Tue, Jan 28 2025
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Invisalign refers to a system or treatment of clear aligners which straighten teeth by correcting a wide range of dental problems. Invisalign provides virtually invisible aligners which make it a preferable and discreet alternative for people tired of traditional fixed braces. But with this discretion comes a higher cost.
Being one of the most popular orthodontic solutions in the UK, Invisalign cost varies depending on the complexity of the treatment, geographical location of the clinic, dentist’s expertise, and several other factors. Read on this blog to explore the different types of Invisalign treatment, general cost of Invisalign, factors influencing the costs, hidden expenses, and other essential info about Invisalign cost in the UK.
The main function of Invisalign is to straighten your teeth. However, Invisalign also works by fixing a wide array of dental issues, including:
Once your dentist examines you to be a good candidate for getting Invisalign treatment, he/she creates a bespoke treatment plan along with determining the number of aligners you require.
If you want to book an appointment with an orthodontic dentist near your location, you can visit MD.co.uk. Here you can get Invisalign treatment of three main types:
Here is a brief description of each Invisalign type, what kind of dental issues they fix, and their cost range in the UK.
Types of Invisalign |
Functions |
Cost Range |
Invisalign Comprehensive or Full |
|
£3,500 to £5,500 |
Invisalign i7 |
|
£1,500 to £1,950 |
Invisalign Lite |
|
£2,500 to £3,500 |
The duration of your Invisalign treatment largely depends on your individual dental condition, the corrections you need, and the type of Invisalign you are getting. While minor cases require you wearing the aligners for only 3 to 4 months, moderate or complex cases need around 12 to 18 months.
Your Invisalign treatment costs completely depend on the type of dental work you require, and the type of Invisalign aligner your teeth require. However, it is quite obvious that the more complex your treatment, the higher will be your Invisalign cost. On a broader note, the average cost of Invisalign in the UK ranges between £2,000 and £6,000.
Following is a cost variation chart (2024) for different regions in the UK:
Region |
Average Cost (GBP) |
London |
£3,500 to £5,500 |
Birmingham |
£3,200 to £5,000 |
Manchester |
£3,100 to £4,900 |
Glasgow |
£3,000 to £4,800 |
Cardiff |
£3,000 to £4,800 |
Here is a cost breakdown of Invisalign treatment for different age groups – kids, teens, and adults:
Category as per Age Group |
Average Cost Range (GBP) |
Details |
Invisalign Kids |
£2,000 to £4,000 |
Although rare, a suitable option for kids between 6 to 10 years of age. It helps in proper jaw growth and is basically for interceptive orthodontics. |
Invisalign Teen |
£2,500 to £4,500 |
Designed especially for teenagers, having features like allowances and compliance indicators (blue dots) for erupting teeth. |
Invisalign Adult |
£3,000 – £5,500 |
A reliable option for adults suffering from mild to complex dental problems. It includes different options like Comprehensive, i7, and Lite. |
Although there are significant differences in the average costs of Invisalign treatment across different regions of the UK, they are not localised trends. The size of the city or town and the Invisalign cost are basically connected to each other. However, Invisalign usually costs more in more built-up urban areas than the moderate and suburban ones.
The following table shows varying Invisalign costs in the UK specific to different areas:
Location |
Average Cost (GBP) |
Birmingham |
£3,670 |
Exeter |
£3,653 |
Glasgow |
£3,599 |
Liverpool |
£3,599 |
Bristol |
£3,599 |
Middlesbrough |
£2,917 |
Leeds |
£2,977 |
London |
£3,010 |
Cardiff |
£3,068 |
Edinburgh |
£3,069 |
As discussed earlier, Invisalign costs vary at different in the UK. The following table sheds light into the cheapest and costliest areas in the UK for Invisalign treatment:
Category |
Area |
Average Cost Range (GBP) |
Details |
Cheapest Area |
Middlesbrough |
£2,500 to £3,500 |
Lower costs of local lifestyle and less demand are responsible for lower Invisalign costs here. |
Costliest Area |
Central London |
£4,500 to £5,500 |
High costs of local lifestyle, higher demand, and premium quality dental services contribute to the high Invisalign rates here. |
The Invisalign costs in the UK have witnessed multiple fluctuations over the past few years. A number of factors are believed to be responsible for such fluctuations. Here’s a sneak peek into the Invisalign price range in the UK during the last few years (2019-2924):
Year |
Average Cost Range (GBP) |
2019 |
£2,500 to £4,500 |
2020 |
£2,600 to £4,700 |
2021 |
£2,700 to £4,900 |
2022 |
£2,800 to £5,100 |
2023 |
£2,900 to £5,300 |
2024 |
£3,000 to £5,500 |
Several factors contribute to the cost variations of Invisalign treatment in the UK:
Robust improvements in the technologies have boosted the efficiency and precise outcomes of Invisalign treatment, contributing to the addition of costs.
The pricing dynamics of Invisalign have largely been influenced by increasing popularity and acceptance rates of clear aligners and Invisalign treatments. Moreover, the market competition at urban centres like London drives the price up, which is comparatively low in smaller towns due to less competition.
Different economic factors like regional lifestyle costs or inflation impact the Invisalign treatment costs across diverse UK locations. Such disparities affect the pricing strategy, leading to typically high rates in affluent areas.
In addition, rents and overhead costs in clinics have typically higher rates in metropolitan areas.
The costs again vary on the basis of the orthodontist fees. This is why orthodontists with long professional experience in high demand regions charge premium rates.
The following table offers insights into Invisalign cost vs. braces cost:
Factors of Treatment |
Invisalign |
Traditional Braces |
Cost |
Between £3,000 and £7,000 |
Between £1,500 and £5,000 |
Duration |
Should be worn 22 hours a day for 3 to 12 months |
Fixed to your teeth 24/7 for 18 months |
Maintenance |
Cleaning the aligners by brushing twice a day and flossing regularly |
Brushing and flossing teeth clean the braces at the same time |
Appointments |
Initial consultation, appointment for fitting the aligners and monitoring sessions |
Regular visits to check and adjust the braces, and final appointment for removal |
Aftercare |
Needs a retainer |
Also needs a retainer |
Ideal for |
Children, teens and adults |
Patients with complex dental issues |
Invisalign treatment involves the following steps, each of which has individual underlying costs:
You may consult either a private dentist or an orthodontic specialist to assess your dental condition with 3D scans or digital scans, and outline a customised treatment plan for your dental health.
Besides your initially fitted aligner, Invisalign treatment involves a series of aligners which should be replaced in every 1 or 2 weeks. This gradually shifts your teeth to their desired position by applying gentle pressure. Custom Invisalign aligners shift crooked teeth into proper alignment.
Your dentist or orthodontist would schedule regular appointments to monitor your progress after using each set of Invisalign aligners. The orthodontist makes necessary adjustments and also provides any necessary care to help you achieve the desired outcomes.
After your treatment is over, the orthodontist gives you removable retainers to prevent shifting back of your teeth to their old position and help maintain the new smile.
Besides, Invisalign treatment also holds some often unmentioned costs like:
Expenses of comprehensive dental assessments and digital scanning procedures.
Excess charges for additional procedures like enamel contouring or teeth whitening after the main Invisalign treatment.
While the follow-up appointments are already included in most Invisalign packages, some clinics charge separately for these visits.
Invisalign costs in the UK often depend on the following factors:
The better the reputation of the dentist in successfully treating numerous patients, the higher will be his/her fees. The professional expertise, experience, and success stories of the dentist demand higher charges.
The geographical location of the dental practice is again another determining factor. While clinics in urban areas like London charge premium rates to meet their efficient operational costs, practices outside the city centres and metropolitan areas hold a comparatively lower price. Patients often prefer such clinics in offbeat areas for their competitive pricing.
You can look up on search engines and other reliable platforms to look for reviews and feedback of former patients. You can also directly check the official website of the dental practice to gain more insights into the experiences of former patients in the clinic.
You should thoroughly discuss every detail of your treatment package with the dentist you are seeing as well as the dental practice you are visiting. You must be aware of every hidden cost and know every step of expenses, from moulds, X-rays to the number of aligners needed, or teeth whitening.
The more complex your dental condition is, that is the more severe the misalignment of your teeth is, the treatment would take longer to complete. As a result, it will raise the overall expenses.
Orthodontic treatments last from a few months to even more than a year, based on your individual needs. However, it must be noted that longer treatments eventually incur higher costs.
If you are getting some additional dental works besides Invisalign treatment, like additional aligners or teeth whitening, the treatment cost will automatically increase.
You can get different payment options in most of the clinics, making the Invisalign treatment more flexible and affordable for you.
Once you look into the following benefits, you will understand that Invisalign is definitely worth its price.
As Invisalign offers virtually invisible clear aligners, it is a popular choice for most people willing to avoid the hassle of conventional metal braces.
As compared to traditional fixed braces, custom made Invisalign aligners offer more comfort and smoothness.
This feature allows you to take off the Invisalign aligners while eating, drinking, or cleaning your teeth. There’s no need to avoid your favourite foods due to the fear of them getting stuck in your aligners.
Invisalign is far beyond than just a cosmetic tooth alignment. It improves your quality of life with its long lasting benefits for your oral health. Unlike traditional fixed braces, Invisalign offers clear, nearly invisible, and removable aligners which give you the convenience of easy oral hygiene. It also prevents tooth decays and plaque build-up which are common issues occurring due to fixed metal braces.
Clear aligner promotes your oral health in the long run by aligning your teeth in a proper way. This alignment correction helps cleaning your teeth easily, and also reduces risks of uneven wear or gum disease. Invisalign uses innovative technology to help patients comfortably achieve a straight smile. Moreover, it also requires fewer dental interventions and less maintenance over time. Most patients have reported that investing in clear aligner has been one of their best health decisions!
You are fit for getting Invisalign treatment until the patient has:
NHS does not generally provide Invisalign treatment as it is regarded as a cosmetic procedure. However, once you qualify for free orthodontic treatment under the NHS program, you will get treatment with traditional braces which a more cost-effective option. But this might not be the suitable solution for every orthodontic patient.
If you are willing to have Invisalign treatment, you must look for private options and approach a private dental practice for best results.
While choosing a dental practice for your Invisalign treatment, you need to consider several factors before making your final decision.
Opting for Invisalign unpacks a clear and effective way to achieve a straight and confident smile without the hassle of managing traditional metal braces. The transparent Invisalign aligners ensure maximum flexibility and comfort of the patients. This is why Invisalign has emerged as a popular, discreet dental treatment.
Proper consultation with an expert dentist, following guidelines of oral hygiene and regular dental visits are integral to your Invisalign treatment. Make sure to discuss any concern with your dentist or orthodontist before beginning with your Invisalign treatment.
If you are finally ready to begin your journey with Invisalign and are looking for a local Invisalign dentist near you, contact our Invisalign experts at the partner clinics of MD.co.uk to get personalised treatment plan and achieve your dream smile!