Invisalign® offers a modern, discreet route to straighter teeth using clear, removable aligners instead of traditional metal braces. Treatment is planned with advanced digital tools that map tooth movement from start to finish, so patients can see the intended outcome before the first aligner arrives. For many people in Brooklyn and beyond, this combination of predictability and minimal visual impact makes clear-aligner therapy an appealing choice.
Contemporary clear-aligner systems begin with a detailed digital scan of your mouth. That scan becomes the foundation for a three-dimensional treatment plan that sequences small, controlled movements across a series of custom-made aligners. Each aligner is worn for a prescribed period before being replaced by the next, gently guiding teeth toward their planned positions.
The stepwise nature of the process helps clinicians manage complex movements with more control than one-off adjustments. Treatment plans can incorporate targeted features — such as attachments or precision cuts — to assist specific types of tooth rotation, extrusion, or translation. That technical precision is what allows clear aligners to be effective for a wide range of alignment issues.
Because every step is simulated in advance, patients and providers can review the progression and make informed choices about treatment goals. This predictability helps set realistic expectations and allows your dental team to monitor progress against a clear roadmap as treatment unfolds.
Clear aligners are an excellent fit for many adult patients who want to improve tooth alignment without the aesthetic or lifestyle impact of traditional braces. Motivated teens can also be good candidates when monitored closely by their dental team. In both groups, compliance — wearing aligners as directed — is a key factor in success.
The treatment is capable of addressing a broad spectrum of alignment issues, from mild spacing and crowding to certain bite concerns. However, some highly complex orthodontic cases may still require alternative or adjunctive treatments. Your dentist will evaluate the clinical picture and recommend the most appropriate path.
During the consultation, the team will review oral health, existing restorations, and jaw function to ensure aligners are safe and effective for your unique needs. Clear aligner therapy works best when preceded by healthy gums and a stable dental foundation.
Your pathway begins with an initial consultation and a digital scan or impression. This data is used to craft a custom treatment plan that maps the movement of each tooth and estimates the number of aligners needed. You’ll often see a virtual preview of the projected outcome, which helps you and your provider align on objectives.
Once your first set of aligners arrives, you’ll receive guidance on how long to wear each set and instruction on care and cleaning. Aligners are typically removable for eating and oral hygiene, which simplifies daily maintenance compared with traditional braces. Regular check-ins with your provider ensure the plan is progressing as intended and allow for any refinements.
After the active phase, retention is essential. Your clinician will recommend a retainer strategy to preserve the results and protect your investment in a healthier bite and more confident smile.
Modern aligner systems combine materials engineered for comfort with precision manufacturing that delivers predictable fit and force delivery. Clear thermoplastic materials are designed to be thin yet durable, reducing the chance of irritation while maintaining consistent action on the teeth.
Digital treatment planning enables your provider to visualize complex movements and sequence them intelligently. Small auxiliaries — such as attachments bonded to specific teeth — can increase the range of movements the aligners can perform. This technical flexibility is part of why clear aligners have become a mainstream option for many clinical situations.
Alongside materials and planning, ongoing monitoring supports consistent progress. Your dental team will schedule periodic reviews to confirm fit, track movement, and address any concerns so your treatment remains on course and comfortable.
At the office of Albee Dentalcare, we pair technical expertise with practical guidance to help patients make informed decisions about aligner therapy. Your initial visit focuses on understanding your goals, assessing oral health, and explaining how a digital plan would translate to a real-world timeline and experience.
Throughout treatment, our clinical team emphasizes clear communication and care tailored to your lifestyle. We collaborate with you at each milestone, adjusting recommendations when needed and ensuring you feel confident about daily wear and hygiene routines. Attention to detail — from precise scans to scheduled check-ins — helps deliver predictable results with minimal disruption.
Choosing treatment is a collaborative process. If you’re curious about how clear aligners could work for you, our Brooklyn practice can walk you through the diagnostic steps and what to expect, so you can make a confident decision about moving forward.
We’ll review your concerns, examine your bite, and show you how clear-aligner treatment addresses the issues you want to correct. This is a no-pressure opportunity to learn about the process and ask questions.
Digital scanning and three-dimensional planning allow us to present a visual preview of expected tooth movement. That preview clarifies goals and helps set a clear path forward.
Each set of aligners is fabricated to precise specifications so they fit snugly and deliver gentle, controlled forces. The result is a treatment that prioritizes comfort while guiding tooth movement.
From the first fitting to the final retention stage, your dentist will monitor progress and provide practical tips to maintain oral health and alignment throughout treatment.
*Invisalign® is a registered trademark of Align Technology, Inc.
Ready to learn more about clear-aligner therapy and how it might fit into your smile goals? Contact us for more information and to arrange a consultation with our team.
There are many options for patients who want to avoid metal braces! The most popular alternative orthodontic treatment is Invisalign®, which are clear plastic aligners designed to straighten teeth. After an examination of your teeth, your dentist will determine which option is best suited to your wants and needs.
According to the Invisalign® website, the cost for treatment is approximately the same as the cost for metal braces. A portion of this cost may be covered by your insurance. Please call us to set up a consultation and discuss potential payment plan options.
The first step is to schedule a consultation with your doctor, so they can devise a treatment plan that is best suited to your individual dental needs. Once approved, you will receive your first set of aligners. Your doctor will then regularly monitor the movement of your teeth and new aligners will be ordered according to the progress made in your treatment plan.
Invisalign® aligners are made of clear, flexible plastic. The company received a patent for this material – SmartTrack® – to be used exclusively for Invisalign treatment purposes. These aligners are FDA approved and nearly invisible!
Your doctor will give you an estimate regarding how long your Invisalign® treatment should take, which will depend on your specific needs. The average length of time for treatment is approximately 12-18 months. However, some patients may see results far sooner. Remember to wear your aligners exactly as instructed by your doctor to obtain the best results.
Your doctor will most likely recommend that you wear retainers following your Invisalign® treatment. This is a precaution that will prevent your teeth from shifting back to their original positioning. It is important to follow your doctor's instructions exactly to ensure long-lasting results.
You must wear your aligners for up to 22 hours daily. You may remove them for eating, drinking and regular oral hygiene.
No. Unlike braces, you may eat whatever you like as long as you remove the aligners before eating. Prior to placing the aligners back on, it is important to brush your teeth and the aligners after you eat.
Like any orthodontic treatment, there is a short adjustment period. The more you speak with the aligners on, the quicker you will adjust.
There will be some pressure and minor discomfort for a day or two after each initial insertion. This is a sign that your teeth are moving sequentially into their final position.
It is recommended that you remove your aligners prior to chewing gum as the gum will stick to the aligners.
We discourage smoking with aligners as the cigarette smoke will tend to discolor them.
Brushing them with toothpaste will keep them fresh and clean.
Regular office visits are every five to six weeks. This will ensure that your Invisalign treatment is progressing as planned.
All orthodontic patients are instructed to wear their retainers at night indefinitely. Sleeping with your retainers in at night will ensure a healthy bite and maintain the new position of your teeth.
Yes, if their teeth, including second molars, have grown in completely.
Invisalign is a system of custom-made, clear aligners designed to move teeth gradually into their desired positions. Each aligner in the series is slightly different and applies gentle, controlled forces to specific teeth to achieve planned movements over time. The treatment relies on 3-D digital planning so the clinician can visualize each stage of tooth movement before fabrication begins.
The aligners are removable for short periods, allowing patients to eat normally and maintain oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing. Patients typically switch to the next aligner in the series every one to two weeks as directed by their provider. Regular check-ins with the dental team ensure progress matches the treatment plan and adjustments can be made when necessary.
Many adolescents and adults with mild to moderate alignment issues make good candidates for Invisalign, including those with crowded teeth, spacing problems, and some bite irregularities. A comprehensive evaluation by a dental professional is required to confirm that aligners are an appropriate option, since complex bite corrections may need additional specialized approaches. Orthodontic history, periodontal health, and the presence of restorations or implants are all considered during an assessment.
Healthy gums and adequate bone support are important prerequisites because aligner therapy relies on stable periodontal foundations to move teeth safely. Patients who are committed to wearing their aligners for the recommended daily duration tend to achieve the best results. Your dental provider will outline any complementary treatments or modifications needed to support a successful outcome.
Treatment duration varies based on the complexity of the case, the number of tooth movements required, and patient compliance with wear time. Many straightforward cases complete in about 6 to 12 months, while more involved corrections can take 12 to 18 months or longer. The initial digital treatment plan gives a projected timeline, but that estimate can change if additional refinements or corrections are needed during active treatment.
Consistent daily wear, usually 20 to 22 hours per day, and attending scheduled progress visits are key factors that help stay on track with the projected timeline. If attachments or auxiliaries are used, they are typically managed within the plan to optimize movement efficiency. Your clinician will monitor progress and recommend refinements if tooth movement deviates from the expected sequence.
A consultation begins with a clinical exam and a discussion of your goals, dental history, and any concerns about appearance or function. Modern practices commonly use a fast, precise digital scan or impressions to capture the current tooth positions and bite relationship for treatment planning. The provider then reviews a proposed treatment sequence and may show a visual preview of the expected outcome based on the digital plan.
The consultation also covers practical aspects such as wear schedule, hygiene routines, and the need for periodic follow-up visits to monitor movement. Your clinician will explain what to expect in terms of sensations or temporary speech changes and outline any recommended adjunctive procedures. This appointment is an opportunity to ask questions and ensure the plan fits your lifestyle and expectations.
Daily care for aligners includes rinsing them before reinserting and cleaning them with a soft toothbrush or a manufacturer-approved cleaner to avoid buildup and staining. Avoid hot water, which can warp the plastic, and store aligners in their case whenever they are removed to prevent loss or damage. Brush and floss thoroughly before putting aligners back in to minimize plaque accumulation and reduce the risk of cavities and gum inflammation.
Maintaining regular dental cleanings and periodontal checkups during treatment helps ensure oral health remains stable throughout the process. If minor irritation occurs from an edge or attachment, your dental team can smooth or adjust the area to improve comfort. Promptly report any persistent pain, significant looseness, or broken appliances so that corrective steps can be taken without delaying treatment.
While Invisalign addresses a wide range of alignment issues, it has limitations for certain complex orthodontic problems such as severe skeletal discrepancies, extreme tooth rotations, or large bite corrections that may require traditional braces or surgical intervention. Each patient is evaluated individually to determine whether aligners alone can achieve the desired results or if combined therapies are necessary. The clinician can advise on realistic expectations and alternative approaches when aligners are not the optimal solution.
In some cases, auxiliaries such as attachments, elastics, or staged tooth movements are incorporated into the treatment plan to broaden the scope of achievable corrections. If restorative work or extractions are part of the overall plan, coordination between restorative and orthodontic phases is important for a predictable outcome. Clear communication between patient and provider at the outset helps define achievable goals and timelines.
The standard recommendation is wearing aligners about 20 to 22 hours per day, removing them only for eating, drinking anything other than water, and routine oral care. Aligners are typically changed to the next set in the series at intervals prescribed by the clinician, commonly every one to two weeks depending on the treatment plan. Adhering to the prescribed wear schedule is one of the most important factors that determines how closely the treatment follows the planned timeline.
Clinicians will schedule periodic progress checks to ensure tooth movement aligns with expectations and to provide new sets of aligners or refinements as needed. If a patient falls behind on wear or loses an aligner, the provider will recommend the appropriate next steps to avoid compromising results. Clear communication about daily habits and any issues during wear allows timely adjustments and supports a smooth course of treatment.
Some patients experience a brief adjustment period during which speech may sound slightly different as the tongue adapts to the aligners, but this typically resolves within a few days to a couple of weeks. Because the aligners are low-profile and custom-fitted, many people find day-to-day activities, including work and social interactions, are minimally impacted. Aligners are removed for eating and for certain activities where a mouthguard is preferable, and they do not require the dietary restrictions often associated with fixed appliances.
Minor discomfort or pressure is common after switching to a new aligner but usually subsides within a few days as teeth respond to the planned movement. If you play wind instruments or participate in contact sports, your clinician can offer specific guidance and strategies to manage aligner use during those activities. Most patients find aligners integrate into their routines with only short-lived adjustments.
At Albee Dental Care, the treatment process starts with a thorough examination and digital records, including scans and photographs, to create a precise, individualized plan. The team uses advanced 3-D planning tools to map each stage of tooth movement and to preview the expected outcome prior to beginning aligner fabrication. This detailed approach allows the clinician to identify potential challenges and design a sequence that balances efficiency and biological considerations.
Throughout treatment, scheduled visits are used to evaluate progress, address patient questions, and provide any necessary refinements or additional aligners. The practice emphasizes clear communication about daily wear requirements and oral hygiene to support predictable results. If unanticipated movement occurs, clinicians adjust the plan to maintain alignment goals while protecting periodontal health.
Retention is a critical phase that follows active aligner therapy and is essential for preserving the new tooth positions achieved during treatment. Retainers, which may be fixed or removable, are prescribed based on the individual case and initial stability of the results; adherence to the retention schedule prevents relapse as the surrounding bone and soft tissues adapt. Your clinician will provide specific instructions on wear frequency and duration to maximize long-term stability.
Long-term monitoring, including periodic dental exams and occasional retainer checks, helps identify early signs of movement so that corrective action can be taken if needed. Continued good oral hygiene and routine dental care also contribute to maintaining a healthy environment for the teeth and supporting structures. The dental team will work with you to create a retention plan that fits your lifestyle while protecting the investment of time and effort spent during active treatment.
