What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a system of clear, removable aligners that straighten teeth gradually, without brackets or wires. Each set of aligners is made from a digital plan of your teeth and moves them a fraction of a millimetre at a time. You change to a new set every one to two weeks, and most people around you will not notice you are wearing them.
Because the aligners come out to eat, drink anything other than water, brush and floss, there are no food restrictions and cleaning your teeth stays simple. The trade-off is discipline: aligners only work while they are in, so they need to be worn 20 to 22 hours a day.
Fig. 02 · Invisalign®
How clear aligners move teeth.
- IAlignerClear and removable. You change to the next set every one to two weeks.
- IIAttachmentsSmall tooth-coloured bumps that give the aligner something to grip.
- IIIMovementEach set moves teeth a fraction of a millimetre, from where they start (dashed) into line.
Worn 20 to 22 hours a day, taken out to eat and brush.
What Invisalign can treat
Invisalign is well suited to:
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Teeth that have moved back after braces as a teenager
- Mild to moderate overbite, underbite and crossbite
- Straightening before veneers, bonding or crowns, so less tooth needs changing
More complex rotations and significant bite correction can sometimes be treated with aligners, but some cases are more predictable with fixed braces. Your dentist will tell you honestly which is the better fit for your teeth, and complex cases are planned by Dr Urmi Mazumder, our Specialist Orthodontist. See orthodontics for the fixed options.
What it costs, and what is included
| What you pay for | At Hey Dental |
|---|---|
| Consultation and 3D digital scan | Complimentary |
| Invisalign packages | From AED 7,250 |
| Included in the fee | All aligners, attachments, any interproximal reduction, one refinement set and complimentary whitening at the end of treatment |
| Retainers | Explained and quoted at the start, so there are no surprises |
| Payment | Interest-free instalments over 3 to 12 months with leading UAE banks |
Your exact fee depends on how much movement your teeth need, and you receive it in writing after your scan, before you commit. Invisalign is sometimes partly covered by insurance plans with orthodontic benefits; we complete the claim paperwork for you.
How treatment works at Hey Dental
- Digital smile assessment. A complimentary iTero scan and photographs map your teeth in 3D, so you can see a simulation of your finished smile on screen.
- Your plan. Your Invisalign-certified dentist reviews the movement needed and designs the sequence, with Dr Urmi planning complex cases. You receive the plan, the expected timeline and the written fee.
- Your aligners. Small tooth-coloured attachments are placed to help the aligners grip, and you take home your first sets.
- Progress visits. You change aligners at home and visit us every 6 to 8 weeks in JLT so we can check that teeth are tracking to plan.
- Refinement and retention. If a tooth needs a final adjustment, your included refinement set fine-tunes it. Retainers then keep your new smile in place.
How long does Invisalign take?
Many mild to moderate cases finish in 6 to 12 months; more complex cases take longer. Your timeline depends on the movement needed and on how consistently the aligners are worn. You will know your expected timeline before you start, and we review it at every visit.
Invisalign or braces?
| Invisalign | Fixed braces | |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Nearly invisible | Visible (metal) or discreet (ceramic) |
| Removable | Yes, for eating and cleaning | No |
| Relies on wear | Yes, 20 to 22 hours a day | No |
| Best for | Mild to moderate crowding, spacing, relapse | Complex rotations, major bite correction, younger children |
| Food restrictions | None, aligners come out | Avoid hard and sticky foods |
Neither is “better” in general. The right choice is the one that suits your teeth and your routine, which is what the consultation is for.
Is Invisalign right for teenagers?
Yes, for many teenagers. Aligners suit teens who will wear them reliably, and they avoid the brackets that make brushing harder during busy school years. For younger children whose jaws are still developing, or where wear is likely to be patchy, fixed braces are usually more predictable. Children benefit from an orthodontic check from around age seven.
Why patients choose Hey Dental for Invisalign
- Invisalign-certified team. All our dentists are Invisalign certified. Most cases are treated by our general dentists, and complex cases are managed by Dr Urmi Mazumder, Specialist Orthodontist, MFDS RCS, DHA licence 00213783.
- One clinic for the whole smile. Whitening, bonding and veneers can follow straightening in the same clinic, planned as one smile makeover.
- Clear pricing. Starting prices are published, and the full fee is confirmed in writing before you begin.
- Appointments that fit. Evening and weekend progress checks, a short walk from DMCC Metro.
