Adult Invisalign:
14-Month Comprehensive Case

Patient profile and presentation

The patient is a 36-year-old female, healthy, non-smoker, in a public-facing professional role. She presented saying she had been "putting off doing something about my teeth for 15 years" and now wanted a discreet, predictable solution.

Clinical examination: 8mm crowding upper arch, mild lower-arch crowding (3mm), Class I molar relationship bilaterally, 4mm overjet, minimal overbite, no parafunction or TMJ symptoms. Periodontally healthy. No restorations of clinical concern. Generally well-cared-for dentition.

The patient's priorities: a discreet (clear, removable) treatment, a clear timeline she could plan around, and an outcome she could see in advance before committing. Cost was a factor; she was not prepared to spend more than £3,500 inclusive.

Clinical assessment and decision-making

The crowding pattern was suitable for Invisalign Comprehensive without extractions or interproximal reduction in the lower arch; a modest amount of IPR (0.3mm × 4 contacts) was indicated in the upper anterior region to create the space needed for alignment.

Three options were presented:

Option 1 — Invisalign Comprehensive (full aligner package). £2,800 at Tower Dental. Estimated 12–18 months. Discreet, removable. Includes a ClinCheck 3D treatment preview before the patient commits.

Option 2 — Fixed (metal) braces. £2,400. Estimated 14–18 months. Visible during treatment, which the patient was unwilling to accept given her professional role.

Option 3 — Composite bonding alone (no orthodontic correction). £1,800–£2,400 depending on number of teeth. Faster (1–2 visits) but does not move teeth — would mask, not correct, the crowding. The patient was clear she wanted alignment, not just a cosmetic mask.

The patient elected Option 1 — Invisalign Comprehensive. A ClinCheck 3D preview was generated and approved at the second consultation visit before any aligners were ordered.

Treatment provided

Visit 1 — Initial consultation (£40, credited). Photographs, intra-oral scan, written treatment plan with three costed options.

Visit 2 — ClinCheck preview and consent. The 3D ClinCheck animation showed expected tooth movement at every aligner stage and the projected final result. The patient approved the treatment plan in writing.

Visit 3 (week 4) — Fitment of aligners 1–8 + composite attachments. 7 aligners ordered initially. Small composite "attachments" bonded to specific teeth where indicated by the ClinCheck plan. Aligner-wear instructions issued (22+ hours per day).

Visits 4–11 (every 6 weeks) — Progress reviews. Each review checked tracking against the ClinCheck plan, with the next batch of aligners issued. Two minor refinements ordered at month 8 to perfect the alignment of UR1 and UL1 which had not fully tracked.

**Visit 12 (week 56, 14 months) — Final aligner reviewed; attachments removed; whitening included as part of the package; impressions for Vivera retainers.

Visit 13 (week 58) — Vivera retainer fit. Two sets of Vivera (Invisalign-branded) retainers issued. Retention regime explained: full-time (22+ hours) for the first 3 months, then nightly thereafter for life.

Outcome and measurable data

Total elapsed treatment time: 14 months. Number of aligners worn: 39 (32 in the original plan + 7 in refinement). Refinements required: 1 (single 7-aligner refinement at month 8). ClinCheck adherence: approximately 92% — 92% of planned tooth movements tracked within the ClinCheck-projected stages without unplanned refinement. Aesthetic outcome: alignment achieved per plan; patient self-reported satisfaction 10/10. Functional outcome: Class I molar relationship maintained; bite stable; no TMJ symptoms reported.

This case is consistent with Tower Dental's broader Invisalign outcomes: across 2024–25 Invisalign cases at the practice, the average refinement rate was 1 (with no patient requiring more than 2 refinements), the average treatment duration for Comprehensive cases was 13–16 months, and the recorded patient-satisfaction score at the 12-month post-completion review averaged 9.6/10 across 28 cases reviewed.

Aftercare and long-term plan

Vivera retainers issued: 2 sets (one for daily wear, one as a backup/replacement). Replacement retainer pairs available at £180 per pair if lost. Retention regime as standard: full-time for 3 months, then nightly for life.

The patient has been enrolled on the Tower Dental adult plan (£19.60/month) for ongoing routine care. Annual retainer-fit checks are included as part of the plan recall structure.

Composite bonding to refine the shape of UR2 and UL2 was offered after Invisalign as an optional cosmetic enhancement (£333 per tooth × 2 teeth = £666). The patient declined for now and has indicated she may return for it at a later date.

Cost breakdown

V12 Finance: 12 months at £230/month, interest-free, subject to status (approved at consultation).

Talk through your own case

If you are considering Invisalign, the £40 consultation at Tower Dental Blackpool includes the digital intra-oral scan and a written treatment plan. Before any aligners are ordered, you will see your projected outcome on the ClinCheck 3D preview and approve it in writing. There are no surprises.

Dr Sarah Metias, GDC 114267, holds the MJDF from the Royal College of Surgeons England and has been delivering Invisalign cases for over 8 years.

Call 01253 353759 to book.