Invisalign Clear Braces in Greenwich Village, NYC

The short answer is no. Keith Bracy, DDS does not recommend it.  Contrary to the advice of dentists and orthodontists, using an Invisalign aligner to hold your whitening gel may lead to poor results or be unsafe. Why? Because a clear aligner does not provide the proper seal for whitening gel to stay in the tray. Look closely at the seal of an Invisalign aligner – the aligner usually ends before the gum line and there often isn’t a tight seal between the Invisalign aligner and the tooth due to the rigidity of the Invisalign aligner material. Thus, whitening gel can easily escape the Invisalign aligner and saliva can also enter. Both of these scenarios lead to inconsistent and poor whitening results. Obviously, if gel can escape the Invisalign aligner, it is not able to do its job and can cause burning on the gums or a bitter taste in your mouth. Furthermore, if saliva can enter the Invisalign aligner, it will wash out the bleaching gel and can also degrade the active ingredient very quickly.

If you want to whiten your teeth and you are considering Invisalign, do it the right way! Try KoR Whitening at Keith Bracy, DDS. You will immediately see the difference between a Kor seal tray and an Invisalign aligner. One of the reasons why Kor is considered the most effective whitening system on the market, is because the whitening tray is so well made. Whitening gel cannot escape the Kor seal tray and saliva cannot enter it, thus the tooth is in contact with whitening gel all night, leading to outstanding results. Conversely, an Invisalign aligner was made to straighten teeth, not hold whitening gel against the tooth.

Professional whitening with Kor and Invisalign clear aligner treatment are a popular cosmetic treatment option at our Chelsea Dental office. There is nothing better looking in terms of cosmetic dentistry than white, straight teeth! Professionally whitened teeth that are well-aligned often offer a more natural look than other cosmetic options such as porcelain veneers since you retain your natural teeth. Kor Whitening plus Invisalign is more cost-efficient versus porcelain veneers, depending on how many veneers are needed.

We get it, an underbite is something most patients want to correct in the most non-invasive way. What is an underbite? In the ideal jaw and tooth position, your upper teeth will extend slightly over your bottom teeth. Also, in the ideal facial profile, your lower jaw does not extend out farther than the rest of your face. However, New York patients are not perfect and some of us live most of our lives with a non-ideal tooth or jaw position, known as an underbite. Many underbite patients tell us that they noticed how their lower jaw sticks out more than their classmates in highschool. Others, might have been told by a Greenwich Village dentist that their bite isn’t correct.

So what to do with an underbite? Can Invisalign help? It depends on the cause of your underbite. If your underbite is due to improper teeth position, Invisalign clear aligners can most likely treat it. If your underbite is caused by a skeletal problem such as having an excessively larger lower jaw, a surgical option in conjunction with Invisalign or traditional orthodontics is a better treatment option. The best way to know which the best treatment option for you is to visit your local dentist like Dr. Bracy. In our West Village dental office, we can diagnose your condition and get you the help you need to correct your underbite. If treating your underbite requires surgery or traditional orthodontics, we can refer you to the best specialists in our Chelsea and Greenwich Village community. Many underbites are due to genetics and the earlier in life they are detected and treated, the easier and better the outcomes. So do not delay seeking treatment.

Should I correct my underbite?

The most obvious reason to correct an underbite is esthetic reasons. Improving or reducing the appearance of an underbite can improve your confidence! However, correcting your underbite isn’t just so you will look like the most beautiful person walking down West 12^th Street! It is also for health reasons. Underbites and non-ideal bites can cause excessive wear of teeth and lead to dental problems down the road such as excessively worn or fractured teeth. Having an underbite can also affect your ability to eat and chew properly, affecting your overall health.

Why should I choose Keith Bracy, DDS?

You’ll be happy you chose us for your Invisalign treatment! First, we offer a complimentary consult and scan for Invisalign treatment. We offer personalized, honest dental care in Greenwich Village in our caring dental office. If Invisalign isn’t the best treatment option for you, we will let you know! We utilize the latest dental technologies such as a digital scanner for your treatment. We will match any competitor fees and offer you affordable payment options. You’ll be all smiles with our dental office!

Are you considering Invisalign vs. braces, or perhaps Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club? Dr. Bracy believes in straightforward dental advice to best educate you on your decision. 

Invisalign Pros: 

Clear/Invisible – Much like the name suggests, Invisalign is the invisible option compared to metal braces. NYC professionals feel confident wearing their clear aligners at work.

Comfortable – Clear aligners eliminate metal braces that rub against the gums. Some patients do have some slight discomfort when they start Invisalign, but most adjust very well to the aligners. Dr. Bracy can address these comfort issues very easily with adjustments to the aligners.

Removable – You can take your Invisalign aligners out to eat or for that special date.

Trusted brand – Invisalign is the quality choice with a trusted reputation. The company pioneered clear aligner therapy and invested heavily in its technology. It is not a knock-off brand, and Dr. Bracy can handle any customer services issues with them easily. Check out @invisalign on Instagram to see the results from real Instagram followers.

Technologically Advanced Aligners – Invisalign clear aligners are the only clear aligners with SmartTrack technology that took eight years of research and development. Invisalign aligners also rely on precision attachments optimized for certain tooth movements, which other brands lack.

Personalized Service and Care – Invisalign treatment is done under the care of a dentist or orthodontist. When you choose Invisalign, you have a dental professional overseeing your treatment, providing you with personalized treatment plans and care. If something goes wrong, you don’t have to call a 1-800 number and speak to an operator who can’t see your teeth or problem. You don’t have to worry about taking any impressions or photos yourself. You can be screened properly and told if clear aligner therapy will work for you. If you have other dental conditions that would make clear aligner therapy risky or dangerous, a dentist or orthodontist can let you know. 

Invisalign Cons:

Not Perfect For Every Case – Yes, clear aligner therapy has widely advanced in technology, but it is not perfect. There are still some types of dental malocclusions that are best treated with braces and traditional orthodontics. Honest, straightforward dental care is our mission at our Chelsea, NYC office. If we believe braces or seeing an orthodontist is best for your treatment, Dr. Bracy will let you know.

Patient Motivation – The success of your Invisalign depends on your compliance! You must wear the aligners 22-23 hours a day to see the best results. If you find it difficult to start a new habit or only plan to wear the aligners half the day, the treatment will not work. 

Frequent Brushing – You need to take the Invisalign aligners out to eat or drink. Before you place them back in, you need to make sure your teeth are clean. Some patients find it annoying to brush before placing them back. However, many see the brighter side of this “con” – you’ll be brushing your teeth frequently and also avoiding snacks!

Still debating Invisalign vs. braces? Stop by our New York dental office for a complimentary Invisalign consult and review the pros and cons in person with Dr. Bracy!

Treatment for Invisalign can range from $3,000 to $8,000 depending on the practice location, dentist training and complexity of treatment. For many years, the national average cost of Invisalign has been quoted at $5,000 - $5,500. There are different lengths and case types for Invisalign and this can affect the Invisalign price. Each dental practice sets their own fee for Invisalign. 

The fee for comprehensive Invisalign at Keith Bracy, DDS is $5,500 and this includes 4 sets of Vivera retainers. If you have a more simple case or if your case does require many aligner changes, you may qualify for a lower fee Invisalign. Often dental insurance plans offer a small benefit for this type of orthodontic treatment, while some have no coverage or restrictions. Dr. Bracy's friendly staff is happy to do a complimentary benefits check for you. 

Have you ever seen an Invisalign Groupon or ads on google for very low cost Invisalign treatment? There are many $2999 Invisalign specials online. We would encourage you to not let price be the ultimate deciding factor in your oral care needs and to do your research. Often, the cost of the retainers or additional aligners are not included and can be a surprise bill at the end of your Invisalign treatment.