Invisalign is an excellent way for many people with mild to moderate misalignments to straighten out their teeth without the irremovable metal parts and frustrating dietary restrictions that come with traditional braces. While losing an Invisalign clear aligner can delay your treatment, your dentist will be happy to provide an appropriate solution to help keep your orthodontic process on track. Here’s a quick guide to how you can keep track of your aligners and what to do if you cannot find your appliance.
How Does Invisalign Straighten Teeth?
Invisalign straightens out a smile using a customized sequence of clear aligners designed to fit snugly over the patient’s teeth and exert the constant pressure necessary to shift them into healthier positions. The patient will need to wear their aligners for at least twenty hours each day and thoroughly brush and floss each time before putting them back in, so it’s best to only remove your appliances for meals and oral hygiene sessions.
How Can I Keep Track of My Invisalign Clear Aligners?
Since Invisalign aligners are transparent, it can be quite easy for them to be lost or thrown away by mistake, and they are often accidentally discarded due to being placed on the table while the patient is eating. To prevent this, it’s best to keep your aligners in a clean, rigid, strong, and easily visible case that can be kept in your pocket when not wearing them. It’s also a great idea to keep your appliances away from curious pets and small children.
What if I Lose My Invisalign Clear Aligner?
The loss or destruction of an Invisalign clear aligner is not the end of the world, but it will be crucial to contact your dentist to receive further instructions. Depending on how long you wore the lost aligner, your dentist may recommend simply switching to the next appliance in your sequence and continuing the treatment normally or reverting the previous one while a new aligner is being manufactured. Adhering to your dentist’s treatment instructions is the best way to keep your realignment process smooth and complication-free.
Don’t let the loss of your aligner make you give up on straightening out your smile. Knowing when to seek help from your dentist can help you keep your realignment process on schedule.
About the Author
Dr. Jeffrey Skupny earned his dental degree at the University of Florida College of Dentistry in 2007 and is a past president of the Collier County Dental Association. He is proud to be a current member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the International Team for Implantology. His office in Naples provides general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as Invisalign services. If you have lost an aligner, dial (239) 261-5566. For non-urgent inquiries, please contact the office online.