The key to successful treatment with Invisalign clear aligners is consistency, but with that being said, slip-ups do happen occasionally. Today, our Burnaby dentists discuss what happens when you get off track with your Invisalign treatment and how you can get back on schedule.
Invisalign Treatment
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 occurs when you don't follow your Invisalign treatment schedule?
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.
Each set of custom Invisalign trays is typically intended to be worn for 22 hours per day for two weeks. If you do not wear your aligners frequently enough, your teeth will not move as quickly and will be less likely to keep up with the progression of your treatment.
How can you help get back to your Invisalign treatment schedule?
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:
Inform your dentist of where you are with treatment and what your issues have been
When you notice that you are not on track with your treatment, contact your veterinarian and schedule an appointment to discuss your treatment options. Your dentist will be able to assess your situation and advise you on how to get back on track with your treatment.
You can ask about going back to your old set of aligners
It may be suggested that you return to a previous set of clear aligners before proceeding with the treatment as planned. This is done to ensure that when you switch to your new set, your teeth are in the proper position and treatment can proceed smoothly. Your dentist will advise you on which set to use and for how long.
Adjust your treatment plan to better suit your lifestyle
Your dentist may need to modify your treatment strategy and make a new set of aligners to get you back on track if your previous sets are not fitting properly. The earlier you can schedule an appointment with your dentist, the less likely it is that your treatment plan will need to be significantly revised.
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.