How Does Invisalign Work? A Complete Guide To Clear Aligner Treatment

Whites Dental Waterloo

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Whites Dental Marble Arch (W2)

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If you’re considering straightening your teeth and looking for a discreet treatment option, Invisalign in London may just be the brace system you are looking for. At Whites Dental in Central London, we’re often asked by our patients, “How does Invisalign actually work?” This article provides you an in depth answer — from your initial consultation with the dentist to your final teeth straightening results. We will help you find out exactly what to expect during your teeth straightening journey with removable aligners.


👨‍⚕️ What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a relatively new braces treatment that has revolutionised the industry – it uses a series of clear plastic removable aligners to gently straighten your teeth over time. Unlike traditional train track braces (which are very noticeable), Invisalign aligners on the other hand are near invisible and custom-manufactured to your teeth for comfort.

Each aligner needs to be worn for about 2 -3 weeks usually and is shaped slightly different from the last aligner in the series. Each aligner applies pressure to your teeth to shift them gradually, yet gently into their ideal final positions over time.

➡️ Related: Invisalign London – Removable Aligners in Central London


🔍 How Does The Invisalign Process Work?

1. 🗓️ Initial consultation and smile assessment

At Whites Dental, your Invisalign journey commences with an in-depth consultation with our Invisalign dentist. Our dentist will:

➡️ You can read more about – Am I a Candidate for Invisalign? to see if you can qualify for treatment.


2. 🧑‍💻 Customised Treatment Plan With 3D Simulation

Using Align Tech’s ClinCheck software, our dentist will create a digital three dimensional model of your teeth. This allows our dentist to:

You’ll be able to see what the final result could look like even before you start your treatment!


3. 🪥 Aligner Production And Fitting

Once you approve your custom plan, we will ask Invisalign to manufacture your aligners using Align’s SmartTrack® technology, engineered for precision and comfort. At your fitting appointment:


4. 🔁 Wearing Your Aligners: 22 Hours In A Day

Invisalign aligners have to be worn essentially all the time, night and day; you should however remove them during meals while eating. For best results, our dentists advise patients to wear their removable aligners 20–22 hours per day, only ever removing the aligners for eating, drinking (except water), flossing and brushing.

Our dentist will advise you when to switch to the next set of aligners in your series – usually after 2-3 weeks of wearing one set.

🕒 The steady, gentle progress help minimise discomfort while moving your teeth alongside!


5. 🦷 Regular Check-Ins

Every four to five weeks, you will be asked to visit our Invisalign London clinic to check for progress and to receive the next batch of removable aligners. These appointments are usually pretty quick, lasting 15–20 minutes on most occasions.

➡️ Tip: Invisalign review appointments are much less frequent than those for traditional braces.


6. 🛑 Final Results And Retainers

Once your aligner treatment is complete and your teeth straight, the dentist will create custom retainers for you to maintain your new smile. These removable retainers are very similar to aligners you wore during treatment; however, they are made from a different type of plastic and are designed to be worn at night over the long term.


📈 How Invisalign Moves Teeth

A series of invisible, clear removable aligners (they look like trays) move your teeth ever so slightly, day after day, into their desired final end positions. Each aligner applies gentle force to shift your teeth in specific directions – moving your teeth just a tiny amount towards their final end positions before the next set of aligners in the series moves your teeth just that much further towards their desired final positions. Over time, this results in:

✅ Reduced crowding
✅ Closed gaps
✅ Improved bite alignment
✅ A straighter, more confident smile

This method is based and guided by well established orthodontic principles and further enhanced with digital precision — giving you beautiful straight teeth at the end.


📊 Invisalign Vs Braces: A Quick Comparison

FeatureInvisalign AlignersTraditional Fixed Braces
AppearanceVirtually invisible to others 🤍Visible metal colour brackets 🦷
ComfortSmooth comfortable plastic 😊Wires / brackets can irritate 😬
RemovabilityYes – need to remove for meals 🍽️No – fixed in place over duration of treatment ❌
Oral HygieneEasy – brush and floss as you usually would 🪥Cleaning is harder due to brackets & wire 🧼
Dietary RestrictionsNone – eat as you used to 🥗Many (no hard foods or sticky items) 🚫

💰 Invisalign Finance Options In London

Worried about the cost? At Whites Dental, we offer multi-year finance plans (including 0% finance) to make Invisalign treatment affordable for every type of budget. You can pay for your treatment in monthly instalments with no interest (over 12 months) — making it easier to get the straight smile you always wanted, sooner.


🤔 Is Invisalign Right For Me?

Invisalign is ideal for treating:

It may not be as suitable for complex or severe cases, which could require traditional braces or a combination of the two.

💬 Book a free consultation with our expert Invisalign dentist in London to see out if you’re a suitable candidate.


📍 Why You Should Choose Whites Dental For Invisalign In London?

At Whites Dental, we are so very proud to be one of London’s most trusted Invisalign providers. When you choose us for treatment, you get the following benefits:

✔️ Free smile assessments
✔️ 3D digital scans (no impressions)
✔️ Flexible 0% finance
✔️ Invisalign-trained clinicians
✔️ Convenient Central London location


✅ Key Takeaways


📞 Ready To Begin Your Invisalign Journey In London?

If you’re wondering, “Is Invisalign right for me?”, we would like to invite you to visit us for a free consultation at Whites Dental. With the latest digital technology, experienced dentists and transparent prices (along with 0% finance), we are confident we can help you achieve that straight smile you always desired.

👉 Book a free Invisalign consultation in London
📍 Located in Central London – London Waterloo & Marble Arch, minutes from Waterloo, Southwark, London Bridge, Paddington, Notting Hill & Edgware Road.


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