Invisalign is one of the best options for straightening and correcting crooked smiles; the trays seemingly work like magic to shift teeth into their proper positions. However, if you’re an Invisalign patient, you might encounter instances when your aligners don’t seem to be fitting properly. Here’s what can cause this to happen and how you need to address the issue.
What Can Cause My Invisalign Aligner to Not Fit Properly?
Invisalign aligners might not always feel like they fit perfectly at first, but they’ll become more comfortable as you make your way through treatment. But in some cases, ill-fitting aligners may be cause for concern. Here are a few things that might cause your trays to not fit properly:
- You’re wearing a brand-new set of aligners, which represents progress in your treatment journey.
- You’re not wearing your aligners for 22 hours a day; your teeth won’t be able to move as intended and won’t match up with your aligners as you advance to new sets of trays.
- Your aligners have sustained damage or become disfigured, and it’s causing them to fit improperly.
What Should I Do to Address Ill-Fitting Aligners?
Fortunately, there are a few ways to ensure that your Invisalign aligners fit exactly as they should. When you put them in, push them down over the front teeth first and then apply pressure to the molars until they snap into place. Then use your thumbs to press along the entire surface of the aligners to fully seal them over your teeth. If your aligner isn’t quite fitting over one tooth, it usually means there’s a gap between it and the tooth.
You might also consider using Invisalign chewies; these are small cylinders that are commonly used to help people get accommodated with their trays. You simply bite on them for a few minutes and the pressure helps shift the aligners into the correct position over the teeth. These are also a great option for when you’re getting a new set of trays.
If you’re unable to address ill-fitting aligners yourself, you need to contact your dentist as it might be a sign that your treatment plan could need slight revision. Invisalign is meant to help your smile, but the trays can’t do their job if they don’t fit precisely as intended!
About the Practice
The team at Transcendent Smiles has proudly served patients and families in the Millersville, MD area for several years under the leadership of Dr. Vy Tran. Dr. Tran received her dental doctorate from the University of Maryland at Baltimore and is a member of several professional organizations including the American Academy of Clear Aligners. If you have any questions about Invisalign or would like to schedule a visit, you can contact the practice online or over the phone for additional assistance: (410) 729-9090.