What happens after Invisalign treatment ends?

Retention is permanent: bonded lingual + Essix removable retainer. 12 months full-time then nighttime indefinitely. Year-1 follow-ups at 3/6/12 months included.

Invisalign certified provider · Jeddah

Invisalign in Jeddah — cost, duration, eligibility, alternatives

Clear, written cost ranges and treatment durations for every Invisalign tier — Express, Lite, Moderate, Comprehensive, and First (kids). Eligibility criteria you can self-check, alternatives to consider, and what changes the final price. From Jeddah's 3 ABO-Diplomate orthodontists.

Direct answer

Invisalign in Jeddah at AQUA Dent Clinics costs between SAR 14,000 and SAR 36,000 depending on case complexity (Express SAR 14,000–18,000 for minor cases; Comprehensive SAR 28,000–36,000 for full alignment). Treatment duration ranges from 6 to 24 months with aligners worn 22 hours/day. AQUA is an Invisalign Diamond+ provider with 3 ABO-Diplomate orthodontists. First consultation including digital scan and ClinCheck preview is free.

Invisalign tiers — cost and duration in Jeddah

Invisalign offers different aligner counts and treatment scopes. The right tier depends on YOUR case complexity — determined at consultation by ClinCheck virtual treatment planning. Pricing is for the AQUA Dent Clinics Jeddah office; published transparently per the audit recommendation.

Up to 7 aligners

Invisalign Express

SAR 14,000–18,000

Duration: 3–6 months
Best for: minor relapse after braces
Single arch refinement
1 set of refinement aligners included

Up to 14 aligners

Invisalign Lite

SAR 18,000–24,000

Duration: 6–9 months
Best for: mild crowding or spacing
Both arches, limited movement
1 set of refinement aligners

Up to 26 aligners

Invisalign Moderate

SAR 24,000–30,000

Duration: 9–15 months
Best for: moderate crowding/rotation
Mid-complexity cases
2 sets of refinement aligners

Unlimited aligners

Invisalign Comprehensive

SAR 28,000–36,000

Duration: 12–24 months
Best for: complex cases, full alignment
Includes attachments + IPR + elastics
Up to 4 sets refinement aligners

Pediatric · Age 6–10

Invisalign First

SAR 16,000–22,000

Duration: 12–18 months
Best for: Phase 1 interceptive
Mixed dentition with eruption tabs
Designed for growing children

Eligibility — am I a candidate for Invisalign?

Most malocclusions can be treated with Invisalign by an experienced provider. Some severe cases still need fixed braces or surgical orthodontics. Your final eligibility is determined at consultation through clinical exam, panoramic X-ray, CBCT (if needed), and ClinCheck virtual setup.

✓ Excellent candidate if you have...

Mild to moderate crowding
Spacing or gaps between teeth
Mild Class II or Class III bite
Crossbite (anterior or posterior)
Open bite (mild)
Adults concerned about appearance
Healthy gums and bone
Good oral hygiene + commitment to 22h/day wear

✗ Better with fixed braces (or hybrid) if...

Severe rotations of canines or premolars
Severe Class II/III requiring jaw surgery
Large vertical movements (intrusion/extrusion)
Active periodontal disease (must treat first)
Patient unable to commit to 22h/day wear
Heavy implant or bridge work in front teeth
Bruxism severe enough to crack aligners

What changes the final price

Two patients with the "same" malocclusion can have very different final fees. The five biggest cost drivers:

Case complexity: Express vs. Comprehensive — primary driver. ClinCheck shows the planned aligner count before quote.
Number of refinements needed: Most plans include 1–4 refinement sets. Beyond that, additional charges may apply.
Pre-treatment work needed: Periodontal scaling, restoration of decay, or extraction of crowded teeth — billed separately.
Retention plan: Bonded lingual + Essix removable retainer included for first set; replacements at cost.
Additional accelerators: Optional add-ons like Propel/AcceleDent or surgical PAOO can shorten treatment but add cost.

Alternatives to Invisalign

Invisalign isn't the only path to a straight smile. Honest comparison of your other options:

Metal braces: SAR 8,000–18,000 · Most cost-effective · Handles severe cases · Visible · 18–30 months typical.
Ceramic (clear) braces: SAR 12,000–22,000 · Less visible than metal · Same treatment scope · Slightly larger brackets · Same duration as metal.
Lingual braces: SAR 28,000–45,000 · Completely hidden behind teeth · Hardest to maintain · Speech adjustment required · 18–30 months.
Other clear aligner brands (SureSmile, Spark, ClearCorrect): SAR 12,000–28,000 · Newer technology, less long-term outcome data · We do offer SureSmile for select cases.
Mail-order aligners (SmileDirectClub, Byte): NOT recommended. No in-person clinical exam, no progress monitoring, no CBCT, no plan adjustment when teeth don't track. AAO and ADA both warn against. Real complications documented.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Invisalign take in Jeddah?

Express cases finish in 3–6 months. Most adult Invisalign Comprehensive cases run 12–18 months. Complex cases with surgical-orthodontic prep can extend to 24+ months. Adherence to 22-hour daily wear is the biggest factor — patients who consistently wear aligners finish on time; those who don't add months.

Does insurance cover Invisalign in Saudi Arabia?

AQUA Dent Clinics does NOT bill insurance directly. We prepare itemized receipts, treatment plan documentation, and X-rays in standard format so you can submit a reimbursement claim to your insurer yourself. Most Saudi private dental insurance covers a portion of orthodontic treatment (typically 50–70% up to a per-year cap). MyFatoorah installment plans up to 12 months are available.

Will I need attachments or IPR?

Most Comprehensive cases use both: tooth-colored attachments (small composite bumps bonded to teeth so the aligner can grip and rotate them), and IPR (interproximal reduction — gentle filing of 0.1–0.3mm between teeth to create space for alignment). Both are reversed/polished smooth at end of treatment. Your ClinCheck plan shows exactly which teeth get attachments and which get IPR.

What happens after treatment ends?

Retention is forever. Without retainers, teeth shift back. Standard AQUA protocol: bonded lingual retainer behind upper + lower 6 front teeth + custom Essix removable retainer worn full-time for 12 months, then nighttime indefinitely. Year-1 follow-up visits at 3, 6, and 12 months are included. Replacement retainers available at cost.

Author & clinical reviewer