Fallen Off Track with Invisalign? Here’s What Might be Happening

When you first started your Invisalign treatment, your dentist set out a plan for you to reach your perfect smile. This plan is called a “track,” and it forms the blueprint for every aligner you’ll receive from that point.

That said, nearly a year can pass after your initial consultation. In that time, a lot can change. One day, you may show up to a regular check-up and find that your teeth aren’t where they should be, or are “off track.” While this can be discouraging, it’s also fairly common. People can fall off track with their Invisalign treatment for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most common things that can make your teeth move more slowly than you’d like.

Not Wearing Aligners Enough

The first question you should ask yourself if you’ve fallen off track is whether you’ve been wearing your aligners enough. It’s recommended that you wear your aligners 20-22 hours a day, which is really just enough time to eat three meals a day and to clean afterward. If you’re worried that you might not be wearing your Invisalign enough, you might invest in a timer that can help you keep track, or use your phone’s stopwatch to measure how long you keep your aligners out over the course of a day.

Colliding Teeth

If you’re sure you’ve been wearing your aligners but still aren’t making progress, you may have two or more teeth that have collided with each other. If your teeth have trouble moving past one another, your dentist may need to shape them to better accommodate each other. The procedure should be quick and painless. Afterward, you should have no problem getting back on track.

Individual Variance

When your dentist creates a model for your teeth, they factor in many different variables. That said, no plan is perfect. It could be possible that, for some reason, your teeth just don’t move in quite the way your dentist expected. If it seems like there are some reasons things won’t work according to plan, your dentist will be happy to make adjustments to try and get your teeth straightened as quickly as possible.

Even if you’ve fallen off track, don’t worry—your provider will be happy to help you finish your Invisalign treatment as quickly as possible.

About the Author

In his over 20 years of experience, Dr. Bob Heil has learned what it takes to help his community get the smiles they deserve. He makes sure to connect with his patients on a personal level, and he works hard to understand their unique needs. Dr. Heil received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Minnesota. If you have any questions about staying on track with Invisalign, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (920) 235-0320.