If you’re considering Invisalign near Wood Street Village, here’s the short answer: Invisalign is a clear aligner system that gradually straightens teeth using a series of custom-made, removable trays, without the fixed brackets and wires of traditional braces. At Guildford Smiles Dental, we offer clear aligner treatment for adults from Wood Street Village and the surrounding Guildford area who want a straighter smile in a more discreet way. This guide walks through how Invisalign works, what treatment involves day to day, and what it typically costs.
What Is Invisalign® and How Does It Work?
What Is Invisalign®?
Invisalign is a brand of clear aligner, a series of smooth, transparent plastic trays custom-made to fit your teeth. Each set is worn for a set period before moving on to the next in the series, gradually shifting your teeth into their planned final position.
How Do Invisalign® Clear Aligners Work?
Every aligner in the series is slightly different from the last, applying gentle, controlled pressure to specific teeth. Over the course of treatment, this steady progression moves your teeth step by step towards the position mapped out in your treatment plan, which your dentist reviews as you progress.
Who Is Invisalign® Suitable For?
Who May Be Suitable for Invisalign®?
Invisalign tends to suit adults and older teenagers looking to correct mild to moderate alignment issues, though suitability always depends on an individual assessment. Good gum health matters too, which is why our periodontics team may be involved if any gum treatment is needed first.
What Dental Concerns Can Clear Aligners Help With?
Clear aligners are often used to help with:
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Mild to moderate bite issues
- Teeth that have shifted since previous orthodontic treatment
More complex bite problems may need a different approach, and in some cases a referral within our specialist dentistry services. Your dentist can recommend the most suitable treatment after a full examination.
Your Invisalign® Consultation and Treatment Planning
What Happens During the Initial Consultation?
Your first appointment focuses on understanding your goals and assessing whether Invisalign is a realistic option. Our dentists will examine your teeth and bite, take scans or impressions, and talk through what treatment could achieve for you. You can book a consultation to get started.
Dental Assessment and Treatment Planning
From here, a digital treatment plan is created showing the step-by-step movement of your teeth throughout the series of aligners. This is a useful stage to ask questions, since it gives you a clear picture of what to expect before committing to treatment.
Living With Your Aligners Day to Day
How Long Does Invisalign® Treatment Take?
Treatment length varies depending on how much movement is needed, but many adult cases take several months to around a year or so. Your dentist will give you a more accurate estimate once your treatment plan has been mapped out.
How Often Do You Need to Wear the Aligners?
Most clear aligner systems, including Invisalign, need to be worn for around 20 to 22 hours a day, removed only for eating, drinking anything other than water, and cleaning your teeth. Wearing them consistently is what keeps treatment on track.
What Is It Like Wearing Invisalign® Day to Day?
Many patients find aligners fairly easy to adjust to after the first few days. Each new set can feel slightly tight to begin with, as this is the pressure gradually shifting your teeth, but this typically settles within a day or two.
Can You Eat Normally While Wearing Clear Aligners?
Yes. Because the aligners are removed before eating, there are no food restrictions in the way there often are with fixed braces. Just remember to clean your teeth before putting the aligners back in.
How to Clean Your Teeth and Aligners
Brush and floss as normal before reinserting your aligners, and clean the aligners themselves gently with a soft toothbrush and lukewarm water. Avoid hot water, as this can warp the plastic. Keeping up with your usual preventive care appointments during treatment also helps us monitor your teeth and gums along the way.
What Happens if You Forget to Wear Your Aligners?
Missing the recommended wear time now and then can slow progress, and forgetting for extended periods may mean a set no longer fits properly. If this happens, let your dentist know rather than pushing on, as they may need to adjust your plan.
After Treatment: Retainers and Long-Term Results
What Happens After the Active Treatment?
Once your teeth have reached their planned position, active treatment ends, but that isn’t quite the final step. Teeth can naturally drift over time, so a period of retention follows to help hold your new smile in place.
Why Are Retainers Important?
Retainers, whether fixed or removable, are what maintain your results after treatment. Skipping retainer wear is one of the most common reasons teeth gradually shift back, so sticking with your dentist’s guidance here really does matter. This is also a good time to consider finishing touches such as tooth whitening or minor composite bonding if you’re looking for a more complete result.
Invisalign® vs Traditional Braces
Both aligners and traditional braces can achieve effective results, but they work differently and suit different patients.
- Invisalign / clear aligners: removable, virtually invisible, no food restrictions, requires discipline to wear consistently
- Traditional braces: fixed in place, can suit more complex cases, no risk of forgetting to wear them, but more visible and with some food restrictions
Your dentist can talk through which approach is likely to suit your particular case, rather than assuming one is automatically better than the other.
How Much Does Invisalign® Cost, and How Do You Arrange a Consultation?
How Much Does Invisalign®/Clear Aligner Treatment Cost?
Clear aligner treatment at our practice starts from £1,850. The exact cost depends on the complexity of your case and how many aligners your treatment plan requires, which is why a consultation is needed before we can give you an accurate figure. Interest-free finance is available through Tabeo if you’d like to spread the cost, and full pricing detail is available in our fee guide.
Invisalign® Near Wood Street Village: Arranging a Consultation
Guildford Smiles Dental is based at 8 Phoenix Court, a short journey from Wood Street Village, and we also welcome patients travelling in from Burpham, Merrow and Ripley for clear aligner treatment. Our dentists, whom you can read about on our meet the team page, take the time to explain your options clearly before any treatment begins.
To arrange a consultation, reach out via our contact page, call us on 0148 336 1739, or email enquiries@guildfordsmiles.com. We’re open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, closed Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
For many mild to moderate alignment cases, clear aligners can be an effective option, though suitability depends on your specific bite and goals. Your dentist can advise which approach is likely to work best after an assessment.
It depends on your individual case. Existing crowns and bridges don’t automatically rule out treatment, but they do need to be factored into your assessment and treatment plan.
Some teenagers may be suitable candidates, though this depends on dental development. Our children’s dentistry team can advise on the most appropriate timing and options for younger patients.
Not usually, though in cases of significant crowding a surgical extraction is occasionally recommended as part of the treatment plan. This would only be suggested after a full assessment.
Yes, many patients choose to combine clear aligners with treatments such as veneers or a wider smile makeover once their teeth are aligned, for a more complete change to their smile.
Existing dental implants don’t move in the same way as natural teeth, so this needs to be factored carefully into any treatment plan. Let your dentist know about any implants, dentures or prosthetics during your consultation.
In Summary
Invisalign offers a discreet, removable way to straighten teeth for many adults, though the right approach always depends on an individual assessment with a dentist. From your first consultation through to retainers, our team supports patients from Wood Street Village and across Guildford, including neighbouring areas such as Woking and Shere. You can also browse our full range of treatments, including gum line correction and general cosmetic dentistry, alongside routine care with our general dentist team and joining our patient plan to help maintain your results.
If you’d like to find out whether Invisalign is right for you, book a consultation with Guildford Smiles Dental today, or call us on 0148 336 1739 to speak with our team.
