Invisalign, explained plainly and kindly.
Short, honest guides from Dr Louise Gidda and the Omnia Dental Spa team for anyone considering, starting or finishing Invisalign. No jargon, no hard sell, and sources at the end of every one.
Everything you might wonder about.
Choose a topic, or browse them all.
Getting started
What to know before you begin, and what the journey looks like.
Six things to know before you start Invisalign
Wear time, attachments, speech, drinks, refinements and retainers: the honest list we give every patient.
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Invisalign at a Platinum Elite practice: what your journey looks like
From the first conversation to retainers, step by step, and what Platinum Elite status means for you.
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How long does Invisalign take?
Three months or eighteen? What decides the length of treatment, typical times for each package, and what makes it faster or slower.
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The iTero scan explained: no putty, no guesswork
What happens at your scan, how it becomes a 3D plan and a preview of your smile, and why we do not use impressions.
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Children's teeth: when to have them assessed, and what Invisalign Teen offers
The right age for a first orthodontic look, the problems worth catching early, and how treatment works for growing smiles.
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Choosing an Invisalign provider: eight questions to ask
The questions worth asking any practice before you start, with our honest answers for Clear Braces Solihull.
Read the guideChoosing well
Comparing options honestly, and knowing who should treat you.
Invisalign vs fixed braces: an honest comparison
Appearance, comfort, hygiene, speed and cost, compared without bias, plus the cases where fixed braces still win.
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Invisalign or at-home aligners: what the difference really is
Why an in-person examination by a dentist, and an X-ray, matter, and the questions to ask any aligner provider.
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Who is allowed to straighten or whiten your teeth, and why it matters
The law on who may provide orthodontics and whitening in the UK, and the questions to ask any provider.
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Straight teeth and oral health: the benefits beyond the smile
Why well-aligned teeth are easier to keep clean, wear more evenly and are kinder to the gums and jaw, and what that means over a lifetime.
Read the guideCost and value
What shapes the price, what should be included, and spreading the cost.
What shapes the cost of Invisalign, and how to spread it
Why there is no single price, what moves it up or down, and what is included at Clear Braces Solihull.
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How much does Invisalign cost in Solihull?
Published local prices, what is and is not usually included, and how to compare quotes like for like.
Read the guideConditions we treat
Crowding, gaps and bites: what each one means, and how Invisalign helps.
Conditions we treat · 7 min readCrowded teeth: causes, and how Invisalign helps
Why teeth crowd, why it is worth treating, and how clear aligners create room.
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Conditions we treat · 6 min readGaps between teeth: closing spaces with Invisalign
What causes gaps, when they matter, and how aligners close them neatly.
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Conditions we treat · 7 min readOverbite: what it is and how Invisalign corrects it
When the upper teeth close too far over the lower, and how aligners improve the bite.
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Protruding front teeth (overjet): causes and how Invisalign helps
When the upper front teeth stick out ahead of the lower ones, what causes it, and how aligners bring them back.
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Conditions we treat · 7 min readUnderbite: understanding it, and your options
When the lower teeth sit in front of the upper, what causes it and when aligners can help.
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Conditions we treat · 7 min readCrossbite: why it matters, and how it is treated
When some upper teeth bite inside the lower, and how aligners realign the bite.
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Conditions we treat · 6 min readOpen bite: when the front teeth do not meet
What causes an open bite, why it affects eating and speech, and how aligners help.
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Generally straight teeth: small refinements with Invisalign
One tooth out of line, a slight twist, a small gap: what a short course of aligners can do for a smile that is nearly there.
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Teeth that have moved since you had braces
Why straightened teeth drift back, and how a short Invisalign course can restore your smile.
Read the guideLiving with aligners
Day-to-day care, food and drink, attachments, retainers and the finishing touches.
Caring for your Invisalign aligners
Cleaning, storing, eating and the small habits that keep aligners clear and treatment on track.
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Eating and drinking with Invisalign
What you can eat, what to drink with aligners in, and simple habits that keep them clear.
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Attachments explained: the small detail that matters
What the small tooth-coloured bumps on aligner teeth do, how they are placed and removed.
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Retainers: keeping the smile you have paid for
Why teeth move back, the three types of retainer, how long to wear them and what Vivera includes.
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Invisalign and composite bonding: the finishing touches
Why many patients have bonding after their aligners, what it can and cannot do, and the order that gives the best result.
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Professional teeth whitening, explained
How whitening works, what it can and cannot do, and why every Invisalign course here finishes with it.
Read the guideFeeling at ease
For anyone nervous, or wondering whether it is too late.
Helping nervous patients feel at ease
How we look after anxious patients at Clear Braces Solihull, and why Invisalign is often the easiest place to start.
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Does Invisalign hurt? The first weeks, honestly
What new aligners feel like, how long it lasts, what is normal and what is not, and the simple things that help.
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Is it ever too late to straighten your teeth?
Why age is rarely the barrier people expect, what matters more, and how adult treatment differs.
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Five myths about straightening teeth
Too old, too painful, only for teenagers, aligners can't fix bites, and a few more things people believe that are not true.
Read the guideThe three questions we hear most.
How long do I wear them?
Twenty to twenty-two hours a day. Take them out to eat, to drink anything but water, and to brush.
Six things to know firstWhat if I lose an aligner?
Call us. Usually you move on to the next aligner a little early, or go back to the last one while we arrange what you need.
More quick answersHow do I keep them clear?
Rinse them in lukewarm water, brush them gently with a soft brush and mild soap, never use hot water, and always brush your own teeth before putting them back in.
Aligner care guideWhere we point patients for independent advice.
Our guides draw on these organisations. Each is worth a look if you would like to read more.
More from Omnia Dental Spa
General, hygiene, cosmetic and restorative guides from the wider practice.
Look goodFeel greatSmile confidently
Still have a question?
Ask Louise at a relaxed consultation, or call the practice and the team will help.
A £25 booking fee reserves your consultation. It is credited in full to your treatment if you go ahead, and is non-refundable if you do not.