If you are going to be having orthodontic treatment using clear aligners then you will need to be prepared to wear them at all times except when eating or drinking. Today, our Delta dentists discuss what happens when you get off track with your Invisalign treatment and how to ensure that you get things back to where they should be.
Treatment with Invisalign Clear Aligners
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment method that is commonly used to alter the appearance of the teeth of teens and young adults. The major appeal of Invisalign is how these clear aligners can fit into your lifestyle—they are discreet and can be removed for eating, drinking, and playing sports. However, it is imperative that you wear your Invisalign clear aligners for no less than 22 hours a day throughout treatment in order to have the desired results.
What happens when you don't follow your Invisalign treatment plan?
If you aren't wearing your Invisalign clear aligners for the required amount of time, you may notice that your aligners aren't fitting as well as they should or that there are gaps between your teeth and the aligners.
Typically, each set of custom Invisalign trays is meant to be worn for 22 hours a day for a period of two weeks. If you aren't wearing your aligners enough, your teeth will not be moving as fast and aren’t as likely to keep up with the progression of your treatment.
What can you do when you don't stay on track with your Invisalign treatment?
Life happens and sometimes you can get off track with your Invisalign treatment, here are some of the easy ways that you can help get yourself back on schedule:
Make sure to keep your dentist updated on how you are doing with your Invisalign treatment
At the first sign that you may not be on track with your treatment, you should contact your vet and set up a visit to discuss your treatment plan. Your dentist will be able to assess your situation and give you advice on how to get back on track with your treatment.
It is possible to go back and redo your last set of aligners if necessary
It may be recommended that you backtrack to a previous set of clear aligners prior to continuing with the treatment as originally planned. This is so that when you switch to your new set your teeth are in the right position and treatment can successfully move forward. Your dentist will tell you which set to switch to and how long you should be wearing it.
Make sure that you work with your dentist to make the treatment work for your life
If your previous sets are not fitting correctly, your dentist may need to revise your treatment plan and create a new set of aligners to get you back on track. The sooner you can see your dentist the better as you will be less likely to need an extensive revision to your treatment plan.
In order to make the most of your treatment and help it succeed you should keep your dentists up to date and continue working with them throughout treatment.