Straightening your smile with Invisalign involves wearing a series of aligners that gradually guide your teeth toward their intended positions. However, sometimes you may switch to a new aligner only to find that it doesn’t seem to fit properly. If this happens, there’s no need to panic; there are multiple steps you can take to resolve the issue and keep your treatment on track. Here’s a closer look at what you should do about an ill-fitting Invisalign aligner.
Use Invisalign Chewies to Push the Aligners Onto the Teeth
It’s actually normal for new aligners to feel tight when you first start wearing them. In many cases, you can ensure they’re seated properly by using Invisalign chewies. These are small, soft cylinders that can bite down on to gently push your aligners onto your teeth. After biting down on the chewies for about 5 to 10 minutes, your aligners should be in their proper position.
Make Sure You’re Wearing Your Aligners for 20 to 22 Hours a Day
Invisalign aligners can only do their job properly if you keep them in your mouth for most of the day. If you don’t wear your current set of aligners enough, then your teeth won’t move as much as intended, making it more likely that the next set won’t fit properly.
As such, if you want to ensure your aligners fit as well as possible throughout your treatment, you need to make a point of wearing them for 20 to 22 hours a day at a minimum. You should only take them out of your mouth for oral hygiene purposes or when you’re about to eat or drink anything besides water.
Ask About Wearing a Previous Set of Aligners
If you simply can’t get your aligners to fit even after using chewies, it’s possible that your teeth may not be in the right positions yet. In this situation, the best option may be to go back to wearing the previous set of aligners for a while until your teeth are where they need to be. Of course, you should only backtrack to a previous set of aligners if your dentist says it’s okay to do so.
Talk to Your Dentist About Revising Your Treatment Plan
Sometimes, if you can’t get your aligners to fit no matter what you try, you may need to talk to your dentist about making adjustments to your treatment plan. Your teeth may be moving more slowly than expected, or another complication may have occurred. Once your dentist has identified what went wrong, they can revise your treatment and give you new aligners.
It can be worrying to realize that your Invisalign aligners don’t fit as they should, but if you follow the right steps, you should be able to get back on the path toward the straighter smile that you deserve.
About the Author
Dr. David Salibian is a graduate of the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He has previously taught at Tufts as well as the Forsyth Dental Hygiene School. At EyeSmile Dentistry and Optometry of Belmont, he is proud to provide Invisalign to patients who want to straighten their smiles without having to rely on noticeable metal braces. If you’re thinking of getting clear aligners to correct your crooked or crowded teeth, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Salibian by visiting his website or calling (617) 484-7869.