Quick answer: At Great Bookham Dental Practice, clear aligners start from £1,850 with a personal quote given after an examination. The final cost depends on how complex your case is, how many aligners you need, any refinements, retainers and appointments. Finance may be available via Tabeo at 0% APR, subject to status.
Price is usually the first question people ask about straightening their teeth, and it is a fair one. Clear aligners cost different amounts for different people, because no two mouths need the same amount of movement. This guide explains what shapes the price, what a quote should cover, how spreading the cost works and why a firm figure only follows an assessment. The prices below are the “from” figures used at Great Bookham Dental Practice.
What are clear aligners?
Clear aligners are a series of thin, removable plastic trays made from a digital plan of your teeth. Each tray is slightly different from the last. You wear one for a set period, often a week or two, and it applies gentle pressure so that teeth move a small amount at a time. Then you move on to the next tray.
Most people wear them for the majority of the day and take them out to eat, to drink anything other than water and to clean their teeth. Because they are removable, brushing and flossing stay much the same as before. Clear aligners are one form of Teeth straightening, and they are often considered by adults and teenagers who would prefer something less noticeable than fixed brackets and wires. They are not right for every case, which is one reason the price cannot be fixed in advance.
How clear aligner treatment works
- Examination. A dentist checks your teeth, gums and bite and asks what you would like to change. Suitability is decided at this stage, not before.
- Records. X-rays, photographs and impressions or scans of your teeth may be taken, so the plan reflects what lies beneath the gums as well as what shows.
- Treatment plan and quote. Your dentist explains the proposed tooth movements, the alternatives, the risks and the commitment involved. A personal quote follows.
- Starting treatment. You receive your first aligners, with guidance on wear, cleaning and what to do if one is lost or cracked.
- Review appointments. Check-ups track progress. Some cases need extra aligners, known as refinements, to finish the movements.
- Finishing and retainers. Once the teeth are in their planned positions, retainers are fitted to help hold them there.
Each of these steps takes clinical time and materials, which is why they feed into the final figure.
What do clear aligners cost?
At Great Bookham Dental Practice, clear aligners start from £1,850 “From” means the starting point for a straightforward case. Your own quote is given after assessment and may be higher.
Some of the costs around treatment are fixed and easy to see:
| Item | Price |
| New patient adult exam | £75 |
| Routine adult exam | £62.50 |
| Intra-oral X-ray | £25 |
| Hygiene clean | £85 |
| Clear aligners | From £1,850 |
| Retainers |
You can see the full list of charges in our Fee guide. Not everyone needs every item. A new patient usually starts with the exam, and X-rays or a hygiene clean are added only if your dentist advises them.
What affects the price
Several things move the figure up or down:
- Case complexity. Mild spacing or slight crowding generally needs less movement than a case with several rotated or overlapping teeth.
- Number of aligners. More movement usually means more trays and a longer treatment time.
- Refinements. Teeth do not always follow the plan exactly. Extra aligners may be needed partway through or at the end.
- Retainers. These are an essential part of treatment, and whether they are included in the quote needs to be clear from the start.
- Appointments. Longer treatment usually means more reviews.
- Your oral health. If gum disease, decay or worn fillings need attention first, that care is separate from the aligners themselves.
What a quoted price may include and exclude
A good quote tells you what is covered. At the consultation, ask whether it includes:
- the initial records and treatment planning
- all aligners in the planned series
- review appointments during treatment
- refinements, and how many
- retainers, and how many sets
- any replacement trays if one is lost or damaged
Things that are often separate include X-rays, a hygiene clean beforehand, treatment for decay or gum problems, and the cost of replacing retainers later. We will go through what applies to you before you agree to anything
Paying for treatment
Spreading the cost is possible through 0% APR finance via Tabeo (subject to status, terms apply). Tabeo is a separate finance provider, and the practice does not offer credit itself. You can read more about Tabeo interest-free credit before deciding, and you are under no obligation to use it. Whether you qualify, and on what terms, is decided by the finance provider after an application.
Who may be suitable, and who may not be
Clear aligners are often considered for adults and teenagers with mild to moderate crowding, gaps between teeth, or teeth that have shifted after earlier braces. Some bite concerns may also be treatable. In many cases, the outcome depends on your teeth and bite.
Aligners may be less suitable, or may need to be combined with another approach, where there is:
- severe crowding or heavily rotated teeth
- a significant difference in how the upper and lower jaws meet
- active gum disease or untreated decay
- teeth that need to move a long way up or down
For teenagers, the dentist checks that enough adult teeth have come through and that the young person can wear the trays consistently. A parent or guardian is usually involved in consent.
Suitability can only be decided after an examination. If aligners are not the right choice, your dentist will explain the alternatives, which may include fixed braces or other approaches, and the cost differences that go with them.
Benefits, risks and limitations
Possible benefits
Clear aligners are less noticeable than metal brackets. Because they can be taken out, eating is not restricted by wires, and cleaning your teeth is more straightforward. A digital plan lets you see the proposed movements before you begin, although the final result cannot be guaranteed.
Risks and limitations
- Teeth may feel tender or pressured for a few days after starting a new tray.
- Speech can be slightly affected at first.
- Small tooth-coloured attachments may be bonded to some teeth to help the aligners grip.
- Treatment may take longer if trays are not worn as directed.
- Refinements may be needed, which can affect cost and time.
- Teeth can drift back without retainers.
- Drinking anything sugary or acidic with aligners in place may increase the risk of decay.
Alternatives include fixed braces, other orthodontic options or choosing not to have treatment. Your dentist should talk you through each of these.
Retainers, aftercare and common mistakes
Once teeth have moved, they tend to drift back towards their old positions. Retainers help hold the new alignment, and they are usually worn long term. Your dentist will advise which type suits your case and how often to wear it. Retainer cost is a point to raise early
Day to day, brush your teeth before putting aligners back in, rinse the trays and keep them in their case when they are out. Stick to water while they are in.
Common mistakes include:
- wearing the trays for fewer hours than advised
- wrapping them in a tissue or napkin, where they are easily thrown away
- drinking hot or sugary drinks with them in
- skipping review appointments
- moving on to the next tray early to save time
- stopping retainer wear once treatment ends
Each of these can extend treatment or add refinements, which in turn can add cost.
Why choose Great Bookham Dental Practice
Great Bookham Dental Practice is a dental practice at 1 The Garstons, Great Bookham, Surrey, KT23 3DT. Teeth straightening with clear aligners sits alongside general dentistry, hygiene and deep cleaning, restorative care and cosmetic treatments. That means gum health, fillings or other work can be looked at in the same place before or during your aligners. You can see the full range on Our services page, and find out more about the people you may meet on Meet our team.
Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, and Saturday, 10am to 2pm, which may help if weekdays are difficult. We are closed on Sundays and bank holidays.
Who we see locally
Patients visit us from Great Bookham and nearby areas including Leatherhead, Fetcham, Effingham, Ashtead and Cobham.
What to expect at a consultation
A first visit is a conversation as much as an examination. We ask what you would like to change about your smile, check your teeth, gums and bite, and may recommend X-rays so that any plan rests on proper information. If clear aligners look suitable, we explain how treatment would work for you, how long it may take and what it would involve in terms of wear and appointments.
You will also hear about the alternatives, the risks, the importance of retainer wear and the commitment that treatment needs from you. A personal quote follows the assessment, with a clear explanation of what is included. There is no need to decide on the day. Bring your questions, details of your medical history and any old retainers if you have worn braces before.
Next steps
The cost of clear aligners is easier to judge once you know what your own teeth need. A short assessment gives you a figure based on your case rather than an estimate from a price list.
To Book a consultation with Great Bookham Dental Practice, call 01372 454 355, book online at https://onlinebookingnow.portal.dental/ or email Info@greatbookhamdentalpractice.co.uk. You will find us at 1 The Garstons, Great Bookham, Surrey, KT23 3DT. We are open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, with Saturday appointments from 10am to 2pm, and closed on Sundays and bank holidays.
Frequently asked questions
At Great Bookham Dental Practice, clear aligners start from £1,850. A personal quote is given after assessment, because the final figure depends on case complexity, the number of aligners, refinements, retainers and appointments.
Every mouth is different. A case with mild spacing needs less movement than one with crowding and rotated teeth, so the number of aligners, review visits and refinements vary. That is why a firm price is given only after an examination.
This depends on what your quote covers, so ask at the consultation. Retainers are an important part of treatment, as teeth can drift back without them. Your dentist will explain which type may suit you.
Finance may be available via Tabeo at 0% APR, subject to status, with terms applying. Tabeo is a separate finance provider and the practice does not offer credit itself. You can apply once you have your personal quote, with no obligation.
Possibly. A new patient adult exam is £75, and an intra-oral X-ray is £25 if your dentist recommends one. If your gums or teeth need attention first, a hygiene clean is £85. Other treatment, such as fillings, would be quoted separately.
It depends on how far your teeth need to move. Milder cases may take several months, while more complex ones can take a year or longer. Wearing the trays as directed and attending reviews affects the timeline. Your dentist gives an estimate after assessment, and it may change.
They can be, once enough adult teeth have come through and the teenager can wear them consistently for most of the day. A parent or guardian is usually involved in consent and support. A dentist will check whether aligners or another option is the better fit.
Many people notice pressure or tenderness for the first few days with each new tray, though experiences vary. This tends to ease as teeth adjust. If discomfort is severe or does not settle, contact the practice so that a dentist can check.
A dentist decides after examining your teeth, gums and bite, and may take X-rays first. Suitability cannot be judged from photographs or a price list. If aligners are not the right option, the alternatives will be explained.
