Overbite or underbite
Improve how your top and bottom teeth meet - Crossbite
Align teeth that bite incorrectly
Why people choose Invisalign:
- Nearly invisible when worn
- Remove them to eat, so no food restrictions
- Brush and floss normally
- No metal cutting your cheeks or lips
- See a preview of your final result before starting
- Usually more comfortable than braces
What you need to know:
Invisalign only works if you actually wear them. They need to be in your mouth 20-22 hours a day. If you take them out too often or forget to put them back in, your treatment will take longer or might not work at all. You need to be disciplined about wearing them.
What happens during Invisalign treatment
From consultation to straight teeth, here's the full process.
First visit: Check if you're suitable
Not everyone can use Invisalign. We scan your teeth, check your bite, and assess whether Invisalign will work for your situation. If it won't, we'll tell you what would work better.
- 3D scan of your teeth (no messy impressions)
- Check alignment and bite issues
- Discuss what you want to achieve
- Explain honestly if Invisalign is suitable
Takes about 45-60 minutes. If you're suitable, we create a 3D treatment plan showing exactly what your teeth will look like at the end.
See your future smile before you start
Using the 3D scan, Invisalign's software creates a simulation showing how your teeth will move and what they'll look like at the end. You can see the final result before committing to treatment.
"Seeing my future smile on screen before starting gave me complete confidence.
I knew exactly what I was getting and it looked amazing."
— Sarah M.
Takes about 20-30 minutes. If you're happy with the preview, we order your custom aligners. If not, we can adjust the plan or discuss alternatives.
Collect your first set of aligners
Your aligners arrive in 2-3 weeks. We fit your first set, show you how to wear them, and explain how to progress through the sets. Each aligner is worn for 1-2 weeks before moving to the next one.
- Learn how to insert and remove your aligners
- Understand the wearing schedule (20-22 hours a day)
- Get your full set of aligners or just the first few
- Learn how to clean them properly
Daily routine:
- Wear aligners all day except when eating or drinking (water is fine)
- Remove to eat, brush your teeth, then put them back in
- Clean aligners with lukewarm water and mild soap
- Switch to the next set every 1-2 weeks as instructed
Progress checks every 6-8 weeks
We check your teeth are moving as planned. If everything is on track, you continue with your aligners. If something needs adjusting, we can make changes.
Most treatments take 12-18 months. Simple cases can be 6-8 months. Complex cases might take up to 24 months. It depends entirely on what needs fixing.
Retainers to keep your teeth straight
Once your teeth are straight, you need retainers to stop them moving back. You'll wear them full-time for a few months, then just at night after that.
Skipping retainers means your teeth will gradually shift back. Most people wear nighttime retainers indefinitely to keep their results.
What patients say about Invisalign
Real experiences from people who've had Invisalign at West Dental.
"I'd been embarrassed about my crowded front teeth for years. Invisalign straightened them in 14 months and nobody at work even knew I was getting treatment. Completely worth it."— James K.
"The 3D preview was spot on. What they showed me at the start was exactly what my teeth looked like at the end. Made the whole process feel predictable and safe."— Laura T.
"Being able to remove them for meals was brilliant. No food restrictions like my friends had with braces. And cleaning my teeth normally was so much easier."— Sophie R.
Questions people ask about Invisalign
Everything you need to know before deciding if Invisalign is right for you
Nearly invisible, not completely. If someone is very close to you and looking directly at your teeth, they'll probably notice something there. But in normal conversation, photos, or presentations, most people won't notice at all.
They're much less noticeable than metal braces. Many patients say their colleagues, friends, and even family members didn't realize they were wearing aligners unless they specifically mentioned it.
For the first few days, maybe. Some people have a slight lisp while their tongue gets used to the aligners. But within a week, most people speak completely normally.
If you do a lot of public speaking or presentations, practice reading aloud at home for the first few days. Your mouth adapts quickly.
Not painful, but you'll feel pressure, especially when you switch to a new set. Your teeth will feel tight and a bit sore for a day or two. That's the aligners doing their job.
The discomfort is much less than traditional braces. There's no metal cutting your cheeks or wires that need tightening. Most people describe it as a dull ache that paracetamol or ibuprofen takes care of.
The first set is usually the most noticeable. By your third or fourth set, your mouth is used to the process and it becomes routine.
If you occasionally forget for a few hours, it's not the end of the world. But if you're consistently not wearing them 20-22 hours a day, your teeth won't move as planned.
Missing days will extend your treatment time. If you're not wearing them enough, your teeth might not move into the right position and you'll need additional aligners to correct it.
This is why we're honest about the discipline required. If you know you'll struggle to wear them consistently, traditional braces that work 24/7 might be a better choice.
Yes. You remove your aligners to eat, so there are no food restrictions at all. Eat whatever you want, then brush your teeth and put the aligners back in.
You can drink water with them in, but remove them for anything else (tea, coffee, wine) to avoid staining the plastic. Hot drinks can also warp them.
The only downside is you need to brush your teeth after every meal before putting the aligners back in. Eating becomes a bit more of a production, especially snacking throughout the day.
Most cases take 12-18 months. Simple corrections (like a small gap or minor crowding) can be 6-8 months. Complex cases might take up to 24 months.
During your consultation, we'll show you the 3D treatment plan which includes an estimated timeframe for your specific case. This is based on how many aligners you need and how far your teeth need to move.
The timeline assumes you wear them consistently. If you're not wearing them enough, treatment will take longer.
No. As long as your teeth and gums are healthy, age doesn't matter. We've successfully treated patients in their 60s and 70s.
Teeth can be moved at any age. The only requirement is that you have healthy gums and bone supporting your teeth. If you have gum disease or significant bone loss, we'd need to address that first before considering orthodontics.
Invisalign at West Dental ranges from £2,500 to £4,950 depending on the complexity of your case and how many aligners you need.
Invisalign Express (£2,500): Up to 14 aligners for minor corrections. Usually 6-8 months. Includes whitening and retainers.
Invisalign Comprehensive (£4,950): Unlimited aligners for complex cases. Usually 12-24 months. Includes whitening, fixed and removable retainers, and remote monitoring.
Invisalign Teen (£4,700): Designed for teenage patients with compliance indicators and parent portal.
All prices include your consultation, 3D treatment planning, all aligners, regular checkups, and retainers to keep your teeth straight afterwards.
Payment plans are available: 0% finance over 12 months, or extended terms through finance companies. The consultation itself is £95, which is deducted if you go ahead with treatment.
You get retainers to keep your teeth in their new position. Without retainers, your teeth will gradually shift back toward where they started.
For the first few months, you wear retainers full-time (just like your aligners). After that, you switch to nighttime wear only. Most people wear nighttime retainers indefinitely to maintain their results.
Retainers are included in your treatment cost. If you lose them or they wear out years later, replacement retainers cost around £200-300 for a set.
Want to see what Invisalign could do for your teeth?
Book a consultation and we'll create a 3D preview showing exactly what your teeth will look like. If Invisalign isn't suitable, we'll explain why and suggest what would work better.