What to Do When Aligners Wont Track Properly?

Your Invisalign treatment may seem slow. Or, your orthodontist may be unhappy with progress when seeing the scan results. Your ortho will see progress weekly and can alter the treatment plan or advise you on more efficient use of the aligners. But what are the signs your aligners won’t track properly? Below, we discuss in quick form how to tell your aligners are not doing their job and what to do to fix the issue. Let’s find out.

What do I do if my Invisalign Treatment isn’t Tracking?

It is possible that your Invisalign trays are not positioned correctly. Teeth tracking involves checking that the invisible trays align with the teeth. Symptoms of poor tracking include loose teeth, a gap in the tray between your teeth, and a lack of fitting teeth in the tray.

In addition, it is possible to tell whether your Invisalign treatment is tracking correctly by aligning it to your teeth. Proper tracking can be painful and even cause discomfort.

Why are my Aligners not Fitting?

Have you looked and asked ‘why are my aligners not fitting?’ It could be patient non-compliance. This means the wearer hasn’t adhered to the treatment plan.

Patient Non-compliance Issues

You will find non-compliance will hinder the treatment plan and may even result in a treatment revision. Compliance means doing a set routine around the aligners to properly ensure the maximum efficiency of the aligner trays.

• Clean regularly
• Ensure removal and installation are done gently
• Wear your aligners 22 hours a day
• Keeping aligners safe from loss or breakage
• Always attend routine appointments
• Drink water beverages only while wearing aligners
• DO NOT snack
• DO NOT smoke
• Store the aligner away from sunlight and heat sources

Damaged Invisalign Trays

Heat and aggressive use can damage the aligner trays. This will lead to bad tracking. Be careful to put them back in the case when not using them. Avoid sitting on the case when it is in a pocket.

DO NOT leave the aligners in water other than at a tepid or warm temperature. This will cause warping. Warping leads to bad tracking.

How do I get my Invisalign Back on Track?

Invisalign Chewies are provided by your orthodontist. These are shaped like a cotton roll and are soft. You could chew on these once you put your aligner in your mouth. Give every tooth a bite.  

Is Backtracking a Thing?

Yes. On some occasions backtracking to the last set of aligners used is a good way to get back on track. This means you will wear the aligner for longer than first thought. This can allow for a late tooth movement or ill-fitting teeth to correct themselves.

“ALWAYS SAVE YOUR PREVIOUS ALIGNERS.”

Save your previous set of aligners as a backup in case of anything discussed above. The ortho and Invisalign will have your records on file in any case. For the patient, a revision just means having new impressions taken.

Wear Your Aligners at Least 22 Hours a Day

If you have not worn your aligner for the recommended 22-hour period you may be reversing the treatment. You can’t allow the aligner to move the tooth so your older aligner doesn’t fit properly with them anymore. 

22 hours should be enough time for wearing the aligners. Remove it only for eating or drinking hot drinks and brushing and flossing.

Ask Your Orthodontist For a Treatment Revision

If chewies are not effective for aligning your teeth with aligners, you can ask your orthodontist to review and adjust your plan. Orthodontists are experts and well aware and prepared for any changes that may occur during the time span of treatment.

A treatment revision does not mean treatment is wrong or gone awry. If your aligners are not tracking properly then a revision may take place.

Try a Different Invisalign Provider

If your aligners continue to fail in tracking properly, the last resort may be to seek a different provider for the remainder of treatment. Rare occurrences of failure do happen. 

This may be due to inexperience or lack of training.  Always look for the expertise level of an Invisalign orthodontist.  The logo showing their level will be visible on the site.

Conclusion

We are experts at tracking and what good alignment is. Cotton roll chewies are essential to seat your aligners properly for your advancement in treatment. So is expertise.

joelgluck

Dr. Joel Gluck has practiced orthodontics since 1983 when he opened his own office in Nashville. He earned his undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis, and his dental degree at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Gluck then completed an orthodontic specialty residency at the University of Michigan, one of the top five orthodontic training residencies in the country. He also wrote an original thesis and received a Master of Science degree.