Invisalign vs ClearCorrect: What Is the Difference?

By the team at Bollington Dental Practice, under the clinical direction of Dr Ellie Burrows, Principal Dentist. Updated October 2026.

Start reading about straightening your teeth and one name turns up everywhere. Invisalign is so well known that plenty of people use it as the general word for clear aligners, so when a practice offers ClearCorrect instead, it is reasonable to wonder whether that means something different, something lesser, or much the same thing under another label. This is a plain comparison of the two, written by a practice that provides one of them and would rather you understood both properly before you decide anything.

The short answer

Invisalign and ClearCorrect are both clear aligner systems that work in the same way: a series of custom-made, removable plastic trays, each nudging your teeth a small step further, worn for most of the day and changed on a schedule your dentist sets. Both come from established dental manufacturers and both are used for mild to moderate crowding, gaps and some bite problems. In practice, the diagnosis, the plan and how faithfully the aligners are worn matter far more to the result than the name on the box. Here at Bollington Dental Practice we provide ClearCorrect, not Invisalign, with treatment from £2,499.

How clear aligners work, whichever the brand

It starts with an examination. Teeth can only be moved safely through healthy gums and bone, so decay and gum disease are dealt with first. Moving teeth while gum disease is active can make the gum problem worse, which is why a responsible aligner plan never begins with a scan alone.

A digital plan. Your teeth are scanned and the dentist plans the movement on 3D software, tooth by tooth, from where they are now to where they should end up. The software produces a simulation of the finished result. Treat that as a plan rather than a promise: teeth are living structures and do not always follow the animation exactly, which is why both systems allow for adjustments partway through, often called refinements.

Small attachments and a little reshaping. Many plans use attachments, small tooth-coloured bumps bonded to certain teeth so the aligner has something to grip. Some plans also need a little room creating between teeth by polishing away a fraction of a millimetre of enamel where the teeth touch, known as interproximal reduction. Your dentist will explain whether your plan needs either. Attachments are polished off when treatment finishes.

Wear time is everything. Aligners only move teeth while they are in, so both systems ask for around 20 to 22 hours a day. They come out to eat and to drink anything other than plain water, and teeth are brushed before they go back in, otherwise sugar and plaque are held against the teeth for hours. Each new aligner usually feels tight for a day or two, which is the pressure that moves teeth, and it eases as the teeth settle.

Invisalign vs ClearCorrect: where they actually differ

The companies. Invisalign is made by Align Technology and was launched in the late 1990s, which makes it one of the longest-established and most widely recognised aligner brands. ClearCorrect was founded in the United States in the mid-2000s and is now part of the Straumann Group, a large dental company also known for dental implants. Both are custom-made dental devices supplied through dental professionals, and both are used by dentists in many countries.

The plastic. Each company uses its own proprietary aligner material and its own way of trimming the trays at the gum line, and some patients notice a slight difference in how the edges feel. Each manufacturer publishes claims for its own material, but there is little independent research comparing the two brands head to head, and we are not aware of good independent evidence that one reliably produces better results than the other in cases that suit aligners.

The planning software and the range. Both systems have their own 3D planning platform and offer different packages for simpler and more involved cases. The principle is identical: the dentist decides the movements, and the manufacturer makes the aligners to that prescription.

Availability. Because Invisalign is the bigger brand, more UK practices offer it. That reflects its size and history rather than a clinical difference. Whichever brand you are considering, the more useful questions are about the person planning your treatment: how they assess you, what happens if teeth do not track as planned, and exactly what the price includes.

What clear aligners cost in the UK

As a broad guide, clear aligner treatment in the UK typically costs somewhere between about £1,500 and £5,500, whichever of the two brands is used. Where a case lands in that range depends mostly on how much movement is needed, how many aligners that takes and what the price includes. Simple cases involving only the front teeth sit towards the lower end, and fuller treatment for more complex crowding towards the upper end. These are typical national figures, not our prices.

Here, ClearCorrect treatment is from £2,499, and the ClearCorrect consultation is free for existing patients. If you are not yet registered with us, the usual starting point is a new patient examination at £89 including X-rays, because teeth and gums need to be healthy before anything is moved. Our guide to ClearCorrect costs and how treatment works goes through the stages in more detail, and if you are weighing aligners against fixed braces, our braces cost guide covers that comparison.

When comparing any quotes, check what is included: the number of aligners, refinement aligners if teeth need fine-tuning, review appointments, and retainers at the end. Retainers do not have a published price here, so ask us and we will tell you what applies to your plan.

Who aligners suit, and when something else is better

Aligners often suit mild to moderate crowding, small gaps, teeth that have drifted since childhood braces, some rotated teeth and some milder bite problems. They suit people who can commit to the wear time, because an aligner left in its case moves nothing.

Aligners are less suitable for severe crowding, large differences between the upper and lower jaws, some heavily rotated or tilted teeth, and bite problems that come from the jaw bones themselves rather than the teeth. Some of those cases are better treated with fixed braces, and some need braces combined with jaw surgery planned by a hospital team. We do not provide fixed braces, so if your teeth would be better served by them, we will say so plainly and explain your options for referral rather than stretch aligners beyond what they do well. Our ClearCorrect page explains how we assess suitability.

Adults and teenagers. Aligners can work at almost any age once teeth and gums are healthy, and many people straighten their teeth in their thirties, forties and beyond. For children and teenagers, orthodontic treatment on the NHS is usually free for under-18s whose teeth meet a threshold of clinical need, so that is worth knowing about before paying privately.

Retainers: the part that applies to both

Whichever system moves your teeth, teeth tend to drift back towards where they started once treatment ends, and they keep changing gradually throughout life. That is why retainers are part of the treatment rather than an optional extra. The usual UK advice is to wear retainers for as long as you want your teeth to stay straight, which for most people means a removable retainer worn at night for the long term, sometimes alongside a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth. Our guide to retainers after braces covers the types and how to look after them, and everything in it applies just as much after aligners.

If you live in or around Macclesfield, our dentist in Macclesfield page explains how to join the practice, our fees and how to find us.

Frequently asked questions

Is ClearCorrect as good as Invisalign?

Both are established clear aligner systems that move teeth in the same way, and there is little independent evidence that either brand gives better results in cases that suit aligners. The dentist’s assessment and plan, and how consistently you wear the aligners, usually make a bigger difference than the brand.

Do you offer Invisalign at Bollington Dental Practice?

No. We provide ClearCorrect clear aligners, from £2,499, and the ClearCorrect consultation is free for existing patients. We do not provide Invisalign or fixed braces, and if another approach would suit your teeth better, we will explain why and talk you through referral options.

How long does clear aligner treatment take?

It depends on how much movement is needed. Small corrections to the front teeth can take a few months, while more involved cases often take a year or longer. Your dentist will give you an estimate once your treatment is planned, and wearing the aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day is what keeps it on schedule.

Do clear aligners hurt?

Most people feel pressure or tightness for a day or two after switching to each new aligner, which is a sign the teeth are being moved, and it usually settles quickly. An edge can occasionally rub the gum or tongue, and your dentist can smooth it. Over-the-counter painkillers taken as directed on the pack help if needed.

Thinking about straightening your teeth?

If you would like to know whether clear aligners suit your teeth, we are happy to talk it through. Call 01625 574609. ClearCorrect treatment is from £2,499, with a free consultation for existing patients, and every price is published on our fees page.

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