You can never be careful enough with your Invisalign tray, mainly because you need to wear it daily. While this orthodontic treatment offers a discreet and convenient way to straighten teeth, the appliance can crack, get lost, or be damaged.
Losing or cracking your Invisalign aligner is an orthodontic emergency and can be frustrating, especially if you’re nearing a critical stage in your treatment before it happens.
This is why it is essential to have a plan for handling lost or damaged aligners. If you keep reading, you will learn more about Invisalign emergencies in this guide.
What Happens If You Lose Your Aligners?
Here are things you should know if you lose or damage your Invisalign.
Locate Lost Aligners, Fast
When you lose your clear aligners, it could disrupt your treatment, and just thinking about it may cause panic. But rather than wearing yourself out, stay calm and retrace your steps to locate them. If you still do not find them, contact your orthodontist.
Contact Your Orthodontist
If you look everywhere and still cannot find your invisible braces, you need to discuss the loss with your orthodontist. They know the best course of action to take to reduce treatment delays. Finding your aligners quickly is essential, as it keeps your progress on track. But a new tray can sort them out if you cannot see them.
Adjust Your Treatment Plan
Your orthodontist can evaluate your treatment progress and decide on the best next steps, ensuring your treatment stays on track. Depending on the timing, your orthodontist might recommend advancing to the next set of aligners if you lost your Invisalign early in the series. They might also suggest an alternative solution to keep your treatment progressing smoothly. If you were nearing a set change, your orthodontist may need adjustments to ensure a seamless transition and optimal treatment outcome.
What to Do if Your Invisalign Breaks or Cracks
If your clear aligner tray cracks or breaks, you need to call your orthodontist for quick advice on whether to continue using it, switch to the next tray, revert to the previous one, or get a replacement to ensure your treatment stays effective. Your orthodontist will assess the Invisalign and offer suitable options depending on the extent of damage. Here are things you may be asked to do:
Switch to the Next Set of Aligner Trays
If your invisible braces are severely damaged and no longer wearable, you may be advised to move on to the next set of aligners. However, moving to the next tray may result in a more intense adjustment period. So, your orthodontist may suggest this option if your Invisalign breakage occurred near the scheduled switch date in the treatment plan.
Revert to a Previous Tray
If your broken aligner is no longer wearable and you experience a breakage soon after switching trays, you can revert to a previous tray while waiting for a replacement. This temporary adjustment may extend your treatment time, but it is crucial because it helps you get back on track while you wait.
Continue Using the Current Tray
If your aligner has only minor damage, such as worn areas or small, less conspicuous cracks, it may still be wearable. So, you can likely continue using the current tray until it is time for your next scheduled switch. This ensures your orthodontic progress stays on track, with minimal disruption to your treatment plan.
What Causes Invisalign Trays to Break or Crack?
Most fractures in plastic aligners can be attributed to habits, including:
- Single-sided Removal: When a patient carelessly yanks the Invisalign trays out from one side, damaging them.
- Clenching Teeth When the Trays Are Not Properly Seated: This can put pressure on the aligner material, leading to fractures and cracks.
- Exposing Aligners to Heat: Damage will occur to Invisalign if exposed to high temperatures.
- Eating with Aligners in Place: Chewing or biting down on food while wearing your trays can lead to their damage.
- Improper Storage: Your aligner trays can be damaged if you leave them in your pockets or other areas where they can be readily crushed.
Individuals who habitually grind or clench their teeth, often unconsciously, typically during sleep or times of stress, are particularly susceptible to micro-fractures due to the repeated off-axis stress from the constant grinding. Also, patients nearly reaching their final two-week aligner cycle may experience fatigue lines around the high-stress teeth.
Some minor cracks can affect the effectiveness of your aligners by altering the force vectors, which can slow down treatment. So, it is crucial to maintain and monitor the integrity of your aligner throughout the treatment process.
When Can You Call Your Orthodontist About a Broken and Lost Aligner?
While cracking your aligners is not a serious emergency like losing them, they still require prompt attention to prevent setbacks. A small crack on your aligner tray can impact your treatment progress since each tray stage is precisely calibrated to apply targeted pressure in tenth-of-a-millimeter increments, and even minor damage can disrupt this delicate balance.
Your orthodontist should know about your lost aligners as soon as they happen. But if they are cracked or damaged, the aligners undergo assessment to determine your current wear schedule. Your orthodontist will then decide whether you must advance to a new tray, revert to a previous one, or duplicate the existing one.
Generally, it is an Invisalign emergency if:
- You have lost your aligner tray.
- There is a visible fracture or a split along the aligner.
- You can no longer wear your Invisalign for up to 20 hours daily without discomfort.
- Your aligner tray feels loose, has a rocking motion, or has molar lift-off when you bite.
- A sharp edge on your aligner irritates your cheeks, gums, or tongue.
- You are unsure whether to move to the next tray or return to the previous one.
Conclusion
When you encounter any issues with your Invisalign aligners, such as losing or cracking them, it might cause panic. But you can contact your orthodontist for guidance; they will help you get back on track and ensure your treatment stays on schedule. With expert advice, you can confidently handle minor setbacks during orthodontic treatment and enjoy an effective outcome.