Smilers in the UK

Overview

Smilers is a clear aligner brand from Biotech Dental Group, a dental company that also makes Nemotec planning software and Kontact implants. Henry Schein, one of the largest dental suppliers, has acquired a majority stake in Biotech Dental. Henry Schein UK launched Smilers to UK clinicians in February 2025, selling it through Henry Schein and Optident. There are two tiers. Smilers is aimed at general dental practitioners, and Smilers Expert at orthodontists, reflecting the difference in case complexity each group typically takes on. Both tiers use Nemotec's cloud-based NemoCast software for treatment visualisation and diagnostic support. The aligners are 3D-printed and finished with a scalloped trim line and a hand-polished edge for comfort. The clinician can choose the aligner material thickness for each case, rather than working with a single fixed thickness. Henry Schein says the range is backed by more than ten years of research. Smilers is a newer brand in the UK than Invisalign, Spark or ClearCorrect. If a practice offers it, it's reasonable to ask which tier they use, how many Smilers cases they've completed, and whether a specialist reviews more complex plans.

Insurance Coverage in the UK

UK dental insurance and cash-plan cover depends on the policy's orthodontic benefit wording, not the brand name. If a plan includes clear aligner or orthodontic cover, it typically pays a fixed contribution once treatment is prescribed and supervised by a registered dentist or orthodontist. Check waiting periods, annual or lifetime caps, and whether pre-authorisation is required before paying a deposit — insurers generally treat all clinician-supervised aligner brands the same way under a single orthodontic benefit line.

Financing & Payment Plans

Most UK providers offer in-practice payment plans spreading the cost over 12 to 36 months, sometimes interest-free. Ask what happens to remaining instalments if you need to pause treatment or switch provider partway through, since that varies by practice rather than by brand.

Best For: Smilers Suitability by Condition

Underbite: Mild to moderate cases only. Smilers can address mild to moderate underbites using attachments and inter-arch elastics where needed. Significant skeletal underbites usually need fixed braces, and some need jaw surgery alongside orthodontics — a clinical assessment is the only way to know which category a case falls into. Overbite: Mild to moderate cases only. Smilers is commonly used for mild to moderate deep bites, often with bite ramps or attachments to help correct vertical overlap. More pronounced overbites, particularly with a skeletal component, are typically better suited to fixed appliances. Gaps / spacing: Well suited. Spacing between teeth is one of the more straightforward movements for Smilers's aligner system, since it mainly involves tipping and translating teeth into the gap rather than complex rotations. Crowding: Mild to moderate crowding. Smilers can resolve mild to moderate crowding, sometimes with limited interproximal reduction (small amounts of enamel removed between teeth) to create space. Severe crowding often needs extractions or fixed braces to achieve a stable result. Buck teeth / protrusion: Mild to moderate protrusion. Smilers can retract mildly to moderately protruding front teeth using attachments for grip. Larger protrusions, especially with a skeletal cause, are usually assessed for fixed braces or a combined orthodontic-surgical approach.

Suitability for Kids & Teens

Smilers is prescribed by general dentists (Smilers) and orthodontists (Smilers Expert). The treating clinician decides case by case whether it suits a teenager, the same as with other clinician-led aligner brands.

Useful related pages

This guide is for general information only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or substitute for advice from a registered dentist or orthodontist.