Invisalign Clear Aligners in Midtown Manhattan

Who Invisalign can help

Clear aligners can correct many common alignment problems, including:

• crowded or overlapping teeth
• gaps between teeth
• an overbite, underbite or crossbite, depending on how severe it is
• an open bite, where the front teeth don't meet when you close
• teeth that have shifted since earlier braces

Invisalign suits people who want a discreet option and will wear their aligners as directed, since results depend on it. If you have cavities or gum disease, we treat those first, because teeth and gums should be healthy before they are moved. Severe bite problems involving the position of the jaws usually need a different approach, and we'll explain that if it applies to you.

Straightening is sometimes one part of a larger plan. Moving teeth into better positions before veneers or a dental implant can create the right amount of space and help the final work fit and look better.

What Invisalign treatment involves

Invisalign is a brand of clear aligner system. Each aligner is a thin, clear plastic tray made to fit your teeth closely. Every set is shaped slightly differently from the one before, so it moves certain teeth a small, planned distance. You change to the next set on the schedule we give you, usually every week or two.

Treatment is planned on a computer from a 3D record of your teeth. The plan maps how each tooth should move, stage by stage, and sets the number of aligners you'll need. Two details often help the aligners do their job:

• Attachments. Small, tooth-colored bumps bonded to some teeth give the aligners something to grip, so they can guide harder movements. We remove them when treatment ends.
• Making space. In some cases, a very small amount of enamel is polished from between teeth so they have room to line up.

Our practice is a Platinum Invisalign Provider for 2025 and was a Gold Invisalign Provider in 2024. These are tiers in Invisalign's provider program, not contest awards, and no tier can predict how an individual treatment will turn out.

Benefits and what to expect

Patients often choose Invisalign for practical reasons:

• Discreet. Clear aligners are hard to notice in everyday conversation.
• Removable. You take them out to eat, drink, brush and floss, so there are no foods to avoid and no brackets to clean around.
• No metal. Smooth plastic is gentler on your cheeks and lips than brackets and wires.

Aligners still take commitment. Invisalign's guidance is to wear them 20 to 22 hours a day, taking them out only to eat, to drink anything other than plain water, and to clean your teeth. Some people notice a slight change in their speech for the first few days.

You'll also come in for check-ins so we can confirm your teeth are moving as planned. Our evening hours on Mondays and Thursdays and our Sunday hours can make visits to our Madison Avenue office easier to fit around work. The final result depends on your starting point and on how consistently you wear the aligners, and we'll talk about realistic goals at your consultation.

How Invisalign works, step by step

1. Consultation and exam. Dr. Avner examines your teeth, gums and bite, asks what you'd like to change and tells you whether aligners are a good fit. We take X-rays if they're needed.
2. Records. We take photos and a 3D record of your teeth, using a digital scan or impressions, which your aligners are made from.
3. Your treatment plan. We plan the tooth movements stage by stage and go over the plan with you, including the expected number of aligners. A plan is a guide, not a guarantee of the final result.
4. First fitting. When your aligners arrive, we check the fit, place any attachments and show you how to put in, remove and clean your aligners.
5. Wearing and switching. You wear each set as directed and move to the next one on schedule. Keep your previous set as a backup in case an aligner is lost or damaged.
6. Check-ins. Regular visits let us see how your teeth are tracking. If some teeth lag behind, additional aligners can be made to fine-tune the result.
7. Retainers. When active treatment ends, you wear a retainer to hold your teeth in their new positions. Without one, teeth tend to drift back.