5 Key Characteristics of the UK Clear Aligner (Orthodontics) Market

2 Apr

The UK’s private dental market has been undergoing a major shift in recent years to the private market. One part of the market which has been a major part of this change is around consumers access to clear aligner products in the orthodontics market. Gone are the days when to realign your teeth, you would need to have wires and braces, helping people to feel more confident in how the appear whilst under treatment.

Using data from Rare, we decided to investigate the market a little further and identifying five key characteristics that define the current landscape. Whether you're a provider, investor or innovator, understanding these insights is crucial to navigating what’s next.

The 5 Key Stats from our latest report:

Clear aligner providers cluster in higher income areas
41% of clinics offering clear aligners are in areas of high household income — highlighting their appeal among more affluent demographics. By contrast, only 26% are in lower income regions.
Market concentration is real — and growing
Just 10 dental providers account for 21% of the total clear aligner market, showing a clear trend towards consolidation and scaled business models.
Urban dominance
89% of providers offering clear aligners are in urban areas. It's a distinctly city-led treatment segment, with only a minor presence in rural or semi-rural locations.
Clear aligners are now mainstream
Nearly two-thirds (62%) of dental providers in the UK now offer clear aligners. That’s a significant leap in adoption, showing that aligners are no longer a niche product, but a standard part of modern dentistry portfolios.
Four key provider segments are emerging
Using Rare: Monitor’s cluster analysis, we’ve identified four distinct types of practices driving the aligner boom — from full-service chains to boutique cosmetic clinics. (We’ll break these down in detail in our next post.)

These five insights only scratch the surface. For a deeper dive, including geographical variations, treatment volumes, and segmentation analysis, download the full April 2025 report now. You can read more about these 4 key segments on this blog.