All about Invisalign: clear aligners for adults

As an orthodontist at Tandarts West in Rotterdam West, I get questions about Invisalign every day. It has been on the market since 1999, but has only truly become mainstream in recent years. In 2024 alone, over 5 million patients worldwide chose it. Time for an honest overview of what it can and cannot do.

What exactly is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a brand of invisible aligners, an orthodontic system that replaces traditional braces with clear, custom-made plastic shells. People often search for invisible aligners without realising Invisalign is the best known name for exactly that. Each aligner is a thin, transparent shell that fits tightly around your teeth and shifts them by a fraction, about 0.2 millimetres per aligner. You wear each aligner for 1 to 2 weeks, then move on to the next. A complete treatment consists of 20 to 40 aligners, sometimes more in more complex cases.

The aligners are made based on a 3D scan of your teeth (we work with iTero scanners in our practice) and a digital treatment plan that I put together with the Invisalign technicians. Before we start, you see a simulation of what your teeth will look like at the end.

The best part about Invisalign? People around you barely notice that you are wearing braces. Many patients tell me that colleagues only noticed something after months.

The treatment journey step by step

Step 1: Intake and 3D scan (about 60 minutes)

During the first appointment we examine your teeth, take X-rays and make a 3D scan. Based on that, I discuss what is realistically achievable with Invisalign. Sometimes fixed braces or a combination turns out to be more appropriate. You get honest advice, no sales pitch.

Step 2: Treatment plan and simulation (1 to 2 weeks later)

I work out your treatment plan with the Invisalign technicians. At the second appointment you see a digital simulation of the final result. You know exactly what you are getting before we start.

Step 3: Receiving aligners and getting started

The aligners are made in the US and arrive 4 to 6 weeks later. During the start appointment, we place small, tooth-coloured "attachments" on a few teeth to give the aligners grip. You receive instructions and your first set of aligners.

Step 4: Progress check-up appointments (every 6 to 8 weeks)

During these short check-ups (15 to 20 minutes), I check whether the teeth are moving as planned and give you the next set of aligners. Remotely, I monitor via Invisalign Virtual Care whether anything needs to be adjusted.

Step 5: Retainer phase

After the active treatment you receive a clear retainer, which you initially wear 24/7 and later only at night. Without a retainer, teeth slowly move back to their old position within 6 months.

Pros and cons of Invisalign, honestly listed

The advantages

• Aesthetics: aligners are virtually invisible in daily situations.
• Comfort: no brackets that irritate cheeks or lips.
• Removable: eat without restrictions, brush as usual.
• Fewer check-ups: every 6 to 8 weeks instead of every 4 to 5 weeks with fixed braces.
• Predictability: 3D simulation shows the final result before you start.
• No "emergencies": no loose brackets or snapped wires.

The disadvantages

• Discipline required: wear 22 hours a day. If you forget, progress stalls.
• Not for extremely complex cases: very severe jaw abnormalities require fixed braces or surgery.
• More expensive than classic braces: on average 1,000 to 2,000 euros higher.
• Speech adjustment: a slight lisp may occur in the first week, which disappears quickly.
• Drink only water: coffee, tea and soft drinks stain the aligners and must be taken out.

What does Invisalign cost in Rotterdam?

The costs differ per treatment type:

• Invisalign Express (light correction): 2,500 to 3,500 euros for 7 to 14 aligners, treatment duration 3 to 6 months.
• Invisalign Lite: 3,500 to 4,500 euros for 14 to 20 aligners, treatment duration 6 to 9 months.
• Invisalign Full: 4,500 to 6,500 euros for unlimited aligners over 12 to 24 months, for moderate to complex corrections.
• Invisalign Teen: 4,500 to 5,500 euros, specifically for teenagers, with indicator dots that change colour with insufficient wear.

The cost always includes: all aligners, intake, scan, all check-ups, retainer at the end, and virtual care via the Invisalign app. Tandarts West Rotterdam works with clear all-in rates, no unexpected invoices afterwards.

Reimbursement by health insurance

The reimbursement rules in the Netherlands are strict and depend on your age and insurance:

• Under 18: orthodontics is partly reimbursed through the basic health insurance (basisverzekering), provided there is a medical indication. For Invisalign Teen there may be a personal contribution.
• Over 18: orthodontics is in principle not reimbursed from the basic health insurance. Through a supplementary dental insurance (aanvullende tandartsverzekering) with orthodontic cover, you can be reimbursed up to about 1,500 euros. Ask your insurer.
• Payment in instalments: we offer the option to pay the treatment in instalments, via Infomedics.

Who is Invisalign suitable for?

Well suited

• Adults with crooked, crowded or slightly misaligned teeth.
• People who had previous braces treatment and whose teeth have slightly relapsed.
• Patients with a diastema (gap between front teeth).
• People with mild to moderate bite issues (overbite, underbite, crossbite).
• Teenagers from 13 years old (Invisalign Teen variant).

Less suitable

• Very severe tooth movements that require major rotations.
• Patients with implants on teeth that need to be moved.
• Skeletal Class III with significant jaw abnormality.
• Patients who cannot bring the discipline to wear the aligners 22 hours a day.

An honest intake at our practice in Rotterdam West will tell you within 60 minutes whether Invisalign is a good match. Would you prefer a second opinion? That is also perfectly fine.

Maintenance and discipline

Daily routine

1. Take aligners out before eating and drinking (only water is allowed while wearing them).
2. Before putting them back: brush your teeth and rinse the aligners with lukewarm water.
3. Clean aligners: daily with mild soap and a soft brush, or special Invisalign Cleaning Crystals.
4. Store aligners: always in the supplied case, never in a tissue (often ends up in the bin).

What not to do

• Brushing aligners with toothpaste: scratches the plastic.
• Rinsing aligners with hot water: deforms the material.
• Drinking coffee or tea with aligners in: stains the plastic.
• Smoking with aligners: yellow discoloration is permanent.
• Skipping an aligner set: the entire treatment plan gets out of balance.

Finally: Invisalign is an investment in time, money and discipline. But if you complete the journey, it gives you straight teeth that last a lifetime, provided you keep wearing the retainer at night. At Tandarts West Rotterdam we guide dozens of adults through this journey every year. What they all have in common at the end: the smile they always wanted.