Orthodontics · London
Clear aligners are transparent plastic trays, changed every 1 to 2 weeks, that gradually move the teeth. You wear them 22 hours a day. At Smalț a simple case of up to 6 months costs £3,450, a complex one of up to 18 months £5,200. You come to the clinic at the start, then every 3 to 4 months.
Why Smalț
Step by step
Clear aligners in London
01
Clear aligner treatment starts with a scan of both arches, with no impression paste. The orthodontist builds a digital 3D plan that shows the position of your teeth at every stage and at the end. Small tooth-coloured composite attachments are bonded to some teeth, so the aligners can grip them. You receive the aligners in batches and move to the next set every 1 to 2 weeks.
02
Aligner treatment starts with 2 or 3 visits: diagnosis, scan, plan and fitting of the attachments. You take several months of aligners home and send photographs of your teeth every few weeks. In-person check-ups at the Marylebone clinic are planned every 3 to 4 months, each one a single visit of about 30 minutes, and a last visit removes the attachments.
03
Clear aligners suit adults and teenagers with all permanent teeth in place, with crowding, gaps or teeth that moved after braces worn as a child. Large differences between the jaws are usually treated with fixed braces, sometimes together with surgery. The orthodontist tells you at the diagnosis which option suits your case.
04
Teeth tend to drift back after any orthodontic treatment. Retention holds them in place: a clear retainer worn at night, sometimes also a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth. Retainers are included in the price. The first year after treatment is when wearing them matters most.
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The £3,450 for a simple case and £5,200 for a complex one cover the whole treatment, not a month of aligners. The price includes the scan, the 3D plan, all aligners, attachments, check-ups and retainers. Refinement aligners, if the teeth do not follow the plan exactly, are also included. The written plan tells you from the start which category your case is in.
A simple case of up to 6 months costs £3,450, and a complex case of up to 18 months £5,200. The price includes the scan, the 3D plan, all aligners, check-ups and retainers.
Yes, for most simple and moderate cases. You start with 2 or 3 visits, then send photographs every few weeks and come to the Marylebone clinic every 3 to 4 months. A local dentist can help with small problems, such as a lost attachment.
Clear aligners are visible only up close, as a slight shine on the teeth. The attachments are tooth-coloured. Most people do not notice them in conversation.
Teeth move only while the aligner is in your mouth. Below 20 hours a day the teeth fall behind the plan, the next aligner no longer fits well and treatment takes longer. Take them out only to eat and to brush.
Clear aligners suit simple and moderate cases and come out for meals. Fixed braces control large movements and jaw differences better. The orthodontist decides at the diagnosis, based on the scan and X-rays.