One of the great things about Invisalign is that the aligners are removable. You can therefore eat whatever you want and enjoy an easy oral hygiene routine. However, while removable clear braces are certainly convenient, they also come with the risk that you might lose track of them. Even the most careful individual could find that one of their aligners is suddenly nowhere to be seen! What should you do if that happens to you? Here are some practical steps you can take.
Check the Most Likely Places
It’s easy to wrap your Invisalign tray in a napkin while you enjoy lunch. However, it is surprisingly common for people who do this to accidentally throw their aligner in the trash after their meal, so you might find it beneficial to take a quick look in the garbage can. If you find it, you might be able to give your aligner a thorough cleaning and continue to use it.
A few other places where you might check for your aligner include your bathroom cupboards, storage cubbies in your car, and your purse. Invisalign might get damaged in such places, so if you notice that your aligner is warped, do not try to wear it. Instead, ask your orthodontist for advice on your next steps.
Call Your Orthodontist
If all reasonable efforts to locate your aligner fail, give your orthodontist a call. There are a few possibilities for what they might tell you:
- Go back to wearing a previous aligner. You might be able to use a previous aligner to prevent your teeth from shifting too far out of place while your orthodontist orders a replacement for the one you lost.
- Move on to a new aligner. If you were just a few days away from being able to move onto your next aligner, it might be safe to do so a bit early. You might therefore be able to save yourself the expense of paying for a replacement. However, you should never start wearing a new aligner early unless you have your orthodontist’s explicit go-ahead.
Take Precautions
Sometimes, there is no way to avoid the loss of an Invisalign aligner. However, there are a few practical steps you can take to reduce the chances that it will happen to you:
- Always keep your aligners in their designated storage case when you are not wearing them
- Don’t wrap them in a napkin while you eat
- Do not take them out of your mouth unless you are eating or performing oral hygiene
Don’t panic if you lose an Invisalign aligner. The advice in this blog post can help you get your treatment back on track as soon as possible.
Meet the Practice
Under the leadership of Dr. Amin Mason, Polaris Orthodontic Center offers Invisalign and a number of other advanced treatments. In fact, we are an Invisalign Gold+ Provider. We are always ready to help our patients address questions and concerns about their treatment. If you would like to learn more about Invisalign and what you can expect from it, contact us at 614-781-6990.
