Clear Aligners Diploma (Level 7)

IAS Academy's Clear Aligners Diploma combines face-to-face and online teaching, practical training, independent study and specialist mentoring for ten treated cases. Fourteen syllabus modules cover assessment, growth, imaging, biomechanics, digital planning, retention and the relationship between orthodontics and restorative care.

The programme is designed for use across aligner systems and includes live planning demonstrations and in-house production workflows. Entry requires a dental degree, professional registration, at least three years since qualification, ten completed aligner cases and access to suitable patients.

The published timetable runs from 26 November 2026 to 22 April 2028 at IAS headquarters in Surrey. IAS advertises 147 CPD hours and GBP 14,400. Confirm VAT basis, assessment requirements and all attendance dates; modules form one programme and are not separately bookable.

The fourteen syllabus areas

• Craniofacial growth, bone remodelling and normal or abnormal facial and dental development.
• Finding and critically appraising research for clinical decisions.
• Radiographic and other imaging, interpretation and protection requirements.
• Development of the dentition and assessment of skeletal, dental and soft-tissue relationships.
• Aligner materials, biomechanics, desired movement and unwanted treatment effects.
• Clinical records and systematic diagnosis of malocclusion.
• Case planning, referral decisions, cephalometric analysis and growth assessment.
• Long-term stability, relapse and the evidence behind retention.
• Population, social and psychological influences on orthodontic need and treatment decisions.
• Aligner fitting, activation, attachment placement and case management.
• Anchorage planning and control.
• Selecting, designing, fitting and reviewing retention appliances.
• Adult orthodontics, including periodontal, restorative and TMJ considerations.
• Coordinating orthodontic and restorative treatment, timing and referral.

Learning and mentoring

Alongside lectures and seminars, delegates undertake journal reviews, presentations, group audits and practical work. Live case demonstrations cover planning, staging and sequencing; specialist mentoring follows ten cases from assessment through retention. Digital workflows include in-house aligner production and can be applied across different scanners and aligner brands.

The published attendance blocks are 26–28 November 2026; 11–13 March, 10–12 June and 7–9 October 2027; and 17–19 February and 20–22 April 2028. They form one programme. Entry documentation includes the primary dental degree, regulatory registration and evidence of prior aligner experience where requested.