Invisalign Treatment Costs in the UK - A Detailed Guide
If you’re considering straightening your teeth, then it’s likely that you’ve come across Invisalign as one of the most popular options. In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the cost of Invisalign in the UK, what you should look out for and how to get the best deals.
It’s not as simple as you may think!
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is the world's most popular brand of clear aligners.
Clear aligners are trays of smooth, comfortable, and virtually invisible plastic worn over your teeth. These aligners pressure your teeth to move them into a more desirable position.
The significant advantages of Invisalign over traditional braces include its aesthetic appeal, as the aligners are nearly invisible, and the comfort due to the lack of metal wires and brackets.
You can read more about Invisalign in our full guide here.
How much does Invisalign cost?
The price of Invisalign can vary based on multiple factors. We will go into this in more detail below but as a general guide, Invisalign treatment can start from £1950 for simple cases and up to £7000 for complex treatment with a specialist orthodontist.
Most people’s Invisalign treatment will range between £3000-£5000.
Factors Influencing the Cost of Invisalign in the UK
Below are the key factors that influence the cost of Invisalign.
Severity of Dental Issues
The main factor influencing the cost of your Invisalign treatment is how severe the crowding or misalignment of your teeth is. The more movement that is required, the longer the treatment will take and, therefore, the more expensive your treatment will be.
Skill level of your chosen dentist
If your chosen dentist is more experienced, they will likely charge higher for your treatment.
Competition
Invisalign is a treatment that many people ‘shop around’ for; therefore, it has led to a lot of competition between dental practices. Usually, dental treatment in larger cities like London is more expensive due to increased working costs for dental practice. Still, high competition means you can get great deals on Invisalign in several clinics in big cities.
Why judging Invisalign treatment by price is difficult
Usually, when judging the quality of dental treatment, you can say the more expensive the treatment is, the higher the quality will be. However, Invisalign does not work the same way.
Invisalign charges dentists a very high fee for using their aligners, and they run a loyalty programme that reduces the costs for dentists significantly (up to 50%) for doing more cases.
So, an experienced Invisalign dentist may have to pay Invisalign half the lab fees that a newly trained dentist will have to pay, allowing them to offer the treatment at a much lower price than the newly trained dentist.
Also, many experienced Invisalign dentists will work with orthodontic therapists to carry out a lot of the time-consuming aspects of the treatment, such as placing and removing attachments and assessing movements.
All of these things mean we end up in a situation where a very experienced and highly skilled Invisalign dentist carrying out many cases can work more efficiently and offer Invisalign at a lower price.
Additional Costs to Consider
As well the Invisalign treatment, there are some additional costs you need to consider when starting your treatment.
Consultation Fees
Some dental practices may charge for the initial Invisalign consultation, while others offer this for free.
Additional aligners
Many people may require additional aligners if their teeth do not move exactly as planned or if issues arise during treatment. Most clinics will include these in the fee for the treatment. However, you don’t wear your aligners and the treatment takes much longer due to your compliance, then you may have to pay for additional aligners.
Post-Treatment Retainers
After completing Invisalign treatment, you will need retainers to keep your teeth in their new position. Some clinics will include your initial set for free, but general costs for retainers are:
£150 per arch for a standard removable retainer
£550 per arch for three Invisalign branded Vivera retainers
£250 per arch for a fixed retainer
Teeth whitening
Many people will choose to whiten their teeth during their Invisalign treatment as you can use your aligners to hold the whitening gel. Most clinics offer this as a free add-on to your treatment, but home teeth whitening will usually cost around £300 - £500 as a stand-alone treatment.
Composite bonding
Once your teeth have straightened, the edges of your teeth may not be even or level. This happens because your teeth wear down unevenly if they are crowded.
Minor chips may be included in your Invisalign package but more significant changes will be charged on top of your treatment.
Usually, fees are around £150-£300 per tooth, depending on how complex the composite bonding needs to be.
Make sure you speak to your dentist about this before you start your treatment.
Read more about composite bonding here.
Insurance and Payment Plans
Dental insurance in the UK varies in its coverage of orthodontic treatments like Invisalign. It's essential to check with your provider if you would be covered.
In general, your insurance will only cover aligners if your teeth are severely crowded according to your score on the IOTN. This index determines if your crowding is cosmetic or health-related.
Payment Plans and Financing Options
Many dental practices offer financing options or payment plans to spread the cost over time. Most clinics will offer you the choice between:
Paying upfront in full (sometimes with a discount)
Spreading the cost over the length of your treatment
Taking out a finance plan with a partner like Tabeo to pay in equal instalments from 12 - 36 months.
Common Offers and Sales for Invisalign
Invisalign is very commonly placed on offer in dental practices to drive in more patients. Make sure you follow the social media profiles of the dental clinics you are interested in to find out when they have offers on Invisalign.
Just be careful when reading the offers; dental practices can be sneaky in wording their savings by including things that would be free anyway!
Things to look out for:
Black Friday and Christmas deals
Summer Sales
Invisalign open days
Student discounts
Referral schemes
It’s worth asking your practice if they are running any offers and if not, whether they are planning to in the future.
Choosing the Right Dental Practice for your Invisalign treatment
In this article, we have discussed how much Invisalign costs in the UK and what influences the pricing in different dental clinics.
You may still be confused about choosing the right dental clinic for you, and yes, it is confusing.
If you want more personalised advice from one of our experts at Nova Smiles, click here to contact our dentists. We’ll help you determine which practice may best fit you and how much your treatment should cost.
Otherwise, our tips to choose the best include:
Meet them, find out if you get on well and trust their planning
Ask lots of questions, a good dentist will take the time to explain your treatment and answer any questions you have
Find out how many cases they have done before
Ask them for their portfolio and specifically if they have examples of a patient similar to you
Check their reviews on Google
As we mentioned above, many experienced dentists will offer good prices by working with assistants, which can be great, but you won’t see your actual dentist as much. If you prefer closer contact with your clinician, choose a dentist that sees you themselves, however they may charge more for your treatment.
Conclusion
Invisalign is a highly effective, aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional braces, with a cost that varies based on several factors. It's essential to consult a dental professional to get a personalised quote and treatment plan.
