Clear Aligners & Invisalign in Grantham

Treatment duration varies significantly based on your individual orthodontic needs and case complexity. Simple cases involving minor tooth movements might be completed in just 3-6 months. Average cases with moderate crowding or spacing typically require 9-12 months. Complex cases needing substantial tooth movement or bite correction may take 12-18 months or occasionally longer. During your free consultation at our practice, we'll assess your specific situation and provide an accurate timeline estimate based on your unique teeth and goals.

Clear aligners don't cause pain, but you'll experience some pressure and tightness when you start each new set - this is actually a positive sign that they're actively working to move your teeth! This sensation is usually most noticeable for the first day or two, then diminishes as your teeth begin adjusting. Most Grantham patients find aligners far more comfortable than traditional metal braces, which often have sharp brackets and wires that can cut or irritate the inside of your mouth.

For optimal results and to stay on track with your personalised treatment timeline, you must wear your clear aligners for 20-22 hours each day. This means removing them only for eating meals, drinking anything except water, and your oral hygiene routine. Patient compliance is absolutely critical to success - wearing aligners less than recommended will significantly slow your progress and may compromise your final results.

Yes! One of the biggest advantages of clear aligners over fixed braces is complete freedom with food. Simply remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything except water. This means no dietary restrictions whatsoever - you can enjoy sticky foods, hard foods, crunchy vegetables, all the things that are problematic with traditional braces. Just remember to brush your teeth before reinserting aligners to maintain good oral hygiene.

Modern clear aligner systems like Invisalign can effectively treat a remarkably wide range of orthodontic problems including crowding, gaps between teeth, overbites, underbites, crossbites, rotated teeth, and general misalignment. However, extremely severe or highly complex cases may still require traditional fixed braces for optimal results. We'll honestly assess your specific situation during your free consultation and advise whether clear aligners are suitable for your needs.

Contact our Grantham practice immediately if you lose or damage an aligner. Depending on where you are in your treatment sequence, we may advise moving forward to your next aligner, reverting to the previous set temporarily, or ordering a replacement. It's crucial not to go for extended periods without wearing aligners as teeth can shift back toward their original positions, potentially undoing weeks of orthodontic progress.

Clear aligner treatment at St Mary's Dental typically ranges from £2,500 for straightforward cases to £5,500 for complex treatments requiring extensive tooth movement. Most Grantham patients invest £3,500-£4,500 depending on their individual orthodontic needs. We offer flexible payment plans from £99 per month, including interest-free finance options, to make treatment affordable. Your free consultation includes a detailed personalised quote with complete cost transparency.

Yes, retainers are absolutely essential for maintaining your beautiful straight smile long-term. After your teeth reach their ideal positions, they need to be held there while the surrounding bone, ligaments, and gum tissues adapt and stabilise. We include custom retainers as part of your treatment package at St Mary's Dental. Most patients wear them full-time initially (typically 3-6 months), then transition to nighttime-only wear indefinitely to ensure teeth remain perfectly straight.