While Invisalign clear aligners are designed to be virtually invisible when worn, their transparency makes them a little too easy to misplace at times. Since patients must wear their aligners for at least twenty hours every day to keep their treatment on track, losing one of these dental trays can cause a lot of stress. Here’s a brief guide to handling this situation and ensuring that you can stay on top of the Invisalign process.
Why Do I Have to Wear My Invisalign Aligners So Much?
During orthodontic treatment, the teeth begin shifting back out of alignment as soon as the appliance realigning them is removed. While Invisalign clear aligners are designed to be removable so patients do not need to worry about dietary restrictions or complicated hygiene rituals, failing to wear them for at least twenty hours a day can cause delays in treatment that may result in additional costs.
Immediately Upon Losing Your Invisalign Aligner…
The first thing to do when you realize that your aligner is missing is not to panic. Calmly retrace your steps and check on and around any tables at which you sat. An aligner can fall between couch cushions or seats, or it may even be swept up and thrown in the garbage when people are cleaning up after a meal.
If you cannot find your aligner, call your orthodontist. They may recommend switching back to the previous tray while a new one is manufactured, or they may even tell you to simply move on to the next aligner in the sequence. If you need a new tray, you can pick it up at their office when it is ready.
How Can I Avoid Losing My Invisalign Aligner?
Luckily, it’s not terribly hard to keep your aligners out of harm’s way. Orthodontists recommend only removing your aligners for oral hygiene and when eating or drinking anything but water, and this schedule doesn’t leave many opportunities for your trays to get lost. It’s also a great idea to store your aligners in a small protective case that is easy to clean when they are out of your mouth.
Invisalign is a fantastic way to realign smiles with issues like gaps, crowding, and misalignments. By taking care to ensure that you wear your aligners enough, you can keep your treatment as brief as possible and achieve remarkable results.
About the Author
Dr. Andrew Cote earned his dental degree from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine and became a Spear-trained dentist within the first year of practicing. He is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the Colorado Dental Association. His office in Centennial offers general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry as well as Invisalign treatments. For more tips on keeping up with your Invisalign aligners, contact his office online or dial (303) 224-9400.