Invisalign is an incredibly and increasingly popular way to straighten out a misaligned smile because it offers an easier and more comfortable alternative to braces. Each aligner included in your treatment is specially designed to fit snugly over your teeth while exerting the pressure necessary to gradually push them into better positions, but some patients may find some of their appliances to be especially difficult to place on their teeth. Here’s a brief guide to why your appliances may not fit easily and what you can do to remedy this issue.
How Should My Invisalign Clear Aligners Fit?
It can take some time to get used to the feeling of wearing clear aligners when you first start the Invisalign process, but these appliances should fit snugly and smoothly over your teeth from the beginning. While you may experience some tightness when you start wearing an aligner, this is because of the tension exerted to shift your teeth into better positions, and you may even notice empty spaces between your teeth and your appliances disappearing during this process.
Why Isn’t My Invisalign Clear Aligner Fitting Properly?
Some patients may find that one or more of their clear aligners don’t seem to fit properly. For example, the appliances may pop off the back teeth or have difficulty fitting over a particular tooth. These issues can happen for reasons like:
- You’ve started wearing a new set of aligners: When you first start wearing a new aligner, it may need some time to shift your teeth adequately for them to be placed easily.
- You haven’t been meeting your wear time requirement: Keeping Invisalign treatment on track requires patients to wear their aligners for 22 hours daily. If you aren’t meeting this wear time, your teeth may not be properly shifted when it’s time to switch to a new aligner.
- Damaged aligners: While Invisalign clear aligners are incredibly durable, they can be damaged due to factors like the patient wearing them while chewing or warping due to hot water exposure.
How Can I Help My Aligner Fit Properly?
There are a few ways that can make it easier to seat a troublesome aligner on your smile. Some tips include:
- When you put your aligner on your teeth, push it down upon the front teeth first and gradually apply pressure toward the molars until the appliance snaps into place. Afterward, run your thumb across the entire surface of the aligner to seal the connection.
- Use Invisalign chewies. Chewing on these small cylinders for five or ten minutes can help properly seat a stubborn aligner.
- If your dentist recommends it, switching back to your previous aligner may shift your teeth further so you can wear the new one more easily.
- If nothing else works, schedule an appointment with your Invisalign provider.
If you’re having trouble getting your aligner to sit properly on your teeth, the problem should gradually disappear as you wear the appliance more. Meeting your 22-hour wear time while keeping up with proper oral hygiene and appointments with your provider can help your Invisalign treatment stay smooth and comfortable.
About the Author
Dr. Deval Parmar earned her dental degree at the Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and keeps her skills sharp by regularly participating in continuing education coursework. She is proud to serve as a member of the American Dental Association and the Texas Dental Association. Her office in McKinney offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as Invisalign treatments. To learn more about wearing Invisalign, contact her office online or dial (972) 972-4646.