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Active Aligners, The Business case: Profitable, Practical, Patient-Focused
- Dr Dan Shaffer
- Sep 8
- 4 min read
By Dr Dan Shaffer | Clinical Director, Active Aligners UK
Let me take you back to my early days introducing aligners into my private restorative clinic. At first, it seemed like just another tool in the ever-expanding cosmetic dentistry toolkit. But I quickly realised this wasn’t just a treatment option — it was a business multiplier. The kind that boosts your bottom line, sharpens your brand, and deepens patient loyalty.
Fast-forward to today, and I can confidently say that incorporating Active Aligners into your dental practice is one of the most effective clinical and commercial decisions you can make.
Here’s why:
💸 1. Aligners Add High-Margin, Low-Stress Revenue
Let’s start with the obvious: aligners make money.
Unlike NHS volume-based treatment, or complex restorative cases that tie up time and chair space, clear aligners offer:
Strong margins with predictable workflows
Payment flexibility for patients that smooths cashflow
Lower lab and material costs than fixed ortho or large-scale cosmetic cases
For many practices, it’s the most profitable treatment per minute they offer — and with the right positioning, it sells itself.
🧲 2. Active Aligners Attract the Right Kind of Patient
Aligner patients are:
✔ Appearance-conscious
✔ Invested in long-term results
✔ Interested in further cosmetic or restorative treatment
✔ Often willing to pay upfront or commit to ongoing care
This is your ideal patient base for whitening, composite bonding, retainers, facial aesthetics — even implants. With clear aligners as the first step, you naturally open the door to broader treatment plans and longer-term value.
🦷 3. Clinical Benefits That Complement Every Discipline
This isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s smart dentistry.
By aligning the dentition, you create:
Improved restorative outcomes (less invasive prep, better spacing)
Reduced occlusal wear and trauma
Easier hygiene access for long-term periodontal health
Stabilisation before implant work or prosthodontics
Active Aligners lets you offer a preventive, minimally invasive solution that supports every corner of your clinical skillset.
🔄 4. Seamless Integration With Your Team and Workflow
One of the things I love about Active Aligners? The system is designed for dentists, by dentists — meaning integration is fast and frictionless.
🖥 Works with both digital scans and PVS
📋 Step-by-step clinical protocols that build confidence
📈 Treatment planning support from experienced dentists
🤝 Ongoing mentoring so you're never left guessing
What’s more, your TCO or nurse can handle much of the scan, admin, and patient coordination — freeing you up to focus on planning and delivery.
🕒 5. Time-Efficient Treatment = More Scalability
Chair time is your most valuable asset.
Active Aligners cases require:
Fewer adjustments than fixed appliances
Shorter appointments
Remote monitoring possibilities (with the right systems)
This means more patients treated per day, without sacrificing quality of care. You scale smarter, not harder.
🌟 6. A Powerful Brand Differentiator
In an increasingly competitive market, aligners do more than straighten teeth — they strengthen your practice identity.
🦷 You become known as a digitally forward, aesthetics-conscious practice
📱 You generate Instagram-ready before-and-after cases for your marketing
📊 You position yourself as a comprehensive provider — not just a single-service clinic
And because Active Aligners offers tiered treatment plans, you’re not just offering “premium” — you’re offering accessible and ethical choices that suit your patient’s needs and budget.
🔍 7. The Clinical Control You Want — With the Support You Need
We get it. You want predictable outcomes. You want full visibility. You want to know there's a team on the other side who understands dentistry — not just software.
That’s why at Active Aligners, we offer:
Transparent treatment planning
Clear clinician-led communication
Flexibility for refinements and adjustments
Real-world training events and webinars
You’re never “just a provider” — you’re a clinical partner, backed by real people who care about your results.
📈 Real Business Impact at Every Level
Let’s break it down:
Benefit | What it Delivers |
Revenue Growth | High-margin cases, add-on treatments, repeat business |
Patient Attraction | New demographics, cosmetic interest, organic referrals |
Time Efficiency | Shorter appointments, more daily output |
Clinical Versatility | Better prep, occlusion, perio support |
Practice Reputation | Modern, digital, cosmetic-savvy |
🧠 Final Thought: This Isn’t Just a Treatment — It’s a Growth Engine
If you’re looking for a way to:
Differentiate your clinic
Attract patients who value what you do
Build a more scalable, profitable business
Deliver ethical, clinically sound results...
Then aligners aren’t optional anymore — they’re essential.
At Active Aligners, we make it easy for you to get started, support you every step of the way, and help you grow your business with confidence and control.
📞 Want to learn more or see a demo case?Visit www.activealigners.co.uk
or book a discovery call with our team.
Let’s build a future-focused practice — one confident smile at a time.
Dr Dan Shaffer BDS RDT PGCertDentLaw is Clinical Director of Active Aligners UK, Assistant Dean at City of London Dental School, and a passionate advocate for innovation, education, and empowering UK dentists to thrive.
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