Starting a new treatment plan with Invisalign® can be incredibly exciting. If you have been struggling with dental insecurities for a while, Invisalign clear aligners could be your ticket to a straighter and brighter smile. However, you might experience some road bumps along the way. For instance, the aligners might not track properly with your teeth. Improper tracking occurs when small gaps form between your teeth and the Invisalign trays.
It’s not the end of the world if your Invisalign is not tracking. There are numerous steps you can take to seat your aligners properly. Check out our quick guide to fixing Invisalign tracking issues now!
How to Make Sure Your Invisalign is Properly Tracking
Your Invisalign trays should fit closely to your teeth
If you notice a gap between your teeth and Invisalign trays, this means they may not be tracking correctly. Invisalign trays should fit snugly over your teeth.
Thanks to their clear material, Invisalign trays easily blend in with the rest of your teeth. And unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign does not drastically affect the appearance of your smile. By gradually moving your teeth into a new position, Invisalign aligners can help you achieve the smile of your dreams.
They are also removable, which makes it easy to eat almost any food you want. But you need to make sure you are wearing your aligners at least 22 hours a day and following your treatment plan. Otherwise, you might experience tracking issues with your aligners.
To ensure they are tracking correctly, make sure your aligners are:
- Completely fixed to the teeth — they aren’t rocking or loose
- Fitted perfectly with the edge of your teeth and do not have any large gaps
- Appropriately seated over the teeth
You will also want to make sure any Invisalign attachments you’re wearing are adequately engaged. If you notice small gaps between your teeth and your aligners, you will need to take some extra steps to help them fit more snugly to your teeth.
Why Your Invisalign is Not Tracking
There are many possible reasons as to why your Invisalign isn’t tracking
Improper tracking can be caused by switching your trays out too early or not wearing them enough.
There are a number of possible reasons behind why your Invisalign trays are not tracking. As we mentioned earlier, wearing your trays at least 22 hours a day is crucial. Otherwise, your teeth will start to shift back to their original positions. If you have teeth that move slower than the others or teeth that are colliding with each other, you may experience tracking issues.
Teeth That Move at Different Paces
When creating your treatment plan, your orthodontist will use a sophisticated computer model to help account for common variables. However, they cannot predict individual differences that you exhibit during your treatment. For instance, if you have some teeth that are more stubborn than others, this can impact the movements of other teeth.
Colliding Teeth
Sometimes, Invisalign trays can cause your teeth to bump into each other. This can negatively affect your aligners’ ability to track with your teeth. To fix this, your orthodontist may perform an interproximal reduction or IPR. This procedure gives your teeth more room to move.
Top 4 Solutions for Fixing Invisalign Tracking Issues
If your Invisalign is not tracking correctly, you can try these 4 simple solutions
In some cases, patients have had to undergo Invisalign treatment revisions. But in less severe cases, people can try Invisalign chewies or temporarily use their old trays to fix any tracking issues.
No one wants to deal with prolonged or delayed treatment. That’s why we’re offering 4 tips for helping you seat your aligners and get back on schedule!
1. Practice Chewing Exercises
Performing chewing exercises is a simple and easy way to help seat your aligners. You can use Invisalign chewies to apply pressure to your trays when you are on the go.
Grooves in Invisalign chewies can fit comfortably between your top and bottom trays. Using gentle pressure, you can chew on them to help seat your trays. Repeating this process over time can also help reduce any discomfort associated with wearing Invisalign.
2. Wear Your Aligners for at Least 22 Hours a Day
Some people avoid wearing their aligners for the prescribed period of time because they have gotten gross. To avoid this issue, you should soak your trays at least once a day. Rinsing your trays both before and after putting them in can also help keep them fresh and clean. You should also brush and floss your teeth before putting your aligners back in.
3. Treat Soreness With Cold Foods
Switching to a new set of trays can be uncomfortable. To mitigate any pain or discomfort from wearing Invisalign, you can suck on some ice cubes or treat yourself to a bowl of ice cream (without your trays in, of course!).
4. Switch Back to an Old Tray
If necessary, you can switch back to an old tray. Patients may switch to old trays if they are dealing with extremely poor tracking issues. If you aren’t sure if you should switch, you can check with your orthodontist or provider.
Dealing with Invisalign tracking issues can be a pain. When things don’t go according to plan, it can be tempting to get stressed out and frustrated over the situation. Luckily, most Invisalign tracking issues can be solved with a few minor adjustments and by chewing on some Invisalign chewies when you want to help them fit snugly on your teeth.
Source: “Is Your Invisalign Not Tracking? Try This,” Movemints Blog