Every year, more adults in the UK are starting to seek orthodontic treatment to improve their smiles. Before, adults used to forgo teeth straightening because they do not want to be a metal mouth at their age. But with clear aligners like Invisalign, there is now a more discrete way to deal with the dental issue.
However, it is no secret that Invisalign aligners are not cheap. In fact, there are times when Invisalign can be more expensive than traditional braces.
The good news is that you can get a cheap Invisalign alternative in the UK! And if you only have a mild to moderate dental issue, these affordable alternatives can even work as good as Invisalign!
Here are the best Invisalign alternatives in the UK that you should check out and consider:
Straight My Teeth
Straight My Teeth has a network that consists of orthodontists, dentists, and dental technicians.
The treatment is done remotely although you need to do an in-person consultation first before you start treatment since they do not have impression kits. The Straight My Teeth provider will be the one taking the impressions of your teeth for you.
Straight My Teeth aligners are made out of clear and medical-grade Raintree Essex plastic material.
Treatment from Straight My Teeth is considered to be one of the most affordable in the market. The all-day clear aligners cost £699 while the nighttime aligners cost £799. Both options come with a teeth whitening kit.
In case you can not pay for the treatment upfront, Straight My Teeth has an installment plan as well. For the all-day aligners, you need to give a downpayment of £295 then pay £67 per month for 12 months. For nighttime aligners, you need to give a downpayment of £349 then pay £75 per month for 12 months.
Pros
- Offers a nighttime treatment.
- Treatment comes with free teeth whitening as part of the package.
Cons
- Treatment only works best for minor orthodontic issues.
PlusDent
To see if you qualify for PlusDent treatment, you will be asked to visit one of their offices in the UK to get a free teeth scan. This is the only time you will be asked to do an in-person assessment.
The rest of the treatment will be done remotely after that, using a specialized app where you will be uploading photos of your teeth and you will be given updates and instructions about your treatment.
PlusDent stands out with its unique pricing and finance options. There are three price tiers, depending on the severity of your dental issues. The short tier will cost £1390, the normal tier is £1690, and the severe tier is £1990.
An installment plan is also available, which you can split up to 4 years. That’s probably one of the longest installment plans that you can get in the market. You can pay as low as £34.63 per month.
Take note though that a credit check will be required to avail of these installment plans. If you have a good credit score, then you won’t have anything to worry about.
Pros
- Has multiple and long-term payment plans that can work well with any budget.
- PlusDent uses its own app and advanced technology to monitor your treatment.
Cons
- No impression kits are available. The only way to start treatment is to visit their clinics in person.
Straight Teeth Direct
Straight Teet Direct is a remote treatment that allows you to choose between starting with an impression kit or getting a 3D scan before you do the treatment.
Straight Teeth Direct aligners cost £1350. The brand also has a monthly payment plan, a three-installment payment plan, and financial aid from an external credit provider.
After your treatment, you can avail of the maintainer plan which gives you new retainers every 6 months for a fee of £139 per year. Getting this plan while you are getting treatment will also extend your warranty on the Straight Teeth Direct clear aligner treatment.
Pros
- Offers more payment plans to choose from.
- Great warranty plan.
Cons
- No freebies are included in the package.
WonderSmile
To start your WonderSmile treatment, you can choose to set an appointment in a WonderSmile clinic near you. They will do a 3D scan of your teeth and send it to their labs. You can also choose to order an impression kit.
WonderSmile treatment costs £1399 for the all-day aligners and £1449 for night aligners. They have the WonderPay Plan, where you can pay a deposit and monthly installment. If you avail of this plan, you should know that they will do a soft credit check.
The WonderSmile treatment comes with a WonderSmile Lifetime Guarantee. This means that if your teeth shift back to their original position after your treatment, they will fix it back for free.
Please make sure that you read the fine print on this one since a lot of situations can make them consider the WonderSmile Lifetime Guarantee void.
Pros
- Payment installment plans have no interest.
- You are allowed to just get one arch (top or bottom) if you only have one arch with problems to address and your total cost will be reduced.
Cons
- Unlike most remote treatment plans. the first set of retainers is not included in the package
Smile Direct Club
Smile Direct Club came to the UK in 2019 and has established a lot of Smile Shops in the UK thanks to their partnership with Well Pharmacy. To start treatment with them, you can drop by a Smile Shop in your area or order an impression kit online.
Smile Direct Club also offers a nighttime-only treatment plan that you can only wear during your bedtime. No matter what type of treatment plan you choose, you will get Smile Direct Club’s whitening treatment for free.
Smile Direct Club treatment will cost you £1539 whether you choose a day or night treatment. This is a good thing since most brands charge a higher price for their nighttime treatment.
A monthly installment payment plan is also available through SmilePay. You will be asked to make a downpayment of £70.10 and then you will be paying £70.09 per month for 23 months.
Pros
- It is an established international brand with a good reputation.
- Nighttime aligners are also offered.
Cons
- Only works best for mild to moderate orthodontic issues.
Invisalign alternatives UK FAQs
How much does Invisalign aligners cost?
The price for Invisalign will vary from one patient to the next. You will find that, unlike the alternatives we presented earlier, Invisalign does not have a fixed price or rate.
This is because the total cost will depend on numerous factors. The major factor is the complexity of your dental issue. The more work your teeth needs, the higher the cost will be. Because of this, it will be hard to give you a realistic estimate of what your treatment cost will be.
But to give you a general idea, in the UK, a mild treatment can cost as much as £1995. For complex cases, Invisalign can cost £4800 and above.
The only way to get a thorough estimate is to get a consultation from an Invisalign orthodontist.
If the rate remains way above your budget, do not be discouraged. As mentioned above, you can easily work with a cheap Invisalign alternative.
Is Invisalign covered by insurance?
This will depend on your insurance provider and what kind of insurance you have.
In most cases, teeth straightening is considered to be a cosmetic service and therefore, they could not be covered by other insurance policies unless you have proof that it is a medical necessity. For instance, your orthodontic issues are giving you difficulty eating or speaking.
Sometimes, Invisalign can also fall under orthodontic treatments. But take note that not all policies – especially those that come from employers cover orthodontic treatments. Most of them only cover general dental insurance benefits.
It would help to get a specific dental insurance policy so that you can get orthodontic treatment and other dental services that are not covered under a general dental insurance.
Even if you do manage to get coverage, you should know that insurance companies will not cover the total cost. The most they can cover is half the bill. You still have to pay for the rest out of your own pocket. So make sure you contact your insurance provider and try to get an estimate of how much they can cover before you start getting Invisalign.
Why you should consider Invisalign alternative UK options?
If you only have a minor orthodontic issue, you should consider working with remote or home clear aligners instead of spending a lot of money on Invisalign.
Cheaper rates
Compared to what you can spend on an Invisalign treatment, home teeth aligners cost a lot cheaper. The rates can even be dealt with easily with monthly installment plans. This is precisely why more people are getting their teeth straightened now!
No in-office visits
One of the major reasons why home aligners are so much cheaper because it eliminates the need to do in-office visits. This means no professional and office fees. You also get to save money because you do not have to leave the house to get treated. Invisalign will require you to see a local dentist or orthodontist affiliated with them frequently.
Faster treatment time
Invisalign alternatives often have a shorter treatment time. Most mild to moderate cases will only take up 4 to 6 months of treatment. This is significantly shorter compared to treatments that you have to do in person.
Night-time only option
Invisalign braces is just an all-day orthodontic treatment. You have to wear it for at least 22 hours. This takes up a lot of responsibility and cleaning in between. Most Invisalign alternatives give you the option to do a nighttime-only orthodontic treatment.
This means you only get to wear the aligners for 10 hours at night – starting after dinner until you wake up. You no longer have to deal with taking them off every time you eat or feeling conscious that someone might tell you are wearing one. The treatment becomes very discreet.
What dental conditions can home aligners treat?
Most Invisalign alternatives offer an orthodontic treatment that can only deal with mild to moderate cases of spacing, crowding, and bite issues. Severe cases like jaw misalignment and underbite or overbite will need more force to correct.
Invisalign aligners may be able to treat some harder cases but for most instances, your dental professional will most likely advise you to go for stronger and permanent orthodontic treatment like traditional metal braces.
Since metal braces are made of metal, the material is more solid, meaning they have a more stable foundation. The fact that metal braces are permanently fixed on your teeth also adds to that foundation. Because of these, metal braces can use more force when it comes to pulling or pushing your teeth to the right place.
Does it hurt to wear clear braces?
One more appealing thing about wearing clear braces is that it does not hurt as much as metal braces do. In fact, some people only report a slight discomfort and these incidents are rare.
But to give you an idea, here is what to expect. You may feel some discomfort during the first 2 to 3 days when you wear the aligners. This is because the fit would be tight and snug to force your teeth to move into the correct position.
You will have to adjust to this for every aligner tray you use throughout the treatment. But after you have adjusted, you will barely notice that you are wearing them.
Removable aligners as an orthodontic treatment is a step up when it comes to pain management. As we know, metal braces need to be adjusted from time to time and this can be very painful. With Invisalign treatment and other remote clear aligner treatments, you do not have to be in so much pain to get a better smile.
Conclusion
As you can see, you do not have to shell out a lot of money just to get a better smile. Invisalign aligners are not the only choice out there! You can get a more affordable alternative that works just as good.
Having straighter teeth is not just about vanity – it is also about your health. Straight teeth greatly reduce your risks of having tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. Aside from that, it does wonders for your self-confidence as well.
Now that there are a lot of affordable choices when it comes to clear aligners, you can now get the treatment you need without having to worry about your budget!