--- title: "How Invisalign Works: ClinCheck, SmartTrack & Tiers" url: https://virtualconsultant.online/invisalign/how-it-works description: "Invisalign works through a ClinCheck digital plan, SmartTrack trays and SmartForce attachments, with a new tray usually every one to two weeks." updated: 2026-09-19T00:00:00Z publisher: Virtual Consultant Online --- # How Invisalign works: ClinCheck, SmartTrack and attachments What Align Technology's own system adds to aligner treatment, from the digital plan through to the tier your quote is written against. [Get My Quote](https://virtualconsultant.online/evaluations/quote) [Find a Provider](https://virtualconsultant.online/locations) [Explore treatments](https://virtualconsultant.online/treatments) • [Clear aligners](https://virtualconsultant.online/aligners) • [Prices](https://virtualconsultant.online/costs) • [Compare options](https://virtualconsultant.online/compare) • [Braces](https://virtualconsultant.online/braces) ## What is specific to the Invisalign workflow What separates Invisalign from aligner treatment in general is the system around it rather than the underlying tooth movement. Align Technology supplies the planning software, the tray material, the attachment shapes and the manufacturing, and your clinician works inside that system rather than specifying each part separately. Planning happens in ClinCheck. Your 3D scan is uploaded and the software renders the movement stage by stage, so your clinician can adjust the sequence, decide which teeth need attachments, and set where any enamel reduction falls before manufacturing is approved. You are usually shown the projected end position at this point, which is a simulation of the approved plan rather than a guarantee of the outcome. The trays are made from SmartTrack, Align's own thermoplastic, which is designed to deliver a more constant level of force across the wear period than the stiffer materials earlier aligners used, and to seat more closely around attachments. Where a movement needs more grip than a smooth tray gives, the plan specifies SmartForce attachments: composite shapes bonded to particular teeth, with the shape and position chosen in the plan for the movement in question rather than freehand. Invisalign plans are normally written around changing to the next tray every one to two weeks, and the interval is set by your clinician for your case rather than chosen by you. Reviews are usually spaced several weeks apart, so you typically carry a run of trays forward between appointments and the pace can be slowed if teeth stop tracking to the ClinCheck plan. The tier on your quote is a process difference, not a clinical one. Go and Lite cover shorter cases, Moderate and Comprehensive cover fuller ones, and First and Teen are aimed at younger patients; what changes between them is how many aligner stages and refinement sets are included, which is why a shorter tier is only offered when a case can realistically finish within its stage limit. Provider labels such as Gold, Platinum and Diamond are separate again — they describe how many Invisalign cases a practice has completed, not a different product. Private Invisalign in the UK typically runs £2,500 to £5,500, with the tier and case complexity doing most of the work in that range. ### Ready to compare options? Share a few details and receive a clinician-led quote for Invisalign or clear aligner treatment that matches your case. [Start My Quote](https://virtualconsultant.online/evaluations/quote) Takes 5 minutes • No obligation #### Planned in ClinCheck Your clinician builds and adjusts a stage-by-stage digital plan in Align Technology's software before a single tray is manufactured. ##### Made from SmartTrack Invisalign trays use Align's own SmartTrack thermoplastic rather than generic sheet material. ###### Sold in tiers Go, Lite, Moderate and Comprehensive differ mainly in how many aligner stages and refinement sets the package allows. Cost ###### Invisalign Cost Compare UK Invisalign costs across Lite, Comprehensive and Teen options, payment plans and what affects your quote. [See Cost Factors](https://virtualconsultant.online/costs/invisalign-cost) Cost ###### Cheap Invisalign Compare more affordable Invisalign options, payment plans and lower-cost clear aligner alternatives with proper clinical supervision. [Compare Affordable Options](https://virtualconsultant.online/guides/invisalign-alternatives) Local ###### Near Me Find certified Invisalign providers near you in the UK and start with a remote suitability check before booking. [Find Local Providers](https://virtualconsultant.online/locations/invisalign-provider-near-me) ## Keep exploring Use these internal links to compare Invisalign with other treatment, cost, and location pages before requesting a quote. [Get My Quote](https://virtualconsultant.online/evaluations/quote) [Invisalign](https://virtualconsultant.online/invisalign) [How Clear Aligners Work In General](https://virtualconsultant.online/aligners/how-it-works) [Invisalign Cost](https://virtualconsultant.online/costs/invisalign-cost) [Invisalign vs Braces](https://virtualconsultant.online/guides/invisalign-vs-braces-uk) [The Invisalign Workflow](https://virtualconsultant.online/invisalign/how-it-works) [Cheap Invisalign](https://virtualconsultant.online/guides/invisalign-alternatives) [Clear Aligners](https://virtualconsultant.online/aligners) [Braces](https://virtualconsultant.online/braces) [Retainers](https://virtualconsultant.online/retainers) [Teeth Whitening](https://virtualconsultant.online/whitening) [Treatments](https://virtualconsultant.online/treatments) [Orthodontic Costs](https://virtualconsultant.online/costs) [Locations](https://virtualconsultant.online/locations) [Compare Options](https://virtualconsultant.online/compare) ### Frequently asked questions What is ClinCheck and what does your clinician do with it? ClinCheck is Align Technology's treatment planning software. Your 3D scan is loaded into it and the movement is modelled stage by stage, so your clinician can change the sequence, decide which teeth need attachments and where enamel reduction falls, and approve the plan before any tray is manufactured. What is SmartTrack and why does the material matter? SmartTrack is the thermoplastic Align uses for Invisalign trays. It is designed to deliver a more constant level of force across the wear period than the stiffer materials earlier aligners used, and to seat more closely around attachments so planned movements are expressed more reliably. How are SmartForce attachments different from ordinary attachments? They do the same job — giving a smooth tray something to push against — but the shape and placement of each one is specified in the Invisalign plan for the specific movement, rather than chosen freehand at the chair. They are tooth-coloured composite and are polished off when treatment finishes. How often are Invisalign trays changed? Most Invisalign plans are written around a change every one to two weeks. Your clinician sets the interval for your case and can slow it down if teeth are not tracking to the ClinCheck plan, so follow the schedule you are given rather than a figure you have read online. What is the difference between Invisalign Go, Lite and Comprehensive? The clinical process is identical. The tiers differ in how many aligner stages and refinement sets are included, which is why they are priced differently and why a shorter tier is only offered when your case can realistically be finished within its stage limit. Do Gold, Platinum and Diamond providers use a different Invisalign system? No. Those labels describe how many Invisalign cases a practice has completed, not a different product, material or planning route. They can be a rough proxy for experience, but the plan itself and your clinician's judgement matter more than the badge. What happens if I lose an Invisalign aligner? Contact your provider as soon as you can. Depending on where you are in the series they may advise wearing your previous tray or moving to the next one while a replacement is ordered. Replacements can usually be produced from the existing plan but may carry an extra charge. --- 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) ## How It Works ### Capture guided photos Use your phone or webcam to follow guided prompts and capture the right angles in around 5 minutes. [Photo guide](https://virtualconsultant.online/about/process/how-to-take-orthodontic-photos) ### Clinician review and options An orthodontic team reviews your assessment and creates a digital quote with options like braces and clear aligners. [Explore treatments](https://virtualconsultant.online/treatments) ### Accept when you’re ready Compare your options in your own time. If you accept, a coordinator contacts you to arrange next steps and get you started. [Understand costs](https://virtualconsultant.online/costs) 100% online to start. No pressure. Move forward only when it feels right. 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 to get your quote? Upload your photos and get clinician-reviewed options for braces or clear aligners. [Start My Free Quote](https://virtualconsultant.online/evaluations/quote) [Find an Orthodontist](https://virtualconsultant.online/locations) Prefer to learn first? Explore [treatments](https://virtualconsultant.online/treatments), [problems](https://virtualconsultant.online/problems), and [costs](https://virtualconsultant.online/costs). Citation details Title How Invisalign Works: ClinCheck, SmartTrack & Tiers Publisher Virtual Consultant Online Published 2024-06-01 Updated 2026-09-19 URL [https://staging.virtualconsultant.online/invisalign/how-it-works](https://staging.virtualconsultant.online/invisalign/how-it-works)