Generally straight teeth: the small refinements Invisalign makes

What counts as generally straight

A smile where the arches are a good shape and the bite is settled, but one or two things catch the eye: a single tooth rotated or slightly behind the line, a small overlap of the lower front teeth, a gap of a millimetre or two, or front teeth that are not quite level. Often these are teeth that were straight once, after braces or naturally, and have drifted a little. Dentists call the amount of correction needed minor, and it is measured in a few millimetres across the whole arch.

Why people leave it

Usually because they assume treatment means a year of aligners and a comprehensive fee, which seems out of proportion for one tooth. It does not. A minor case needs a handful of aligners and a few months, and we price it accordingly.

What Invisalign does

The plan moves only what needs moving. A rotated tooth is turned with the help of one or two small attachments; a tooth slightly out of line is brought forward; a small gap is closed by moving the neighbouring teeth a fraction. Because the movements are small, the aligners are thin, the teeth rarely feel tender, and attachments are often not needed at all. The animation on this page shows a mild case being refined.

What it is not for

A short course is designed to refine, not to correct a bite. If the examination shows a deeper problem behind the cosmetic one, a crossbite on one tooth, say, or crowding that will return quickly if the arch is not addressed, Louise will say so and recommend the package that will actually last, rather than sell you the short one. The iTero scan and the X-ray included in every package make that an informed decision rather than a guess.

What treatment looks like here

Most generally straight cases are Express: up to seven aligners over three to four months, for £2,500, including the consultation, scan, X-ray, Dental Monitoring, Vivera retainers, professional whitening and twelve months of aftercare. Express does not include refinement aligners, which is why Louise only recommends it where she is confident the plan will finish within seven. Slightly more movement, or both arches, is a Lite case over six to seven months. Many patients combine a short course with the whitening to finish, so the result is a brighter smile as well as a straighter one.

At Clear Braces Solihull every Invisalign package includes your consultation, iTero scan, X-ray, Dental Monitoring, Vivera retainers, professional whitening and twelve months of aftercare, in one written price. Interest-free monthly payments are available.

Questions people ask

Can Invisalign straighten just one tooth?

Yes. A single rotated or displaced tooth is a typical Express case of a few months.

Is it worth it for a small change?

That is your decision. Many people find a small correction makes a larger difference to how they feel about their smile than they expected.

Do I need attachments for a minor case?

Often not. A rotated tooth may need one or two; most Express cases have none.

Will I still need retainers?

Yes. Even a small movement needs holding while the bone settles, and teeth drift throughout life. Vivera retainers are included.

How quickly can I start?

Treatment can begin in as little as two weeks from your consultation, then three to four months of aligners for an Express case.