Clear aligners – invisible braces for straightening teeth

Clear aligners are transparent removable trays, made from a digital plan, that straighten teeth through a series of small movements without braces. At SF Dent the treatment plan with a 3D simulation costs 230.00 € (K Clear) or 282.00 € (Clear X, with a 4D simulation), and the treatment itself costs from 1,687.26 € to 5,010.66 €, depending on how complex it is and whether one or both jaws are treated.

On this page you will find the price of aligners from the clinic's price list, how treatment works step by step, how long it takes, when aligners are suitable and when they are not, and how they compare with braces. Whether aligners suit you is decided after an examination.

What clear aligners are

An aligner is a thin, transparent tray that covers the teeth of one jaw. Each tray in the series is slightly different from the one before and moves the teeth by a fraction of a millimetre. The trays are made from a digital plan: the dentist scans or takes an impression of your teeth, and software shows how each tooth will move to the final result.

Because the trays are clear and removable, they are hard to notice, and eating and brushing are the same as without an appliance – you take the trays out. That is also their main requirement: aligners work only while they are in your mouth, so they are worn for almost the whole day and night.

Aligners at SF Dent: K Clear and Clear X

The SF Dent price list has two aligner systems – K Clear and Clear X. Both start with a treatment plan and a computer simulation in which you see how the teeth will move and the expected result before treatment begins:

• K Clear – treatment plan and 3D simulation; "Smile Design" treatment (up to 3 months) or "Complete" (up to 12 months) for one or both arches.
• Clear X – treatment plan and 4D simulation with Motion Viewer; five levels by complexity – Easy (up to 3 months), Mild (up to 6), Moderate (up to 9), High (up to 12) and Max (over 12 months), for one or both arches.

Which system and which level suit you depends on how far and in what way your teeth need to move. That is decided after an examination and after you have seen the simulation.

Clear aligners price

Service	Price
Examination	30.00€
K Clear - Treatment plan & 3D simulation	230.00€
Clear X - Treatment plan & 4D simulation with Motion Viewer	282.00€
K Clear - Smile Design treatment (up to 3 months)	1763.96€
Clear X - Easy treatment (up to 3 months) - 1 arch	1687.26€
Clear X - Easy treatment (up to 3 months) - 2 arches	2070.73€
Clear X - Mild treatment (up to 6 months) - 1 arch	2454.20€
Clear X - Mild treatment (up to 6 months) - 2 arches	3732.43€
Clear X - Moderate treatment (up to 9 months) - 1 arch	2965.49€
Clear X - Moderate treatment (up to 9 months) - 2 arches	4243.72€
Clear X - High treatment (up to 12 months) - 1 arch	3221.14€
Clear X - High treatment (up to 12 months) - 2 arches	4499.37€
Clear X - Max treatment (over 12 months) - 1 arch	4627.19€
Clear X - Max treatment (over 12 months) - 2 arches	5010.66€
K Clear - Complete treatment (up to 12 months) - 1 arch (upper or lower)	2530.89€
K Clear - Complete treatment (up to 12 months) - 2 arches	3809.12€
K Clear - Complete treatment (up to 12 months)	4703.89€
Aligner remake	230.00€
Fixed lingual retainer	155.00€

Prices are from the clinic’s price list. The final cost depends on your case and is confirmed after an examination. See the full price list

The price of treatment depends on the level of complexity (its length) and on whether one arch ("1 arch") or both are treated. The treatment plan and simulation are a separate item and come before treatment. The table also shows an aligner remake (new trays when the teeth do not follow the plan) and the fixed lingual retainer that holds the result after treatment.

Aligners or Invisalign

Invisalign is a brand of aligners from another manufacturer (Align Technology) and the best-known name for clear trays, so many people search for "Invisalign" when they mean aligners in general. The principle is the same: a series of clear trays made from a digital plan. The SF Dent price list has the K Clear and Clear X systems, not Invisalign. If you are weighing up systems, at the consultation you can compare the plan and the price you get with us.

Aligners or braces

Both straighten teeth, but daily life during treatment is different:

• Visibility: aligners are clear; braces (other than lingual ones) can be seen.
• Eating and hygiene: aligners come out for meals and brushing; with braces food gets caught around the brackets and cleaning is harder.
• Discipline: aligners work only if worn about 22 hours a day; braces are fixed and do not depend on it.
• Complexity: some complex cases are treated more predictably with braces. The examination and the simulation show whether your case suits aligners.

The SF Dent price list has aligners, not braces. If the examination shows that braces would suit your case better, we will tell you so plainly.

When aligners are suitable

• mildly to moderately crowded (crooked) teeth;
• gaps between teeth;
• teeth that have moved again after earlier orthodontic treatment;
• some bite problems – after the dentist's assessment;
• preparation for bonding or veneers, when it is better to line the teeth up before cosmetic treatment.

Aligners are not suitable if you cannot wear them almost all the time, if there is untreated decay or gum inflammation (these are treated first), for very complex jaw discrepancies, or for children whose jaws are still growing – for them the dentist may suggest another treatment, such as Myobrace.

How treatment works – step by step

1. Examination. The dentist checks your teeth, gums and bite and decides whether aligners are suitable. Any decay or tartar is treated before treatment starts.
2. Scan or impression, and photos. Records of your teeth are taken for the digital plan.
3. Treatment plan and simulation. You see in 3D (K Clear) or 4D (Clear X) how the teeth will move and the expected result, and you get the price of treatment.
4. Fitting the first trays. The dentist checks the fit and shows you how to put the trays in, take them out and clean them. Small tooth-coloured composite "buttons" (attachments) are sometimes placed on some teeth to help the tray grip.
5. Changing trays and check-ups. You change trays on a schedule, and at check-ups the dentist makes sure the teeth are moving to plan.
6. Holding the result. At the end a retainer is fitted (for example a fixed lingual retainer) so the teeth do not move back.

How long aligner treatment takes

It depends on the case. The levels on the price list give an indication: up to 3 months for minor corrections, over 12 months for more complex ones. You will see the realistic time for you in the simulation. It holds only if the trays are worn consistently – about 22 hours a day, taken out only to eat, to drink anything other than water and to brush your teeth.

Care during treatment

• Brush your teeth before putting the trays back after a meal – otherwise food is pressed against the teeth.
• Clean the trays with lukewarm water and a soft brush; hot water can warp them.
• Do not drink coffee, tea or sweet drinks with the trays in.
• Carry the tray case with you – most lost trays were wrapped in a napkin on a restaurant table.
• For the first days of each new tray it is normal to feel pressure; it usually passes in a day or two.
• Keep up your check-ups and professional cleaning during treatment.

Who provides the treatment

The clinic's founder, Dr. Sandy Festok, has completed the "4D Dynamic Aligner treatment course" by K Line Europe GmbH and the Bulgarian Dental Association's training on DENT@LIGN digital aligners (2022).

The information on this page is general and does not replace an examination by a dentist. The right treatment for you is decided after an examination.

Frequently asked questions

How much do clear aligners cost?

At SF Dent the treatment plan with a 3D simulation is 230.00 € (K Clear), or 282.00 € with a 4D simulation (Clear X). Treatment itself costs from 1,687.26 € (Clear X Easy, up to 3 months, one arch) to 5,010.66 € (Clear X Max, over 12 months, both arches) on the clinic's price list. Your exact price is clear after an examination and the simulation.

How many hours a day are aligners worn?

About 22 hours a day. The trays come out only to eat, to drink anything other than water and to brush your teeth. If they are worn less, the teeth do not follow the plan and treatment takes longer.

How long does aligner treatment take?

It depends on the case – from up to 3 months for minor corrections to over 12 months for more complex ones. You will see the estimated time for you in the simulation of your treatment plan.

Aligners or braces – which is better?

It depends on the case and on your lifestyle. Aligners are clear and come out for eating and brushing, but they need discipline. Braces are fixed, and some complex cases are treated more predictably with them. The SF Dent price list has aligners; if braces would suit you better, we will tell you after the examination.

Do you offer Invisalign?

The SF Dent price list has K Clear and Clear X aligners, not Invisalign. Invisalign is another manufacturer's brand; the principle – a series of clear trays made from a digital plan – is the same.

Do aligners hurt?

Treatment is usually not painful. With each new tray you may feel pressure for the first day or two – that means the tray is working. If an edge rubs, tell your dentist.

What happens after treatment?

To stop the teeth moving back, a retainer is fitted – for example a fixed lingual retainer, which is 155.00 € on the price list. The dentist will tell you which type suits you.

Are aligners suitable for children?

For children whose jaws are still growing, the dentist often suggests another treatment, such as Myobrace, which targets the habits that affect jaw growth. Whether aligners are suitable is decided after an examination.