To successfully straighten your smile with Invisalign, you will need to wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours each day. Usually, you’ll switch to the next aligner in the series every two weeks – but what if you lose your current aligner before then? It can be easy to panic, but it’s important to stay calm so you can take the appropriate steps to deal with the situation. Here’s what you should do if you lose one of your Invisalign aligners.
Dealing with a Lost Invisalign Aligner
Obviously, your first course of action should be to try and find the aligner. Retrace your steps carefully and look anywhere it could possibly be, such as your pocket or the table at the last place you ate. If the aligner is truly lost, you should reach out to your dentist to let them know what happened.
Depending on how long you have already worn the aligner in question, your dentist will suggest a specific course of action. If it was almost time to move on to the next one in the series, it might be okay for you to simply make the switch early. But if you just started wearing the aligner, your dentist may instead recommend going back to the previous one to keep your teeth in place until a replacement can be created.
Will Losing an Invisalign Aligner Disrupt Your Treatment?
Sometimes losing an Invisalign aligner may cause the treatment to take longer than normal. This is especially the case if you go several days without wearing an aligner at all or if you move on to the next set without making sure it’s okay with your dentist first. As such, you need to get in touch with your dental office as soon as possible so that the issue can be appropriately addressed.
How Can You Keep Track of Your Invisalign Aligner?
Obviously, it would be best for your smile if you never lost your aligners at all. Here are a few tips that can help you keep track of them:
- Leave your aligners in your mouth as much as possible. Only remove them when you need to, such as during meals or to brush your teeth.
- When eating, never put your aligners on the table, your plate or tray, or on a paper towel; it can be all too easy for them to get thrown away on accident.
- Keep the case for your aligners with you at all times. That way, you can always store them safely whenever you have to take them out.
If you do lose an Invisalign aligner, don’t panic. As long as you are proactive about taking the appropriate steps, you should be able to resolve the situation and keep yourself on course toward a straighter smile.
About the Author
Dr. Michael Young studied at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and he holds membership with the Michigan Dental Association. His practice, Forever Young Dentistry of Sterling Heights, offers many services, including Invisalign as a solution to patients who want to straighten their smiles. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Young, visit his website or call (586) 315-4176.