--- title: "3M Clarity Aligners UK | Cost, Insurance & Comparison (2026)" url: https://virtualconsultant.online/brands/3m-clarity-aligners description: "A clinician-prescribed aligner system from Solventum (formerly 3M Health Care). Start online in minutes with Virtual Consultant." updated: 2026-09-19T00:00:00Z publisher: Virtual Consultant Online --- Clear Aligners Solventum UK 2026 # 3M Clarity Aligners in the UK A clinician-prescribed aligner system from Solventum (formerly 3M Health Care). This page covers UK cost, insurance coverage, financing options, and which conditions 3M Clarity Aligners typically suits, so you can compare it against other clear aligner brands before booking a consultation. [Start Photo Assessment](https://virtualconsultant.online/evaluations/quote) [Compare Costs](https://virtualconsultant.online/costs) | Feature | 3M Clarity Aligners | Invisalign | | --- | --- | --- | | Material | Multilayer copolymer, Flex 0.625mm / Force 0.75mm (Solventum) | SmartTrack (Invisalign) | | Attachments | Pre-loaded 3D-printed Precision Grip (exclusive) | Chairside composite attachments | | UK presence | Launched to UK dentists July 2024 | Largest UK provider network | ## Overview Clarity Aligners are made by Solventum, the healthcare company spun out of 3M. The 3M Clarity name was kept after the separation. Solventum launched 3M Clarity Aligners to UK dental professionals in July 2024. The aligners are a proprietary multilayer copolymer and come in two film thicknesses. Clarity Aligners Flex (0.625mm) applies gentler force and is recommended for rotations, proclination and extrusion. Clarity Aligners Force (0.75mm) applies stronger force for expansion, torque, sequential movement and segmental intrusion. A clinician can choose between them to suit the movements in your case. Solventum also makes Clarity Precision Grip Attachments, available only with Clarity Aligners. These are 3D-printed, fully cured composite attachments designed for each patient and pre-loaded during manufacturing. Solventum says this makes bonding cleaner and saves around 12 minutes of chair time per bonding appointment. Cases are designed in the cloud-based Clarity Portal. Solventum's Eco-Flex option lets practices receive aligners in batches as needed, instead of the whole course at once, to reduce plastic waste. Clarity is prescribed through registered UK dentists and orthodontists, not sold direct to consumers. Solventum's UK product page lists crowding, spacing, open bite, deep bite, crossbites and Class II and III cases among the malocclusions it is designed to treat. ## 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: 3M Clarity Aligners Suitability by Condition Underbite: Mild to moderate cases only. Clarity Aligners 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. Clarity Aligners 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 Clarity Aligners's aligner system, since it mainly involves tipping and translating teeth into the gap rather than complex rotations. Crowding: Mild to moderate crowding. Clarity Aligners 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. Clarity Aligners 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 Clarity is prescribed through UK dentists and orthodontists, so the treating clinician decides case by case whether it suits a teenager, the same as with other clinician-led aligner brands. ## Useful related pages [Compare all clear aligner brands](https://virtualconsultant.online/brands) [Best clear aligners UK: which suits your case](https://virtualconsultant.online/guides/best-clear-aligners-uk) [Invisalign & clear aligner insurance UK](https://virtualconsultant.online/insurance/invisalign-clear-aligner-insurance-uk) [Invisalign alternatives guide](https://virtualconsultant.online/guides/invisalign-alternatives) [Clear aligner payment plans](https://virtualconsultant.online/guides/clear-aligner-payment-plans) [Which UK dental practice groups offer this brand](https://virtualconsultant.online/dental-providers) This guide is for general information only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or substitute for advice from a registered dentist or orthodontist. ### Compare next steps [Orthodontist Near Me](https://virtualconsultant.online/locations/orthodontic-treatment-near-me) [Clear Aligners Near Me](https://virtualconsultant.online/treatments/clear-aligners-near-me) [Invisalign Near Me](https://virtualconsultant.online/locations/invisalign-provider-near-me) [Browse Locations](https://virtualconsultant.online/locations) ### Ready for a clearer starting point? Upload guided photos and receive an indication of likely treatment options and pricing before booking appointments. [Get an Online Quote](https://virtualconsultant.online/evaluations/quote) ### Frequently Asked Questions What is 3M Clarity Aligners? Clarity Aligners is a clear aligner system made by Solventum, the company spun out of 3M Health Care, which launched it to UK dental professionals in July 2024. It uses a proprietary multilayer copolymer in two thicknesses, Flex (0.625mm) and Force (0.75mm), for different types of tooth movement. It also has exclusive 3D-printed attachments. What's the difference between Clarity Flex and Clarity Force? They differ in thickness and in how much force they apply. Flex is a 0.625mm film that applies gentler force, recommended for rotations, tipping front teeth forward (proclination) and extrusion. Force is a 0.75mm film that applies stronger force, recommended for arch expansion, torque, sequential movement and intrusion. Your clinician chooses between them for your case, so you may not need to know which you have, but it's a reasonable question to ask. What are Clarity Precision Grip Attachments? Attachments are small tooth-coloured bumps bonded to teeth to give aligners more grip. Clarity's are 3D-printed from fully cured composite and designed for each patient. They arrive pre-loaded, instead of being moulded chairside from composite paste. Solventum says this makes bonding cleaner and saves around 12 minutes per bonding appointment, and the attachments are available only with Clarity Aligners. How much does 3M Clarity Aligners cost in the UK? Clarity's UK pricing isn't independently verified for this page, so ask a provider who stocks it for a personalised quote. As with other clinician-supervised aligner brands, the cost depends mainly on how complex your case is. Is 3M Clarity Aligners available on the NHS? No. Like every clear aligner brand, Clarity is a private treatment only. NHS orthodontics uses fixed braces for under-18s who meet the IOTN clinical need threshold. Does insurance cover this brand specifically? Usually not by name. UK dental insurers and cash plans write orthodontic benefit around the treatment category — clear aligners or fixed braces — rather than a specific brand, so cover that applies to one clinician-supervised aligner brand generally applies to others in the same category. What matters to the insurer is whether a registered dentist or orthodontist is prescribing and supervising the treatment, not which brand's aligners are used. Explore your options Quick links Not sure where to start? Use these quick links to explore orthodontic treatments, typical costs, and helpful guides that explain what different options involve. Whether you're researching braces or clear aligners, comparing pricing, or just getting a feel for what comes next, you can browse at your own pace and come back when you're ready to request a quote. Explore [Get Quote](https://virtualconsultant.online/evaluations/quote) [Costs](https://virtualconsultant.online/costs) [Browse Treatments](https://virtualconsultant.online/treatments) [Teeth Straightening](https://virtualconsultant.online/treatments/teeth-straightening) [Browse Problems](https://virtualconsultant.online/problems) [Locations](https://virtualconsultant.online/locations) [Near Me](https://virtualconsultant.online/locations/orthodontic-treatment-near-me) [NHS Eligibility Checker](https://virtualconsultant.online/about/do-i-qualify-for-nhs-treatment) [IOTN Score Checker](https://virtualconsultant.online/about/iotn-score-checker) [How To Take Orthodontic Photos](https://virtualconsultant.online/about/process/how-to-take-orthodontic-photos) [Online Orthodontist](https://virtualconsultant.online/guides/online-orthodontist-uk) [Research Papers](https://virtualconsultant.online/research) [Social Channels](https://virtualconsultant.online/social) ## Ready for a personalised answer? Upload guided photos and get a tailored recommendation for your teeth and bite. [Start Photo Assessment](https://virtualconsultant.online/evaluations/quote) [Find an Orthodontist](https://virtualconsultant.online/locations) Citation details Title 3M Clarity Aligners UK | Cost, Insurance & Comparison (2026) Publisher Virtual Consultant Online Published 2026-08-29 Updated 2026-09-19 URL [https://staging.virtualconsultant.online/brands/3m-clarity-aligners](https://staging.virtualconsultant.online/brands/3m-clarity-aligners)