Clear Aligners & Invisalign in Sleaford

Treatment duration varies significantly based on your individual orthodontic needs and case complexity. Simple cases with minor crowding or small gaps might be completed in just 3-6 months. Average cases typically require 9-12 months of treatment. More complex situations involving substantial tooth movement, rotation, or bite correction may take 12-18 months or occasionally longer. During your free consultation at St Mary's Dental, we'll examine your teeth thoroughly and provide an accurate, personalised timeline estimate for your specific situation.

Clear aligners don't cause pain, but you'll definitely feel 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 typically strongest for the first 24-48 hours, then diminishes as your teeth begin adjusting. Most Sleaford patients find aligners significantly more comfortable than traditional metal braces, which often have sharp brackets and protruding wires that can irritate your cheeks, lips, and tongue.

For optimal results and to maintain your treatment timeline, you need to wear your clear aligners for 20-22 hours each day. Remove them only for eating, drinking anything except water, and your oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing. Patient compliance is absolutely critical to treatment success - wearing aligners less than the recommended time will significantly slow your progress and may compromise the quality of your final results.

Yes! This is one of the major benefits over fixed braces. Simply remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything except water. This means absolutely no food restrictions - you can enjoy sticky toffee, crunchy apples, corn on the cob, popcorn, all the foods that are problematic or forbidden with traditional braces. Just remember to brush your teeth before reinserting your aligners to maintain good oral hygiene and prevent staining.

Modern clear aligner systems like Invisalign can effectively treat a wide range of orthodontic issues including crowding, gaps between teeth, overbites, underbites, crossbites, rotated teeth, and general misalignment. However, very severe or extremely complex cases may still require traditional fixed braces for optimal correction. We'll honestly assess your specific situation during your free consultation and advise whether clear aligners are suitable for your needs or if an alternative treatment approach would be better.

Contact our Sleaford practice immediately if you lose or damage an aligner. Depending on your treatment stage, we might advise moving forward to your next aligner in the series, reverting to the previous set temporarily, or ordering a replacement from the laboratory. Don't go for extended periods without wearing aligners as your teeth can shift back toward their original positions, potentially undoing weeks of orthodontic progress and delaying your treatment completion.

At St Mary's Dental, clear aligner treatment typically costs between £2,500 for straightforward cases and £5,500 for complex treatments requiring extensive tooth movement or bite correction. Most Sleaford patients invest £3,500-£4,500 depending on their individual orthodontic requirements. We offer flexible payment plans from £99 per month, including interest-free finance options, to make treatment accessible and affordable. Your free consultation includes a detailed personalised quote with complete transparency about all costs.

Yes, retainers are absolutely essential for maintaining your beautiful straight smile long-term. Once your teeth reach their ideal positions, they must be held there while the surrounding bone, periodontal ligaments, and gum tissues adapt and stabilise in the new arrangement. 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 for life.