Clear aligners
Clear, removable aligners for private orthodontic treatment, made by Smartee.
Going ahead with treatment? Your £155 assessment fee is deducted. When you choose private treatment after your private assessment, the £155 already paid is taken away from your overall treatment cost. If you use our payment plan, we take it off the £900 deposit, so your deposit is £745 and the monthly amounts do not change. Cross-border (HSE) patients are not included.
What are clear aligners?
Clear aligners are a series of thin, see-through, removable plastic trays made to fit your teeth. Every set is a little different and moves your teeth gradually, a small amount at a time.
We use Smartee clear aligners. Smartee, a clear aligner company, was founded in Shanghai in 2004.
Clear aligners are a private treatment. Prices begin at £2,900 – see the fees below and our costs page.
Aligners are popular with adults. See braces for adults to compare your options.
At a glance
- Removable and clear – they come out when you eat and clean your teeth.
- Wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day, and never leave them out for more than 30 minutes at a time.
- Move on to the next set every week, at home.
- Retainers afterwards to keep your teeth straight.
Clear aligner prices
Private treatment only – the health service does not provide clear aligners.
At your assessment, the orthodontist will tell you which band applies and what the fee will be. See all our fees.
How treatment works
Assessment
We take a 3D digital scan of your teeth, and the orthodontist checks whether aligners are right for you.
Your plan
A digital plan of how your teeth will move is used to make your aligners.
Wearing aligners
Your aligners are worn for 20 to 22 hours a day, and you change to the next set at home once a week. We see you regularly to check how things are going.
Retainers
Once treatment is complete, retainers hold your teeth in their new position.
Wearing your aligners
- Wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day, and that includes while you sleep. They can only work when they are in your mouth.
- We recommend the 30-minute rule: your aligners should never be out of your mouth for more than 30 minutes at a time.
- Only take them out to eat, or to drink anything other than plain water. Afterwards, brush your teeth and put the aligners straight back in.
- Use your chewies (aligner seaters), normally morning and night. Biting down on them helps the aligners sit fully on your teeth.
- Change to the next set of aligners once a week at home. Please do not skip ahead unless we have talked about this with you.
- For a day or so, each new set may feel tight or give a sense of pressure. This is normal.
- Some patients have small tooth-coloured bumps (attachments) fixed to certain teeth, which help the aligners grip and move them.
- Whenever your aligners are out of your mouth, keep them in their case.
Looking after your aligners
- Clean your aligners the way we show you, with a soft toothbrush and cool water.
- Never use hot water – it can bend the plastic.
- Keep them out of reach of pets.
- Lost or broken an aligner? Contact us for advice.
- An attachment has come off? There is no need to panic – attachments only help the aligner grip. You normally do not need an early visit, but contact us if the aligner feels loose or you cannot wear your elastics, and mention it at your next appointment.
Refinements and retainers
Occasionally teeth do not move exactly to plan. If that happens, the orthodontist may take a new scan and order some extra aligners (called refinements) to complete your treatment.
When treatment finishes, you will need retainers. Because teeth can move back at any age, you will need retainers for as long as you want straight teeth.
Can I get clear aligners on the health service?
No. At our practice, clear aligners are a private treatment. For patients who qualify, health service (NHS) treatment is normally with braces. See health service or private.
How much do clear aligners cost?
Clear aligner fees start from £2,900 for super mild cases (usually less than 2 months), from £3,900 for moderate cases (usually up to 12 months) and from £4,900 for complex cases (usually more than a year, may involve extractions).
How many hours a day should clear aligners be worn?
For 20 to 22 hours a day. Take them out only to eat, to drink anything other than plain water, and to clean your teeth. We recommend the 30-minute rule: your aligners should never be out of your mouth for more than 30 minutes at a time.
Questions about your treatment?
Our team in Portadown is always happy to help. Ring us on 028 3870 2623 or drop us an email.