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Clear aligners are a way of straightening your teeth. Unlike braces, they’re completely clear, which makes them a more discreet option if you want a straighter smile. When you opt for clear aligner treatment, you’ll have a scan or mold taken of your teeth, and then a set of aligners will be custom-made for you. You’ll wear a set for around two weeks on average before moving to the next – each set gradually adjusting your teeth until your smile is straight.

There are a number of different clear aligner providers, which means the costs vary too. The cheapest is Straight My Teeth, with a treatment cost of £999, plus £49 for your initial impression kit. The most expensive providers are Invisalign and Six Month Smiles, which can cost up to around £5,000. However, there are a number of benefits to the higher cost. The average cost is around £1,300-£1,600.

You can also usually pay on finance, spreading the cost over a couple of years, although you will have interest added to the total cost you pay which will make it more expensive.

Read our guide to find out more about the cost of clear aligner treatment. Or if you want to check out the different aligner providers, you can check out our Reviews here.

On average, it takes between 6 and 12 months to complete clear aligner treatment but it will depend on how severely misaligned your teeth are. Smaller adjustments may be faster, while more serious cases could take up to two years. Once your treatment is complete you’ll also need to wear a retainer to prevent your teeth from slipping back into their original positions.

One of the major benefits to clear aligner treatment is that many providers offer a completely remote service. You’ll be sent an impression kit to your home, which you can use to create a mold of your teeth. Once this is posted back to the provider, they’ll then send your aligners to your home. You may be asked to check in, but this can be done with photos that you upload to an app or a website.

However, if you would be more reassured by visiting a dentist, then you can. Some providers work with typical dentists while others have dedicated clinics that you can visit. Here you’d get a 3D scan rather than a mold made, which can be more accurate and removes the risk of human error. It’s up to you whether you’d prefer the convenience of at-home treatment or the reassurance of visiting a dedicated clinic.

Yes – clear aligners really do work. They aren’t effective in the most extreme cases of teeth misalignment – you will likely need the support of a dentist for those. But for mild to moderate issues, clear aligners are effective and discreet. There are a number of reasons to straighten your teeth, including health benefits – which you can read about in our guide.