Invisalign
Clear, removable aligners that straighten teeth discreetly.
- NHS and private
- Same-day emergencies
- Published fees
- One team, three practices
Straighter Teeth Without Metal Braces
Adults who wanted straighter teeth used to have one option: fixed metal braces for 18 to 24 months, with all the visibility and food restrictions that go with them.
Read more: Straighter Teeth Without Metal Braces
Clear aligners changed this. Removable, almost invisible, and comfortable enough to wear all day, aligners are now the default route for adult orthodontics in mild to moderate cases.
We provide SmileAlign, our chosen clear-aligner system, for a full course of treatment. Treatment is delivered across Minti Dental Group.
How Clear Aligners Move Teeth
Aligners apply gentle, sustained pressure to specific teeth in specific directions.
Read more: How Clear Aligners Move Teeth
The bone around each tooth remodels in response to the pressure, and the tooth gradually moves into the planned position. Each aligner in the series moves the teeth approximately 0.25 mm. A typical course uses 20 to 50 aligners over four to nine months, with each tray worn for 7 to 14 days.
The treatment is planned digitally before any aligner is produced. We take a 3D scan of your teeth, the manufacturer's planning software produces a movement sequence, and we review the proposed plan in detail. You see an animation of the planned final result before committing.
SmileAlign vs Invisalign: Honest Comparison
Invisalign (made by Align Technology) is the largest clear-aligner brand globally and the one most patients have heard of.
Read more: SmileAlign vs Invisalign: Honest Comparison
We have chosen SmileAlign as our aligner system. Both work on the same biological principles (gentle pressure remodels the supporting bone), and for the case types we treat the clinical outcomes are comparable. The honest differences:
| Feature | SmileAlign | Invisalign |
|---|---|---|
| Manufactured in | UK | United States and overseas |
| Treatment planning software | ClearCorrect-class digital workflow | Align ClinCheck |
| Suitable case range | Mild to moderate | Mild to severe (with Comprehensive plans) |
| Treatment time | 4 to 9 months typical | 4 to 18 months depending on plan |
| Refinement aligners | Included | Often included, varies by package |
We chose SmileAlign because the workflow suits the case mix we see, the lab turnaround is faster (UK manufacturing), and the all-in fee is competitive for the patient with no compromise on planning quality for mild to moderate cases. For complex cases needing extractions, large skeletal correction, or severe rotations, we discuss whether SmileAlign is suitable or whether referral to a specialist orthodontist for Invisalign Comprehensive or fixed braces is the better answer.
SmileAlign Across Minti Dental Group
SmileAlign is provided across Minti Dental Group, with the digital scanning and treatment planning carried out by GDC-registered clinicians. The same protocol applies wherever you book.
Aligner treatment involves regular review appointments every six to ten weeks, so most patients pick the practice closest to home or work.
Who Aligners Suit (and Who They Do Not)
Clear aligners suit adults and older teenagers (14 and above, once the second molars are in) with mild to moderate alignment problems who can commit to wearing the aligners 20 to 22 hours a day.
Read more: Who Aligners Suit (and Who They Do Not)
The compliance requirement is real: aligners worn fewer than 20 hours daily do not move teeth on schedule.
Aligners are well suited to mild to moderate crowding, mild spacing, mild rotation, and minor relapse after previous orthodontic treatment. They are not well suited to severe crowding requiring extractions, large skeletal discrepancies, or patients whose lifestyle does not support the wear requirement. We are honest at consultation about whether aligners will achieve your goal.
Your Treatment Course, Step by Step
Initial consultation and digital scan
Examination, photographs, and a digital scan of your teeth. The scan goes to the planning software.
Treatment plan preview
The software produces a 3D animation showing every stage of the planned movement. You see the proposed final result before committing. Any adjustments to the plan are made at this stage.
Treatment commencement
Once you commit, the aligners are produced (usually four to six weeks for the first batch). At the fitting appointment we attach small composite "attachments" to specific teeth that act as handles for the aligners. The attachments are tooth-coloured.
Active treatment
You change aligners every 7 to 14 days as instructed. We see you every six to ten weeks to confirm tracking and provide the next batch of aligners.
Refinement (where needed)
If the final result needs minor adjustment after the main course, refinement aligners are produced from a new scan. Refinements are included in the treatment fee.
Retention
At the end of treatment, attachments are removed and you receive clear retainers. Worn full-time for three months, then nights only indefinitely. Stop wearing the retainer and the teeth drift back, sometimes within months.
What Is Included
The full SmileAlign treatment course covers the initial consultation and digital scan, all aligners, any refinement aligners needed, and the retainers at the end of treatment.
Read more: What Is Included
The treatment fee covers everything from the digital plan to the final retainers, including all review appointments and any refinement aligners. Treatment can be split over up to 12 months interest-free in-practice or financed over up to 60 months through a regulated third-party provider.
Aligner treatment is private only. NHS aligners exist for narrow medical indications but are not available for routine adult cases.
Practices Offering Invisalign
Nuffield Dental Practice
110–111 The StowHarlowEssex CM20 3AS01279 424 038Enfield Smiles
195 High StreetEnfield EN3 4DZ020 8804 4320
Frequently Asked Questions
Book a SmileAlign Consultation
The consultation includes the digital scan and a treatment plan preview, so you see the proposed final result before deciding whether to proceed. There is no obligation to commit.
- Nuffield Dental Practice (Harlow): 01279 424 038
- Church Langley Dental (Harlow): 01279 306 690
- Enfield Smiles (Enfield): 020 8804 4320