Why Your Teeth Does Not Move during Invisalign Treatment
The enthusiasm of Invisalign users is in watching their teeth corrected with clear aligners. Teeth straightening revolves around committing your time and resources to the procedure. This is why people check the progress of their treatment from time to time. It is during this period that some persons discover that their teeth are not moving hand-in-hand with the Invisalign treatment, and they express concern. These invisalign issues can be frustrating to some.
It can be disturbing for patients when Invisalign is not working. This is the primary purpose of this article; to help patients understand why Invisalign issues may occur and what can be done to change the situation.
So, here is our five reasons why there’s seems to be a mismatch between your teeth movement and Invisalign routine.
Clear aligner monitoring
Also known as clear aligner tracking, this concept needs to be explained for you to understand the workings of Invisalign and how it relates to teeth monitoring. When you comprehend this, it becomes easier for you to hold the reins in ensuring your treatment goes on as planned.
Tracking describes teeth mobility in line with proposed or already existing plan for treatment. Teeth correction is not a one-day thing. It takes time and gradual effort to shift your teeth into the right position and keep it there permanently.
Ever wondered why as an Invisalign user, you keep switching aligners? Each set of aligner works to move your teeth, and until we can get your teeth to its desired position, you have to keep on using new sets of aligners. Remember, all of these is a gradual and steady process. The aim is to give you a great smile.
Experts in orthodontics work with complex systems to create a plan for your treatment — the software Clin Check is used for Invisalign. It does the job of designing a precise model of your teeth in terms of size, position, and shape. This software also programs the way the teeth will slowly shift into the desired position.
Should your treatment go wrong, it is relatively easy to implement changes in the middle of the treatment, or adjustments post-treatment to ensure your smile goes right, down the road.
With all these beautiful plans and course of action, is it even possible that your treatment may go south? Of course, it happens. In the five reasons we will be sharing here, you will get to understand why. However, it is always best to get to see your orthodontist if you have your progress at heart. That being said, let’s check out these reasons as follows:
Different people, different bodies
Invisalign uses a computer-based treatment plan to create different models for patients. As with every digital modelling, standard variables are inputted to predict the outcome, but personal differences that account for the various ways the body responds specifically to orthodontic treatment cannot be predicted.
What are we saying? People have different types of teeth; some are stubborn, others are not. So, if they prove to be a challenge to your clear aligners treatment, the consequence falls on the movement of the other teeth according to plan. No one would like to have invisalign issues.
As an example, let’s use the small teeth right after your front tooth. These teeth are challenging to shift, even when metal braces are used. When you have stubborn teeth, what your orthodontist does is to fix attachments onto these teeth. What does attachment do? They help your aligners to have a firmer grip on your teeth and move them accordingly. This is not without the help of rubber bands connected to the attachment which supply additional pressure to realign the teeth. With this concentrated effort, those hard to move teeth will slowly begin to shift and get into position. You are advised to have a professional orthodontist to do this correctly.
Invisalign Issues
Teeth collision while receiving treatment can cause invisalign issues
Have you ever witnessed a fire outbreak and everyone is trying to escape through a narrow door? There’s always this pushing, squeezing, and bumping all in a bid to get out safely. And after the whole hustle, and you’ve scampered for cover, you’ll realize upon reflection that body contact with others had been inevitable.
The above scenario can be likened to what happens in your mouth during Invisalign, but not to that proportion. As treatment goes on, two teeth can bump into each other. When this happens, your orthodontist employs interproximal reduction to help the condition.
This in-office procedure is performed by your orthodontist and involves reducing the size of the teeth to prevent collisions. Sounds scary? Fortunately, interproximal reduction is safe. It is an effective method of creating more room for teeth straightening.
When you do not wear your aligners for the recommended hours
From experience, we see patients struggling with keeping up with the 22 hours of wearing their aligners. Admittedly, it is not easy to keep your trays in for the prescribed 22 hours each day. And sadly, the two aligner-free hours left in a day may be the time patients get it wrong; causing them to have mishap after treatment still. This will result in invisalign issues.
To avoid this experience and keep your aligner wear time in check, devise a method that works for you in reminding you when to wear your trays. It will help set a limit on how long your aligners should be out. Keeping a simple notepad, or using an app to help remind you can work. But what works best for you is what you find easy to use. The bottom line is wearing your aligners according to prescription.
No chewing exercises
What makes aligners work is their ability to move the teeth. Whenever they are seated, the trays shift your teeth. Natural mouth activities like swallowing and clenching apply pressure on the molars, except the front teeth. To give this same pressure which is required, to the front teeth, perform the chewing exercises recommended by your orthodontist. This exercise should be done often so that the front teeth can get additional pressure to move just like the molars naturally.
Invisalign chewies are suitable for aligners as they help them move accordingly. Please don’t go for the regular chewing gum because it’s called chewing exercise. Those can pull and tug at your trays which is not a good thing. Plus they contain sugar; a no-no for aligners.
Not wanting to wear gross-looking trays
After some time of usage, your aligner will indeed begin to depreciate in appearance, especially if you’re not taking good care of them.
It is expected of every Invisalign patient to clean their trays as much as they clean their natural teeth. From preventing cavities, infections, and all that, to eliminating bad breath and giving your trays a glossy look, aligner care is highly essential.
Clean trays are clear trays; you won’t like for others to know you’re wearing aligners, right?
Apart from giving you aligner care tips when you consult us, please note that soaking your trays in hot water is not encouraged. Not only will it warp your trays, but it will also reduce the tensile strength too. When this occurs, you can’t track your Invisalign treatment.
Invisalign aligners are so sensitive that even the least alteration will counter its precision and prevent the intended effectiveness.
Takeaways
Invisalign Issues
You have seen that success with Invisalign is not automatically guaranteed because the aligners are computer-made and the tech is advanced. Invisalign Issues can make treatment go wrong. Having your treatment completed in one bit is better than mid-course adjustments which prolong treatment.
If you have any question you will want to ask about why your teeth are not tracking, feel free to ask our orthodontist during a consultation.
Remember that the journey to having straighter teeth with Invisalign is a process that requires time. Remain positive, do all that’s necessary and bear in that mind that in addition to what Invisalign has provided, you have to play your part.
Feel free to contact us for a free consultation.