What To Do If You Lose Your Invisalign O’Fallon, MO

Wearing the Previous Aligners vs. Moving to Next Pair

Once replacement aligners are requested, our team will review the situation and current state of the patient's progression and instruct them to either wear the previous aligners or advance to the next trays in their set. It is crucial that the patient continuously wear aligners to prevent teeth from regressing, whether that results in back-tracking or fast-tracking their treatment.

Replacement aligners can delay treatment time by one or two weeks, but wearing aligners, even a previous set, helps keep teeth confined and reduces overall delay. Therefore, those who wear a previous or consequent aligner during the waiting period experience decreased discomfort and easier transition when wearing their new pair.

Going Without Aligners

Patients who have undergone the first stage(s) in their treatment plan have initiated the movement of the teeth, which causes both tension and pressure to the teeth, gums, and mouth. Removing the aligners releases the tension and pressure provided to allow movement and positioning. The PubMed journal of natural science, biology, and medicine reports that “relapse is an unwanted change... changes take place shortly after the removal of the active appliances, during the period of post-treatment ‘settling,’ or over a period of years.” Even removing the aligners for a few hours per day can cause the teeth to relapse.

Treatment plans are curated based on predicted teeth movement over time, as well as anticipated patient cooperation. According to the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, "Adherence to a prescribed treatment modality is of utmost importance in ensuring successful therapy. Lack of adherence can reduce the effectiveness of the best treatment plan and the most promising treatment mechanisms." Since aligners are self-applicable, orthodontists may be unaware of their patients' actual wear time, making it difficult to monitor progress.

Although common, misplacing aligners may cause slight back-tracking when continuing with previous aligners or waiting on replacements. A one-time loss should not cause any detrimental effects on the patient's progression or overall outcome. Multiple interferences, however, will likely alter the treatment plan altogether or cause adverse effects.

The Importance of not Misplacing Aligners

Misplacing or going without aligners more than once throughout the treatment can significantly impact the overall outcome of a patient's teeth positioning and bite.

A major difference between fixed appliances (braces) and clear aligners is patient compliance, as results depend greatly on a patient's adherence to all given instructions without frequent check-ups. The National Institutes of Health study revolving treatment outcomes of tooth positioners concludes that "treatment revolves around the cooperation of the patient, and as the tooth position settles and adjusts in the mouth, sore spots might occur in the gums. Maintenance of oral hygiene and the appliance is tedious for the patient as it requires continuous use." Due to this, uncooperative patients may not achieve their desired results or cause unexpected damage to other parts of their mouths.

Apart from differing treatment outcomes, misplacing aligners can be costly. Because aligner trays are customized for patients at each stage in their plan (teeth shift and settle throughout treatment), replacements are made at the time of order. Essentially, we re-examine the patient to check for any changes and give them a brand new aligner reflective of the exam. This may result in the patient paying for the extra aligners as well as delaying the overall treatment time.

Avoiding Loss or Breakage

Invisalign treatment usually comes with two cases for safekeeping and easy placement when eating, drinking, or brushing teeth. To avoid losing the aligners, keep a case handy at all times and place them in the case any time they are not in use. It is much easier to forget the aligners if left out on a table, napkin, or food tray.

Invisalign offers various accessories to prevent loss and damage, including unique cases, cleaning crystals, and cleaning kits. The specialized cleaning tools keep the aligners clean, hygienic, clear, all while removing plaque in as little as 15 minutes.

It is also important to clean out the aligners daily with lukewarm water and a sterile mouthwash to maintain their durability. Teeth should be brushed and clean before placing the aligners back in, especially after eating or drinking.