Even the most responsible and diligent individuals may lose track of items on occasion. Whether the couch devours your keys or you accidentally throw away a valuable receipt, misplacing important things is always stressful. It can be especially distressing if you lose an aligner for your Invisalign treatment. Do not panic. There are some practical steps you can take to get your teeth-straightening journey back on track as soon as possible.
Where to Look for Your Aligner
As soon as you realize that your aligner is missing, you should look for it in all the places where it might be. Here are a few ideas to help you get started on your search:
- Nearby trash cans. Do you ever wrap your aligners in a napkin while you eat? That can easily result in the aligners getting thrown out.
- Your purse. If your purse contains a lot of items, it may not be easy to spot a clear aligner inside it. Try dumping your purse and searching through all of its contents.
- Areas where it might have fallen. If you ever take an aligner out while in your car, it could easily slip between into the gap between the front seat and the center console. You should also try searching the bathroom floor, under your bed, around the kitchen table, and any other areas where you often remove your aligners.
Call Your Orthodontist
If your efforts to find your aligner don’t bear any fruit, call your orthodontist as soon as you can. As they help you deal with your orthodontic emergency, they might advise you to do one of the following:
- Wear a previous aligner. Your orthodontist can order a replacement for the one you lost. In the meantime, an older aligner can prevent your teeth from regressing to their former positions.
- Begin wearing a new aligner a little early. If you were only a few days from being able to move onto the next aligner in your series, you might be able to do so a bit earlier than originally planned. Only do this if you have your orthodontist’s explicit approval. Switching to a new aligner too soon might harm your teeth and cause significant pain.
Tips for Keeping Track of Your Aligners
Here are some tips to reduce the risk that you will lose an aligner again in the future:
- Only remove your aligners at mealtimes and for oral hygiene purposes.
- Always place your aligners in a designated storage case when you are not wearing them.
- Do not wrap your aligners in a napkin while you eat.
- Do not place your aligners anywhere a curious pet might be able to reach them.
Losing an Invisalign aligner can be stressful. Fortunately, the above tips can help you resume your treatment ASAP.
Meet the Practice
Richardson Orthodontics is an insurance-friendly practice that is proud to serve families in our community. If you have questions about Invisalign or what to expect with it, we would be pleased to speak with you during your complimentary consultation. Contact us at 972-283-7101.