Invisalign & Orthodontics
Clear aligners and traditional braces for teens and adults.
What to expect in your first visit
Your first appointment is a 60-minute consultation with our orthodontist. We take full digital impressions using an iTero scanner, photograph your smile, and spend time understanding what you want to change. You leave with a preview of your projected outcome and a written treatment plan, including timeline and cost.
Clear aligners (Invisalign)
Invisalign is our most common treatment. Custom-fabricated clear trays are worn 22 hours a day and replaced every one to two weeks. Most adult patients finish in 9 to 12 months. We monitor progress in-office every six weeks and remotely between visits.
Traditional braces
For complex malocclusions, vertical corrections, or specific orthognathic cases, traditional fixed braces remain the right tool. We use self-ligating brackets that reduce appointment frequency and overall treatment time.
Retention and long-term stability
Every completed orthodontic case includes clear retainers and a long-term retention protocol. Without retention, tooth positions will always regress. We make the retention plan as rigorous as the active treatment.
When orthognathic coordination is needed
A small percentage of adult cases require coordination with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for jaw-position correction. We work closely with three surgeons in Manhattan and Brooklyn. If your case is a surgical candidate, we tell you at the consultation, not after you have committed to orthodontics alone.
Working with teens and adolescents
About 30 percent of our orthodontic caseload is teens. We work directly with parents on treatment planning, payment, and scheduling around school hours. Most teen cases use Invisalign Teen aligners with compliance indicators, though some benefit more from traditional braces for mechanical reasons.
The details other practices skip.
- 1.Every consultation is with Dr. Kassar herself, not a treatment coordinator
- 2.3D ClinCheck simulation shown at the consultation, not after you commit
- 3.Remote monitoring replaces two-thirds of routine progress visits
- 4.Retention included in the treatment fee with 5-year follow-up built in
What the full timeline looks like.
Consultation
60 minutes. Digital scan, photography, bite analysis, and written plan.
Records
30 minutes. Panoramic x-ray, cephalometric imaging, and detailed case workup.
Delivery
45 minutes. First set of aligners or bracket placement. Wear schedule and cleaning protocols reviewed.
Progress
20 minutes every 6 weeks. Progress check, new aligners delivered, or adjustments made.
Retention
45 minutes. Retainer fitting, retention protocol, and long-term maintenance schedule.
What your fee actually includes.
iTero 5D Plus intraoral scanner
Full digital impressions in 3 minutes with no goop. Cavity detection during scanning.
ClinCheck outcome simulation
See your projected final smile before you commit to treatment.
Dental Monitoring remote check-ins
Scan from home between visits. Fewer trips, faster adjustments.
How it plays out in practice.
Situation · Mild crowding and a rotated canine. Wanted a minimally visible option during a career transition.
Outcome · Invisalign, 22 aligners over 11 months. Two remote-monitoring check-ins replaced four in-office visits.
Situation · Deep bite, moderate crowding, and prior orthodontic relapse from a teenage case.
Outcome · Invisalign with button attachments and elastics. 16 months. Retention plan includes nightly retainer for life.
Situation · Severe malocclusion requiring extractions and vertical correction. Surgical consult recommended.
Outcome · Traditional self-ligating braces, 24 months, coordinated with oral surgeon. No surgery needed in the end.
How long does Invisalign take?
Most adult cases complete in 9 to 14 months. Simpler cases finish in 6 months. Complex cases involving significant tooth movement or bite correction may take 18 to 24 months.
Is Invisalign more expensive than traditional braces?
At Meridian, pricing is comparable. Invisalign ranges from $4,800 to $7,200 depending on complexity. Traditional braces range from $4,200 to $6,800. The case determines the right treatment, not the price.
Will I need to wear a retainer forever?
Nightly for life, yes. Teeth want to move. Even perfectly completed orthodontic work will regress without a retention protocol. We include retainers in the treatment fee and replacement retainers are $120 each.
Talk to us about invisalign & orthodontics.
Complimentary consultation. One hour with a clinical director, imaging, and a written treatment plan.