It’s time to move on to the next set of trays in your Invisalign treatment, but your teeth don’t seem to line up with your aligners. Wearing clear aligners requires a significant time commitment, effort and money. When the treatment gets off track, there can be many different causes, but rest assured that the progression of your treatment is important to both you and your dentist. Here are 4 reasons your Invisalign may be off and how you can get your treatment back on track.
You’re Not Wearing Them Enough
Having the ability to take your aligners out can make it difficult to comply with the 22 hours of daily wear time. Taking them out for those two “optional” hours each day can actually cause trouble. Those small increments of time can leave your teeth crooked and cause the need for refinements and corrections in the middle of your treatment. Luckily, there are apps that you can download to your cell phone to help you stay on track. Some apps have a timer that tracks your “not wearing” time and a reminder function to help you remember to put them back in. There is also a “smart” retainer case that has an app to make your wear time much more manageable.
Your Teeth Collide During Treatment
Clear aligners can create a crowding effect in your mouth. When teeth collide during treatment, your dentist will likely resolve it using a procedure called interproximal reduction (IPR), which is typically performed in the office. During an IPR, your dentist will reshape your teeth to keep them from colliding. It is a very safe and effective way to make room for your teeth to be straightened.
You Don’t Do Your Chewing Exercises
Invisalign creates orthodontic tooth movement that gradually pushes your teeth into their new positions. Every time you swallow or clench your teeth, your trays tighten and your molars shift. Your front teeth require a bit more coaxing. Enacting the recommended chewing exercises 3 to 5 times each day for 3 to 5 minutes each time helps give them that extra motivation to move. Without these exercises, your teeth will remain crooked and cause a setback in your treatment.
Individual Differences
The computer used to design your orthodontic plan typically accounts for common variables in your treatment and predicts the individual differences that occur as your body reacts to it. Unfortunately, some teeth can be a bit more stubborn than others. If they don’t move as the plan predicts, it can cause negative impacts on the expected movement of your other teeth. If your stubborn teeth are hindering your process, your dentist may apply Invisalign attachments or buttons to them and insert rubber bands that will give them more encouragement to move in accordance with the plan.
If you run into any of these issues, it’s not the end of the world. Your journey to a straight, beautiful smile is a process. A few adjustments along the way may add some extra time to your treatment, but in the end, you will have the smile you’ve always wanted.
About the Practice
Drs. Steven Crovatto and Megan Edwards enjoy working together to provide their patients with comprehensive dental care. Their services include everything from preventive dentistry to cosmetic dentistry and Invisalign treatments. If your teeth aren’t tracking with your treatment or you are interested in straightening your smile, contact the office at (904) 272-0800 or visit the website to schedule a visit today!