Invisalign is not considered to be an essential treatment and therefore it is not made available on the NHS. If cost is an issue, it could still be worth consulting your dentist. Many dentists now offer different payment plans, which make expensive orthodontic work more affordable.

Losing an aligner is not the end of the world. What does cause problems is when patients do not replace them. By not wearing your aligner for the right amount of time, you risk disrupting your treatment and prolonging the need to wear aligners. If you do not wear your aligners enough, it could be that ultimately, your treatment does not create the results you want.

If you lose or damage an aligner, it is important that you contact your dentist for advice as soon as possible. They will be able to commission a replacement so that your treatment can continue to a successful conclusion.

Retainers are an essential part of all orthodontic work and the Invisalign system is no different. However, the type of retainer you require will vary depending on the type of treatment you have. Some retainers are removable, others are fixed or bonded into place. But retainers will be a requirement of your treatment, as they will stop your teeth from rebounding into their original positions when you have stopped wearing your aligners.

It can be helpful to ask your dentist in advance what kind of retainers they recommend. Retainers are an overlooked part of the treatment for many patients and the type of retainer required in the future can affect their willingness to undergo treatment. There is also an additional cost for retainers which your dentist should make clear to you at the outset.

Not all dentists are qualified to offer Invisalign treatment or have the right type of facilities. If you want to find an Invisalign accredited dentist near you, you can use the search button on the Home Page of this site or you can visit www.invisalign.co.uk

As we mentioned above, retention is an important element in the overall treatment. When using Invisalign, retention is usually required for up to two years, though it is gradually scaled back so that you have to wear your retainers less and less.

Most dentists will also recommend that you take regular check-ups to maintain your oral health and hygiene once your treatment has finished. This means that your investment in your smile is maintained in the future.

The express version of the traditional full invisalign case, the invisalign lite treatment is designed as a clever, quick and easy solution to correct your orthodontic problems such as mild crooked or crowded teeth.

Treatment is usually under six months and typically the maximum amount of aligners available for this treatment are 14 aligners. Invisalign Lite is not suitable for all orthodontic cases and is mainly used for cases that require little movement, mild crowding and mild-to-no rotation of teeth. It is a great system for relapse cases of people who had braces in the past and have not used retention to maintain the desired position of their teeth.

The most important factors behind Invisalign Lite are that it relies on exactly the same technology as the original Invisalign system. Patients should expect to receive exactly the same level of consultative support, computer-generated smile design and the same, high quality, bespoke set of aligners. Of course, that also means that your aligners consist of the same materials – so they are transparent, aesthetically pleasing and removable.

The nature of your orthodontic requirement will ultimately decide which approach is right for you. Depending on the level of correction you require, your dentist can recommend the right Invisalign treatment for your case.

In most cases orthodontic treatment utilizing Invisalign ® clear braces will take about as long as the same treatment would with traditional braces. Some published reports do, however, suggested that Invisalign ® treatment could be more rapid. You will simply have to ask your dentist what their experiences have been.

Align Technology, Inc. states that the typical Invisalign ® case is completed in less than a year. The expected time frame for traditional braces has classically been considered to be twelve to twenty four months. Our interpretation of this statistic would be, therefore, that it suggests that invisible braces are typically more suited for treating relatively less involved orthodontic cases. Cases that are typically completed in comparatively shorter time frames.

It is easy for a dentist or patient to calculate how long their treatment is expected to take. All of a patient's aligners are manufactured before their treatment is begun. Since each set of aligners (upper and lower) is typically worn for two weeks, the maths needed to determine the expected treatment time is easy. Simply multiply the number of sets of aligners by two weeks.

When deciding whether to have Invisalign ® orthodontic treatment or not, don't overlook the fact that you will need to wear dental retainers after your clear braces treatment has been completed. The chance of tooth alignment relapse after braces treatment (including Invisalign ®) has been completed is substantial, and even very likely, unless orthodontic retainers are worn as directed by your dentist.

There are several different types of dental retainers that you and your dentist may choose to utilize for your retention phase.

The best type of dental retainer is that type which you will wear, as directed. Fixed dental retainers are an excellent choice, if you will brush and floss your teeth properly. On the other hand, removable retainers can also be expected to provide excellent service but only if they are worn.