You’ve made the decision: Invisalign is the right choice for straightening your smile. But now comes the question that every prospective patient asks—what actually happens next? How long will it take? What does the process involve? Will it disrupt your life?
Understanding the Invisalign journey from start to finish can transform anxiety into confidence. At The London Smile Clinic in London’s West End, Dr Pratik Sharma—a GDC-registered Specialist in Orthodontics—has guided countless patients through this exact process. With over 25,000 smile straightening cases completed at the clinic since 1999, the team has refined the Invisalign experience into a smooth, predictable journey with clear milestones.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through all seven stages of Invisalign treatment, from your first consultation to your final retainer, so you know exactly what to expect at every step.
Stage 1: The Specialist Consultation and Suitability Assessment (Week 1)
Your Invisalign journey begins with a thorough consultation with Dr Sharma at The London Smile Clinic. This isn’t a sales conversation—it’s a comprehensive clinical assessment to determine whether Invisalign is genuinely the right solution for your specific orthodontic needs.
What happens during your consultation:
- Clinical examination: Dr Sharma will carefully assess your teeth, bite relationship, and jaw function to understand the scope of tooth movement required
- Discussion of your goals: You’ll talk about what you want to achieve—whether that’s closing gaps, correcting crowding, or improving your bite
- Suitability assessment: Not every case is ideal for Invisalign. Dr Sharma’s specialist training enables him to determine whether clear aligners will achieve your goals or whether fixed braces might be more appropriate
- Digital photographs and X-rays: Comprehensive diagnostic records are taken to enable accurate treatment planning
- Questions and concerns: This is your opportunity to ask about treatment duration, costs, lifestyle impact, and anything else that matters to you
Dr Sharma’s patient-centred approach means he takes time to listen and explain. His extensive experience with all orthodontic systems—from Invisalign to lingual braces—means his recommendation is based purely on what’s clinically best for you, not limited by what a practice can offer.
Timeline: Initial consultation typically takes 45-60 minutes. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of whether Invisalign is suitable and what the approximate treatment duration might be.
Stage 2: Digital Scanning and Treatment Planning (Weeks 2-3)
Once you’ve decided to proceed with Invisalign, the next stage involves creating your personalised treatment plan. Gone are the days of uncomfortable impression putty—modern Invisalign treatment uses advanced digital scanning technology.
The digital treatment planning process includes:
- 3D intraoral scanning: A small handheld scanner captures detailed 3D images of your teeth. The process is quick, comfortable, and provides incredibly precise data
- ClinCheck digital treatment plan: Using the scan data, Dr Sharma works with Invisalign’s sophisticated software to map out the precise movement of every tooth throughout your treatment
- Virtual smile preview: You’ll see a computer-generated simulation showing how your teeth will move at each stage and what your final smile will look like
- Treatment refinement: Dr Sharma can adjust the digital plan to optimize tooth movements, ensuring the most efficient and effective treatment path
This digital planning stage is where Dr Sharma’s specialist expertise truly shines. His understanding of biomechanics—the physics of tooth movement—enables him to create treatment plans that move teeth safely, efficiently, and predictably. His role as a Consultant Orthodontist at the Royal London Hospital, where he teaches other specialists, means his treatment planning reflects the highest standard of evidence-based orthodontics.
Timeline: From scan to receiving your custom-manufactured aligners typically takes 2-3 weeks. During this time, your unique series of aligners is being precisely fabricated in Invisalign’s laboratories.
Stage 3: Receiving Your Custom Aligners and Starting Treatment (Week 4)
This is the exciting moment when your Invisalign journey truly begins. You’ll return to The London Smile Clinic to collect your first sets of aligners and receive comprehensive instructions on how to use them effectively.
Your aligner fitting appointment includes:
- Attachment placement: Small tooth-coloured “buttons” may be bonded to certain teeth. These attachments help the aligners grip the teeth and apply the precise forces needed to move them into position
- First aligner fitting: You’ll try in your first aligner to ensure it fits perfectly and Dr Sharma will check that it’s seated correctly
- Detailed usage instructions: You’ll learn how to insert and remove your aligners, how long to wear them each day (typically 20-22 hours), and when to progress to the next set
- Care and maintenance guidance: Proper cleaning of both your aligners and your teeth is essential for success
- What to expect: Dr Sharma will explain the sensations you might experience (mild pressure is normal when starting a new aligner) and address any concerns
You’ll typically leave with several sets of aligners, which you’ll change at home every 1-2 weeks as directed by your treatment plan.
Timeline: This appointment takes approximately 60-90 minutes. You’ll start wearing your first aligner immediately.
Stage 4: The Active Treatment Phase (Months 1-12+)
This is the longest stage of your Invisalign journey, where the transformation of your smile gradually unfolds. The active treatment phase requires consistent effort from you and regular monitoring from Dr Sharma.
What your day-to-day life looks like during active treatment:
- Wearing your aligners: You’ll wear each aligner for 20-22 hours per day, removing them only for eating, drinking anything other than water, and brushing your teeth
- Changing aligners: Every 1-2 weeks, you’ll progress to the next aligner in your series. Each new aligner represents the next step in your tooth movement journey
- Noticing progress: Within the first few weeks, you’ll start seeing visible improvements, which provides tremendous motivation to continue
- Living normally: Most patients adapt quickly to speaking with aligners, and the discreet nature of the system means colleagues and friends often don’t notice you’re undergoing treatment
Regular progress check appointments:
Every 6-8 weeks, you’ll visit The London Smile Clinic for a brief progress review. Dr Sharma will check that your teeth are tracking according to the treatment plan, assess your oral health, and provide your next sets of aligners. These appointments typically take 15-20 minutes.
The clinic’s West End location makes these regular check-ins convenient for busy professionals. The team’s culture of patient-centred care means appointments are scheduled with respect for your time, and the welcoming environment makes each visit pleasant rather than stressful.
Timeline: Average Invisalign treatment takes 6-18 months, depending on the complexity of your case. Simple spacing or mild crowding might be resolved in 6-9 months, whilst more complex cases requiring significant tooth movement can take 12-18 months or longer.
Stage 5: Mid-Treatment Refinements (If Needed)
Orthodontics is both science and art. Despite sophisticated digital planning, some cases require mid-treatment refinements to perfect the final result. This is entirely normal and demonstrates Dr Sharma’s commitment to achieving the optimal outcome.
When refinements might be needed:
- Certain teeth aren’t tracking exactly as planned (common with particularly stubborn rotations)
- You’d like to make additional adjustments beyond the original treatment goals
- Dr Sharma identifies opportunities to improve the final bite relationship
What refinement involves:
If refinements are necessary, Dr Sharma will take new scans of your current tooth positions and create an updated ClinCheck plan. Invisalign will manufacture a new series of “refinement aligners” to complete the journey. This is a normal part of achieving perfection and is typically included in your original treatment cost.
Timeline: If refinements are needed, expect an additional 2-3 months of treatment time.
Stage 6: Treatment Completion and Final Results (Month 12-18+)
The day arrives when Dr Sharma confirms your treatment is complete—your teeth are beautifully aligned, your bite is optimized, and your smile transformation is achieved. This is a genuinely exciting milestone.
Your completion appointment includes:
- Final clinical assessment: Dr Sharma examines your bite, tooth positions, and overall oral health
- Professional photographs: Before-and-after photos document your transformation
- Attachment removal: The small tooth-coloured attachments are gently removed and your teeth are polished
- Retention planning: Critical discussion about protecting your investment through proper retainer use
Many patients describe this appointment as emotional—seeing the before-and-after comparison reveals just how far they’ve come. The confidence that comes from a straight, beautiful smile is genuinely life-changing, as patient testimonials at The London Smile Clinic consistently demonstrate.
Stage 7: Retention Phase (Lifelong)
Treatment completion isn’t the end of your orthodontic journey—it’s the beginning of the retention phase. After months of gradual tooth movement, your teeth need time to stabilize in their new positions. This is where retention becomes crucial.
Understanding retention:
Teeth have a natural tendency to shift back towards their original positions, particularly in the first few months after active treatment. Retainers hold your teeth in their new alignment whilst the surrounding bone and tissues adapt to the change.
Your retention programme:
- Fixed retainer option: A thin wire bonded to the back of your front teeth provides permanent retention for these critical teeth
- Removable retainer option: Clear retainers (similar to Invisalign aligners) worn at night to maintain your entire arch alignment
- Retention schedule: Initially, you may need to wear removable retainers full-time for a few weeks, then transition to nights-only wear
Dr Tim Bradstock-Smith, the clinic’s founder, established The London Smile Clinic’s industry-exclusive 10-year guarantee for cosmetic dentistry—a testament to the confidence the practice has in its work. Proper retainer use is essential to maintaining your results and ensuring this guarantee remains valid. The clinic’s two decades of experience have proven that patients who follow retention protocols maintain beautiful smiles for life.
Timeline: Retention is lifelong, but the effort is minimal. Most patients wear removable retainers whilst sleeping, a small commitment to protect a significant investment.
Realistic Timelines: Setting Proper Expectations
One of the most common questions Dr Sharma receives is: “How long will my Invisalign treatment take?” Whilst every case is unique, here are realistic timelines based on the clinic’s extensive experience:
- Simple cases (minor crowding or spacing): 6-9 months
- Moderate cases (average complexity crowding or bite correction): 9-15 months
- Complex cases (severe crowding, significant bite changes): 15-24 months
Dr Sharma’s specialist training and hospital experience treating complex cases mean he can provide accurate estimates during your consultation. His patient-centred approach involves honest conversation about timelines rather than making unrealistic promises.
Dr Sharma’s Tips for Maximizing Your Results
Drawing from his experience guiding countless patients through Invisalign treatment, Dr Sharma offers these practical tips for success:
- Commit to the 22-hour rule: The single biggest factor determining treatment speed is consistent wear time. The more diligent you are, the faster and more predictable your results
- Use your chewies: Small rubber cylinders called “chewies” help seat your aligners properly. Use them for a few minutes each time you insert a new aligner
- Maintain excellent oral hygiene: Brush and floss after every meal before reinserting your aligners. This prevents decay and keeps your aligners clear
- Attend all check appointments: Regular monitoring allows Dr Sharma to catch any tracking issues early
- Communicate concerns immediately: If an aligner doesn’t fit properly or you’re experiencing unusual discomfort, contact the clinic promptly rather than waiting for your next appointment
Start Your Invisalign Journey with Confidence
Understanding the complete Invisalign timeline transforms uncertainty into confidence. You now know exactly what to expect at each stage, from your first consultation with Dr Pratik Sharma to your final retention phase. The journey is structured, predictable, and supported by a team with over two decades of experience and more than 25,000 successfully straightened smiles.
At The London Smile Clinic, you’re not just receiving Invisalign treatment—you’re benefiting from the expertise of a GDC-registered Specialist in Orthodontist who teaches other specialists, practising within an award-winning clinic that backs its cosmetic work with an exclusive 10-year guarantee. This combination of specialist skill, extensive experience, and institutional confidence provides unparalleled reassurance as you embark on your smile transformation.
Ready to start your Invisalign journey with complete confidence? Book your specialist consultation with Dr Pratik Sharma at The London Smile Clinic today. Call the West End practice or visit the website to see your personalised timeline and treatment plan. Your straight smile is closer than you think.
