No, Invisalign isn’t available on the NHS. NHS orthodontics in England is for under-18s who meet a clinical need threshold (the IOTN) and uses fixed metal braces, not clear aligners. Adults are rarely eligible. At Toothi in Edgware, private Invisalign starts at £1,495 for Go Express, with a free consultation and iTero 3D scan. The only adult exceptions are rare hospital cases, such as where jaw surgery is needed. For everyone else Invisalign is private, so the real questions are what it costs and how to choose a provider. Our Invisalign in Edgware page explains how we treat it.

This page covers who the NHS does treat, why aligners aren’t part of it, and your options as an adult, including our prices and what to check before you go private with anyone.

NHS orthodontics is funded for children and young people whose teeth or bite are likely to cause a health problem, not for appearance alone. Eligibility is decided with the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), a scale from 1 to 5 that an orthodontist applies at an assessment.

• ✓  IOTN grade 4 or 5. A clear clinical need, such as severe crowding, impacted teeth, a large overjet or missing teeth. NHS treatment is offered.
• ✓  IOTN grade 3 with an aesthetic score of 6 or more. A borderline need where the appearance of the teeth is also judged to be significantly affected. NHS treatment is offered.
• ✓  IOTN grade 1, 2, or 3 with a lower aesthetic score. Mild or purely cosmetic problems. Not eligible, however much the person would like straighter teeth.

Treatment usually has to start before the 18th birthday. It’s provided by an orthodontist on an NHS contract and uses fixed metal braces. Demand is high and contracts are limited, so waiting lists can be long in many parts of the country. Toothi treats adults only and doesn’t provide Invisalign for under-18s.

There are two reasons, and neither has anything to do with how well aligners work. First, the NHS funds treatment that addresses a health need. For an adult with crooked but healthy teeth, straightening counts as elective, cosmetic treatment, like teeth whitening or veneers, so it isn’t funded at all. Second, even where a young person does qualify, the NHS contract pays for a fixed metal brace, which does the job at lower cost to the service. Clear aligners cost a lot more to make and plan, so they aren’t part of the NHS offer.

Adult orthodontics in the UK is private, and there are two main routes.

Private Invisalign or other clear aligners. Removable, near-invisible trays planned from a 3D scan, suited to mild and moderate crowding, spacing and bite problems. Prices depend on how much movement is needed and what’s included, and that varies a lot between clinics. Our Invisalign cost guide explains the cost factors, what is Invisalign? explains the treatment itself, and Invisalign alternatives compares the other options.

Private fixed braces. Metal, ceramic or lingual (behind-the-teeth) braces fitted by an orthodontist. Still the better choice for severe crowding, large bite corrections and cases needing extractions. The trade-offs between the two are set out in Invisalign vs braces and braces for adults.

Either way, ask whether the cost can be spread and whether the first consultation is free. If it is, finding out where you stand costs nothing.

From £1,495. Toothi London is a fully private practice in Edgware and doesn’t provide NHS treatment. There are three fixed packages, published in full, with everything included.

Included in every Invisalign package: iTero 3D scan and ClinCheck · all review appointments · refinement aligners if needed · removable and fixed retainers · Airflow hygiene clean · Boutique teeth whitening. No add-ons. The consultation and iTero scan are free. Treatment can be spread with 0% finance over up to 10 months on treatment over £250, or over a longer term with interest. Representative example (Invisalign Go Express only): £1,495 over 60 months = 12.9% APR fixed, £33.06 a month, cost of credit £488.71, total to pay back £1,983.71. Full detail on our fees page, in Invisalign packages and in Invisalign monthly payments.

Yes. Not qualifying for NHS braces when you were younger says nothing about whether you can have Invisalign at 30, 45 or 60. The IOTN measures clinical need against an NHS funding threshold. It doesn’t measure whether teeth can be moved. Adults of any age can have Invisalign as long as the teeth, gums and supporting bone are healthy, and we check that at the consultation. The sort of mild crowding and spacing that misses the IOTN threshold is often within the scope of Invisalign Go Express or Invisalign Go, with treatment typically around 3 to 6 months. You can see the kind of results these cases give in our before and after gallery.

Because adult orthodontics is private, standards of care and how clearly clinics price vary. Before you commit to anyone, us included, check these five things.

• ✓  GDC registration. Whoever plans and supervises your treatment should be a dentist or orthodontist on the General Dental Council register, which you can search online. At Toothi, Invisalign is provided by our principal dentist, who is GDC-registered and has a special interest in Invisalign. See also Invisalign: dentist or orthodontist?
• ✓  A written fixed price. Ask for the total in writing before you start, and check whether a “from” price grows once scans, reviews and refinements are added.
• ✓  What’s included. Scans, review appointments, refinement aligners and retainers can each be charged separately elsewhere. Ask for the list.
• ✓  Retainers. Retention is for life, so confirm that both removable and fixed retainers are part of the plan and what replacements cost; see Invisalign retainers.
• ✓  Face-to-face supervision. Remote-only aligner services with no clinician examining your teeth carry real risks. A good dentist will refer you on to an orthodontist when a case is beyond aligners.