Losing an Invisalign aligner can be surprisingly stressful. After all, those trays are an important part of your orthodontic treatment, and you don’t want one missing tray to throw your progress off track.
The good news? Losing an aligner doesn’t necessarily mean your treatment is ruined. There are steps you can take to protect your progress and get your treatment back on track. The most important one is to contact your dentist or orthodontist as soon as possible.
Don’t Panic
First things first: take a breath! Losing an aligner happens, and your orthodontic team has likely helped other patients deal with the same situation.
Your teeth are gradually moving according to your personalized treatment plan, so the best solution depends on where you are in that plan and how long you’ve been wearing the missing tray. Your dentist or orthodontist can tell you what to do based on your specific circumstances.
Contact Your Dentist or Orthodontist
As soon as you realize your aligner is missing, call your dentist or orthodontist. Don’t simply wait until your next scheduled appointment.
Your provider may recommend wearing your previous aligner, moving ahead to your next aligner, or having a replacement tray made. The right choice can vary depending on your treatment plan, how well your teeth have adapted to the current tray, and how long the aligner has been missing.
Following professional instructions is important because switching trays without guidance could interfere with your planned tooth movements.
What If You Still Have Your Previous Aligner?
If you’ve kept your previous aligner, don’t throw it away when you move on to a new tray. It may come in handy if you lose a current one.
Your orthodontist may recommend temporarily wearing the previous tray to help prevent your teeth from shifting while you wait for further instructions. However, don’t assume that wearing the old tray is always the correct solution. Check with your dental team first.
What If You Have the Next Aligner?
You may be tempted to immediately move on to your next aligner if you have it available. Sometimes that may be an appropriate option, but it isn’t something you should decide on your own.
Your next tray is designed to make the next stage of planned tooth movement. If your current aligner hasn’t been worn long enough, your teeth may not be ready for the next stage.
That’s why a quick call to your dentist or orthodontist is so important. They can let you know whether to continue with your previous tray, begin the next one, or take another approach.
Keep Your Aligner Case Handy
Once you’ve dealt with the immediate problem, take a few simple steps to make another lost aligner less likely.
When you’re eating or drinking anything besides water, place your aligner in its protective case rather than wrapping it in a napkin. Napkins can easily end up in the trash along with the tray!
It’s also helpful to keep your case with you whenever you’re away from home. Building this habit can make it much easier to keep track of your aligners throughout treatment.
Don’t Try to Fix It Yourself
Avoid attempting to reshape, trim, glue, or otherwise modify an aligner that is damaged or doesn’t fit properly. A damaged tray may not move your teeth as intended, and DIY adjustments could make the situation worse.
Instead, contact your orthodontic team and explain what happened. They can determine the safest way to continue your treatment.
Stay Calm and Call Your Orthodontist
A missing Invisalign aligner is inconvenient, but it doesn’t have to derail your entire treatment. Contact your dentist or orthodontist as soon as possible, follow their instructions, and avoid making changes to your aligner schedule without professional guidance.
The sooner your orthodontic team knows what happened, the sooner they can help you determine your next step.
Losing a tray may be frustrating, but with a little help from your orthodontic team, you can get back to working toward your new smile.
About the Practice
Serenity Orthodontics provides personalized orthodontic care for patients seeking healthier, more confident smiles. The practice offers Invisalign treatment as a discreet option for gradually improving tooth alignment. We create individualized treatment plans and supports patients throughout each stage of their orthodontic journey.
Call us at (678) 879-3006 or schedule your appointment online.
