Invisalign is a popular orthodontic treatment. It is highly effective and can take as little as one year to complete. The key to completing your treatment on time is following the best practices associated with Invisalign treatment. However, failing to do this can cause issues such as tracking, in addition to extending your treatment timeline. You may think, my Invisalign is not tracking? What to do. Consider the following tips below.
My Invisalign Is Not Tracking? What to Do
The number one reason that impacts the effectiveness of Invisalign is improper tracking. There are a number of causes, but the most common is failing to wear them for the prescribed amount of time. Invisalign aligners need to be worn for a minimum of 20 hours each day. This allows two hours of time for you to eat meals and complete your daily oral care routine. To avoid tracking issues, wear your aligners for the prescribed amount of time.
Failing to keep your aligner trays in for the prescribed amount of time gives your teeth the opportunity to shift back into their original position. Without strictly adhering to your aligners schedule this can easily happen as your teeth will naturally move back to their position pre-treatment. Consistency is the key to the success of your Invisalign in Burbank treatment so create a system that works for you. Many patients use timers to schedule their meals and oral care routine. This can help you stay on track and avoid adding time to your original treatment timeline projection.
Tips to Avoid Tracking Issues
In addition to wearing your Invisalign aligners for the prescribed amount of time, there are a couple of other techniques you can try to address the issue. Consider the following if your aligners aren’t tracking.
Chewing Exercises:
Invisalign chewies are made of soft, flexible material. You can perform chewing exercises with Invisalign chewies to help force your aligners down into the proper position. All you need to do is chew them for a few minutes after putting your aligners back on. This is especially helpful if you have just transitioned into a new set of aligners. New aligners can be tight and difficult to track onto your teeth so this can be a helpful step in addressing the issue.
Backtracking:
Before you try this tip, talk to your dentist. However, in some cases, backtracking can be helpful if you are having tracking issues. Backtracking involves switching back to an old pair of aligners. Once you have gotten clearance from your dentist, you can use an old pair of aligners for slightly longer to ensure your teeth are properly shifting as planned. This is a helpful step that can help keep you on your treatment timeline as untreated tracking issues can be much more problematic in the long run.
Assessing Your Aligners
It’s important to be sure that your aligners properly fit. You are a great judge of that as you can feel the intricacies of your aligners in your mouth. Your aligners should fit snugly around your teeth and securely to the edge. The treatment works effectively by applying gentle pressure on your teeth. This may cause slight discomfort when you switch to new aligners, but should not be pervasive.
Your Invisalign aligners should not be too loose, rock in any areas, or have any gaps in the aligners within the teeth. If you do notice any of these issues, they won’t track properly. You should talk with your dentist about this right away as it can impact your treatment and even result in some regression.
Cosmetic Dentistry in Burbank
If you want to improve the look of your smile, consider cosmetic dentistry in Burbank. The team at Coastland Dental are skilled in orthodontic treatment and can help you achieve your desired smile. Contact their office today to schedule a consultation!