Cheap teeth aligners and braces - are they really worth it?

When we consider starting orthodontic treatment, cost is usually a key determining factor in our decision between one option or another. Cheap aligners are widely available, but it's important to remember this is just one aspect you should consider when deciding to start corrective dental treatment. In this article, we'll take a look at all the important things to look out for when deciding on the right aligner brand.

Why does the cost of clear aligners matter?

Since orthodontic treatment is only available for free on the NHS until someone turns 18, it's understandable that people wanting to have corrective orthodontic treatment after this age might begin their search by looking for where to get cheap clear aligners.

As tempting as it is to opt for orthodontic treatment with low-cost teeth aligners or cheap braces, we have to bear in mind that some providers of cheap dental aligners and braces don’t guarantee safety or results. While it makes sense to seek out affordable options for clear aligners or braces, orthodontic treatment must meet the necessary medical requirements to ensure that it’s safe and doesn’t put the patient’s oral health at risk.

Factors such as location, level of orthodontic intervention, number of visits and the manufacturing process can all contribute to the cost of clear aligners and should be taken into account when seeking orthodontic quotes. 3 of the best parts of the treatment plans we offer at Impress are:

• Initial orthodontic assessments at any of our clinics are free!

• We have a clear, tiered pricing system, which will be explained to you on the day of your free assessment. This makes it easy for you to know the exact total cost of your entire treatment.

• We have several financing options to help you spread the cost of your treatment in a manageable way.

How much are the cheapest aligners?

When reviewing the price of the cheapest aligners available online, you see lots of unbelievable prices from bulk sale sites that are, unfortunately, unregulated and unverified and don't offer supervision by medical professionals during your treatment.

Do cheap aligners work? The risks involved

The risks that cheap teeth aligners or at-home braces without medical supervision can pose for our oral health can come with serious effects an sometimes irreversible outcomes.

Here are the requirements that should be taken into account when it comes to deciding on inexpensive teeth aligners or cheap braces:

• Orthodontic problems: cheap teeth aligners used to straighten teeth at home can aggravate the original problem or cause new issues to develop.
• Oral health risks: Tooth sensitivity, tooth decay or tooth loss can occur. The gums can also be affected by gingivitis, gum recession or worsening of periodontitis.
  
• Functional risks: speech, chewing, swallowing, and breathing can all be impacted by cheap dental aligners that do not meet medical standards.
  
• Aesthetic risks: the appearance of the face can be altered if the position of the teeth is modified using cheap teeth aligners at home and without medical supervision.
  

 To find out more about the risks, you can take a look at our article about the risks of using cheap aligners to straighten teeth at home and without medical supervision.

The average price of orthodontics and clear aligners

To avoid putting your oral health at risk with low-cost teeth aligners or braces that have questionable medical backing, you can find a breakdown below on how safe and reliable orthodontic treatment should be priced.

In the UK, the cost of orthodontic treatment generally falls between £1,500 and £10,000. However, you should bear in mind that different factors can affect the price:

• The type of orthodontic treatment: traditional metal braces, self-litigating braces, lingual braces, clear braces or clear aligners.
• The equipment and devices used for diagnosis at the clinic.
  
• The location of the clinic and the specialists working there.
  
• The complexity of the case and the duration of the treatment.
  
• The age of the patient.
  

Can you get aligners for free?

Braces and orthodontic treatment are only available for free with the NHS for children up to the age of 18, and this is based on a grading system called the IOTN, or Index of Treatment Needed. If you find a cheaper price for invisible teeth aligners or braces that are inexpensive, you should tread with caution, as while the teeth-alignment treatment might come at a cheaper cost, fixing subpar results in the long run could be even more costly. 

Requirements for a safe orthodontic treatment

If you find inexpensive teeth aligners or braces, here you’ll find out what requirements you need to look our for to ensure that they’re safe, effective and reliable:

• Professional diagnosis: Many orthodontic treatments using cheap dental aligners or braces to straighten the teeth do not involve a medical diagnosis and can compromise your safety. A face-to-face visit for an oral examination by an orthodontist and an orthopantomography are essential for a safe diagnosis and treatment.
• Appropriate impression of the teeth: Some low-cost providers of teeth aligners require the patient to make an impression of their teeth at home. This should be avoided. A qualified orthodontist should make the impression of your teeth in a dental clinic, using either moulds or 3D printing.
  
• Personalised treatment: The treatment plan and aligners must be designed and produced according to the individual needs of each patient. In addition, complex treatments may require extra elements, such as attachments or intermaxillary rubber bands. Cheap and pre-designed teeth aligners offered by some orthodontic companies should be avoided, as all teeth are different. Aligners are not one-size-fits-all and can be counterproductive if they are not personalised to each case.
  
• Ongoing professional monitoring: The treatment provider should ensure that a qualified professional monitors the progress of treatment to assess whether the treatment is progressing as it should.
  
• Clinic visits: Some providers are offering cheap teeth alignment with invisible aligners that do not have any physical clinics. At Impress, we believe it is essential for all cases to have at least the first visit in person and, in addition, complex cases should be able to visit the clinic from time to time. Some cases can be monitored mostly digitally with medical supervision from home, whereas some will require more clinic visits to ensure they are developing correctly.
  

Impress, affordable clear aligners with medical guarantee

We understand that the price is an important deciding factor when it comes to starting orthodontic treatment. This is why we offer orthodontic treatments like clear aligners at affordable prices, and the first visit for free. We have a lot of other benefits our patients enjoy too.

• We have an experienced medical team that diagnoses, plans and supervises your treatment.
• We produce personalised aligners with top precision.
  
• We offer medical supervision of your treatment from start to finish, either via our app or in one of our clinics.
  
• We guarantee that your first diagnostic visit will be face-to-face in one of our clinics or partner clinics, and with an orthodontist from our team.
  

 Impress offers fixed prices with no surprises, as well as different financing options so that we can adapt as much as possible to the needs of each of our patients.

If you're thinking about affordable clear aligners, but you want to do the treatment safely, you can contact us without obligation, and we will assess your specific case. You can contact us by calling +44 20 3808 1072 or by WhatsApp, or by filling out our online form. We look forward to seeing you at your nearest Impress clinic!

Updated: March 2025