Invisalign is an excellent way to realign a smile without the conspicuous metal parts and dietary restrictions that come with traditional braces. The brand is supported by decades of science and uses the latest in orthodontic technology to help people achieve straighter, healthier smiles. However, it can sometimes be a little difficult to get a new set of clear aligners to fit properly over your teeth. Here’s how to get your clear aligners to fit right when they don’t seem to be cooperating.
How Should My Invisalign Clear Aligners Fit?
While it may take a while to get used to wearing your clear aligners, they should pop into place over your teeth snugly and smoothly from day one. Each clear aligner is specially designed to fit over your teeth while moving them bit by bit into more optimal positions. You may notice some space between your aligners and your teeth when you first start to wear them, but these gaps should disappear by when it’s time to move on to the next set of aligners.
Why Would My Invisalign Clear Aligners Not Fit Properly?
It’s not uncommon to find that your clear aligners keep popping off your molars or that one tooth doesn’t seem to fit properly in them. These issues should resolve themselves as you move further along in the treatment, but your aligners not fitting properly can be a cause for concern in some situations. Here are a few reasons why your clear aligners may not fit well:
- You’ve just switched to a new set of aligners. Each set of aligners is designed to move your teeth a little more into a more optimal position. If you find that your aligners aren’t fitting properly when you move on to a new set, it may be because your teeth haven’t shifted to fit them yet. Give them some time and they’ll fit better as treatment goes on.
- You haven’t been wearing your aligners for 22 hours every day. In order for Invisalign to work properly, the patient needs to wear their aligners as instructed. Failing to do so can delay your treatment and cause a new set of aligners to fit incorrectly because your teeth have not been adequately repositioned.
- Your aligners have been damaged. Washing your aligners in hot water or drinking a hot beverage while wearing them can affect their fit by warping the plastic. Be sure to remove your aligners when drinking anything but water and take care to only wash them at lukewarm temperatures.
What Should I Do If My Invisalign Aligners Aren’t Fitting Correctly?
There are a few tricks to make your aligners fit perfectly. When putting your aligners in place, push them down onto your front teeth first and apply pressure to the aligner as you massage it into place towards your molars. Press your thumbs along the full surface of the aligner to fully snap it in place.
Invisalign is an excellent alternative to traditional braces, and with a little patience, you’ll become an expert at snapping your clear aligners into place. Consulting with your dentist can determine if Invisalign is right for you.
About the Practice
Dentistry for Life provides incredible dental health services to patients in Lancaster, PA. Led by Drs. Jason Herres and Vincent Votilla, the skilled staff ensures that patients receive the best possible outcomes for their dental health. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry in addition to Invisalign treatments. For more information on the Invisalign treatment process, contact the office online or dial (717) 569-3911.