PortmanDentex Orthodontics & Clear Aligners

Overview

PortmanDentex was formed in 2023 when Portman Dental Care and Dentex Health came together, creating one of the larger privately focused dental groups in the UK. Its own About page describes over 370 practices across the UK and Ireland caring for around 1.5 million patients, with further operations in Norway, Belgium and France. The UK holding company, company number 09114888, changed its name from Portman Healthcare (Holdings) Limited to PortmanDentex Limited in September 2024. Individual practices were not renamed after the merger, so most still trade under their own local name — many as a 'Dental & Implant Clinic' or 'Smile Clinic' — rather than as PortmanDentex. For teeth straightening, around 50 of the group's practices in Great Britain and Northern Ireland are grouped under the patient-facing Portman Clear Brace Group brand, which offers Invisalign alongside ceramic, lingual, fixed and children's braces. The group also runs an internal Clear Aligner Programme for its clinicians.

Which Brands It Offers

PortmanDentex offers Invisalign through its network — availability of a specific brand depends on your local practice, so ask when booking a consultation.

NHS Availability

Clear aligner treatment across PortmanDentex is private only — adult teeth straightening is treated as cosmetic and isn't available on the NHS. The group is privately focused, so NHS orthodontics is not a core part of its offer. NHS orthodontic treatment for under-18s depends on whether an individual practice holds an NHS orthodontic contract, and eligibility is decided by the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) after a referral from a general dentist. If your child needs NHS braces, ask your dentist for a referral to an NHS-contracted orthodontic practice near you, whichever group runs it. NHS orthodontics is free for under-18s.

Insurance Coverage in the UK

UK dental insurance and cash-plan cover for treatment at PortmanDentex depends on the policy's orthodontic benefit wording, not the practice group's 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 — which PortmanDentex's Invisalign treatment is. Check waiting periods, annual or lifetime caps, and whether pre-authorisation is required before paying a deposit.

Cost & Financing

PortmanDentex doesn't publish a group-wide orthodontic price list. Portman Clear Brace Group's Invisalign page says cost depends on your treatment needs and is discussed, along with finance options, at the initial consultation before you commit. Because practices keep their own names and price lists, quotes vary by location. Typical UK private prices are around £2,500–£5,500 for Invisalign, £2,000–£4,500 for ceramic braces and £4,000–£8,000 for lingual braces, so ask for an itemised written quote that states whether retainers and refinements are included.

Best For: PortmanDentex Suitability by Condition

Underbite: Mild to moderate cases only. PortmanDentex's Invisalign offering can address mild to moderate underbites using attachments and inter-arch elastics where needed. Significant skeletal underbites usually need fixed braces or a combined orthodontic-surgical approach — ask your local practice for a clinical assessment. Overbite: Mild to moderate cases only. Mild to moderate deep bites are commonly treated with Invisalign, often with bite ramps or attachments. 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 Invisalign, since it mainly involves tipping and translating teeth into the gap. Crowding: Mild to moderate crowding. Invisalign at PortmanDentex can resolve mild to moderate crowding, sometimes with limited interproximal reduction to create space. Severe crowding often needs extractions or fixed braces for a stable result. Buck teeth / protrusion: Mild to moderate protrusion. Mildly to moderately protruding front teeth can be retracted using attachments for grip. Larger protrusions, especially with a skeletal cause, are usually assessed for fixed braces or a combined approach.

Suitability for Kids & Teens

PortmanDentex practices offering Invisalign Teen assess suitability for a still-developing dentition on a case-by-case basis, the same as with any clinician-supervised aligner brand — ask your local practice which age-appropriate product they offer.

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.