What Happens When You Do Not Wear Your Invisalign Aligners

Invisalign® has become a popular option for teeth straightening nowadays. It works as the preferred alternative to conventional braces since it is almost invisible on the teeth and offers more flexibility by being removable. However, the removability can also be the bane of the treatment. Continue reading to find out what happens when you fail to wear your Invisalign aligners as instructed.

The need to wear Invisalign correctly

Invisalign involves wearing a set of personalized, transparent aligner trays that shift the teeth gradually into position for straighter teeth and a good-looking smile. They serve the same functions as traditional braces by gently inducing pressure on the teeth. When the teeth are properly aligned, they function better, and there is less risk of dental issues.

The aligners are removable when eating meals or cleaning the teeth. However, removing them can also affect treatment progress. When patients fail to wear their aligners too many times, they become less effective. Although many people might not think much of the consequences when they only remove the aligners for a few hours or occasionally, failure to wear the Invisalign aligners correctly can have visible effects, including:

Shifting teeth

The aligner trays are meant to be worn for about 22 hours every day, with the extra two hours for brushing, flossing, or eating. When the aligners remain away from the teeth, the teeth will begin to move to their previous positions since there is no longer the pressure required to move them into proper alignment. The pressure from aligners extends to the ligaments around the teeth. The progress regarding teeth repositioning and bone reshaping is undone since constant pressure is necessary for successful treatment.

Poor aligner fitting

Within a few hours of not wearing the aligners, the teeth start to shift, meaning the current aligner trays may not fit properly anymore. Sometimes, patients may realize that the last set of aligners fit better, meaning they have to wear them a while to get back to the current set. Since the fit may be improper, it might be detrimental for the teeth.

Extended treatment time

Each day patients wear the aligners brings them closer to the well-aligned smile. Forgetting to wear the Invisalign trays or removing them too many times will inevitably extend treatment duration. Patients will get results sooner if they wear the aligners consistently. The reason many people choose Invisalign over braces is the improvement achievable in only a matter of months. However, patients may have to wear the trays for a longer period if they always forget to wear them.

A consistent treatment routine works

The best way to get the desired results from Invisalign is to have a consistent schedule and stick to it. Patients need to cultivate the habit of removing the aligners when eating or brushing and wearing them afterward to create a routine of consistency. Leaving them out too many times can easily turn into a bad habit.

Taking the aligners out on special occasions will not hurt the progress. Just remember, the more you wear the aligners, the straighter your teeth get. When you do not wear them, you risk going back to square one.

Request an appointment here: https://familydentistphoenix.com or call Phoenix Family Dentistry at (602) 547-9007 for an appointment in our Phoenix office.