Have you recently begun your Invisalign treatment and found that your new trays aren’t fitting quite right? Don’t worry! It doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with your aligners. Sometimes a new set of aligners need a little adjusting before they fit perfectly.
Each set of Invisalign clear aligners is custom-made to guide your teeth along their gentle journey to healthy alignment. But sometimes your teeth may move more slowly than anticipated during your treatment— especially at the beginning. Dr. Caudill and Dr. McNeight want you to experience a comfortable and successful treatment so we’ve compiled an Invisalign adjustment guide for you!
Here’s a few common Invisalign fit concerns and tips to help you easily adjust your aligners for a proper fit.
How Should Invisalign Fit?
Your Invisalign trays should fit snugly over your teeth without any gaps. Not too tight and not too loose isn’t just the perfect fit for Goldilocks but also for your aligners! When you receive your first set of aligners, our experienced orthodontists will also give you the information and tools you need to ensure a proper fit for each set of your aligners.
If Your Invisalign Feels Loose or Too Tight
Chewies are a great tool to help properly “seat” or fit your aligners in place, whether your Invisalign tray is not tight or is too tight. Simply place your Invisalign trays over your teeth and bite down on these small spongy cylinders. These chewing exercises will remove any air bubbles between your teeth and aligners. Make sure you move the chewies along each section of your aligners! If your Invisalign tray is not fitting on one particular tooth, give that tooth extra chew-time each day.
We recommend you use chewies in the morning and at night for about 5 to 10 minutes. Invisalign chewies can also help stimulate tooth movement and offer relief from discomfort.
If Your Invisalign is Not Fitting on One Tooth
Another common problem is when your Invisalign is loose on your back molar! Simply, remove your tray and bend the back of your tray up or down towards your teeth. Don’t worry about possibly breaking your aligner when you do this simple adjustment. Invisalign trays are made of medical-grade plastic that’s very flexible. Watch here as Dr. McNeight demonstrates how to fix these “bouncy trays”:
[Embed Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3kh6uCmzqU ]
How to Tell if Invisalign is Working
There’s two ways to tell if your Invisalign is working:
- You have excellent teeth tracking
- Your smile starts to transform
You may often hear the term “tracking” when Invisalign treatment is discussed. Teeth tracking just means checking to see how well your aligners align with the top and bottom of your teeth. If your aligners look like they’re shrink-wrapped to your teeth that’s considered excellent tracking. This means there’s no gaps between your teeth and aligners and they sit flush to the line of your gums.
Although the average Invisalign treatment length is 12 to 18 months, you can start to see results in as little as 6 weeks. A slight shift of a tooth or three is an exciting and reassuring way to know all your hard work is starting to pay off!
Is Your Invisalign Tray Still Not Fitting?
As Brevard’s only Diamond Plus Invisalign providers, we’re familiar with all the common Invisalign fit problems and their solutions. If you feel like your invisalign is not working— you’re wearing your aligners for at least 20 hours a day and you’ve tried all these tips— please don’t hesitate to contact us! You can even text us a picture of the area that isn’t fitting. Our experienced Invisalign doctors will assess your aligners, the position of your teeth, and get your treatment back on track!
If you’re looking for a top orthodontist in Merritt Island, Melbourne or Viera, come experience the vibes! We’d love to meet you. Request a complimentary exam for you or your child today.
