4 Tips to Help You Get Back on Track with Your Invisalign Treatment

Getting a straighter smile has become incredibly convenient with Invisalign treatment in the past few decades. The innovative clear aligners have allowed people of all ages a way to effectively correct misaligned teeth in a way that is virtually undetectable! It has now helped over 5 million people get the smile of their dreams. However, getting your perfected pearly whites can be delayed if you get off course from your Invisalign treatment plan. Here are four tips from your dentist in Grand Prairie to help you get back on track.

Tip #1. Wear Your Aligners for at Least 22 Hours a Day

For your Invisalign treatment to be successful, it is essential to be consistent with the requirements of the plan. The removable aligners add more convenience than traditional braces by not limiting certain foods and cleaning your teeth without metal brackets and wires getting in your way. However, it can be easier to get off track with your plan by losing them or not sticking to the expected hours of wear. To be sure your Invisalign process is not delayed, put your trays safely in a container when eating or drinking something other than water, and be sure to stick with wearing them at 22 hours of the day.

Tip #2. Use Invisalign Chewies

Your clear aligners are custom-made to seamlessly fit along the contours of your pearly whites and gums. This is to ensure they “track” your teeth–moving them gently according to your Invisalign plan. However, sometimes there is a gap between the trays and your teeth, resulting in improper tracking. This can seriously delay your treatment if steps aren’t immediately taken to correct this issue.

Invisalign chewies are soft, flexible rolls of chewable material than can help place your aligners in the proper position. By simply chewing on them for a few minutes after placing your new trays into your mouth, you can ensure that they fit properly over your teeth and keep your progress on track.

Tip #3. Ask Your Dentist About Back-Tracking

Are your new aligners not fitting properly? This could be a result of your previous set failing to move your teeth fully into their expected place in preparation for the new trays. If you think that’s why your teeth aren’t tracking, ask your dentist about “backtracking”. This allows you to wear your previous aligners for an additional week or two to ensure your teeth are moving properly into the desired position.

Tip #4. Consider an Invisalign Treatment Revision

At your initial Invisalign consultation, your dentist will take records of your teeth to create a custom treatment plan to achieve your optimal smile. However, if your teeth are not moving quickly enough or are not progressing according to your Invisalign strategy, a revision can be made to the original plan. New aligners can be made or perhaps Invisalign attachments may be provided to move your teeth into the designated place.

Getting off-track is sometimes a part of life, even with Invisalign. With the help of these tips and assistance from your dentist, your smile can be on the right path as soon as possible!

About the Author

Dr. Heliben Desai and her team at Care 32 Dental of Grand Prairie are eager to help you get your healthiest, most beautiful smile! She earned her dental doctorate from the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in Jersey. By regularly pursuing continuing education and as an active member of several dental associations, she strives to be current with the newest dental technology and techniques. She offers a wide selection of high-quality and comprehensive services, including Invisalign. If you’d like to set up a consultation, visit her website or call 469-837-8351.