What Do I Do if I Lose My Invisalign Aligner?

A sense of dread has fallen upon you…you are unable to locate your Invisalign aligner. Now what? You could have sworn you had it just a second ago, but now you’re not so sure. When it comes to wearing your aligners, your orthodontist has stressed the importance of compliance time and time again. You want to be able to achieve the best results with your Invisalign treatment, but now you’re unsure what to do next. Let us help you figure it out so you’re not jeopardizing your treatment plan.

Your First Steps

First…don’t panic! Take a look around and see if you’ve simply misplaced your aligner or if it is indeed lost. Retrace your steps to see if it is close by, and check some of the areas that you were in recently. Check couch cushions, in between seats, the garbage can and small spaces it could have fallen into. If you’re unable to locate your Invisalign aligner, call your orthodontist and explain the situation.

If you’ve just started wearing this particular aligner, you may be advised to go back to wearing the previous aligner until a new one arrives. If you were almost done with the lost aligner, your orthodontist may tell you to move on to your next aligner a bit early. They will also tell you if another aligner needs to be made and you need to pick it up at their office.

How to Avoid Losing an Aligner

Preventing this situation is always advised, and there are a number of ways to do this, so you don’t find yourself in this unfortunate situation.

• Have a dedicated place for your Invisalign aligners when you’re not wearing them.
• Don’t take them out of your mouth unless it’s absolutely necessary.
• Don’t place them on a lunch tray or table, or wrap them in a tissue or napkin.

In being proactive, you’re able to reduce your chances of losing your aligners in the first place. Remember these easy and helpful tips the next time you need to remove them.

The Importance of Wearing Your Aligners

Losing an aligner, no matter how hard you try not to, can sometimes happen. If you lose an Invisalign aligner, it is imperative to let your orthodontist know so you know what to do next. Simply not wearing your aligner is not an option, since this can result in your teeth shifting back and your results being lost. Even if you’ve been wearing your aligners for a while, your teeth can still shift. In fact, our teeth shift our entire lives, which means even after treatment, you’ll still need to wear a retainer to keep your smile looking perfect.

Failure to wear your aligner properly results in more time and money spent on your treatment, so avoid this by listening to your orthodontist and keeping them up to speed about any situation that arises. One phone call can help you maintain your hard-earned results and keep you one step closer to the straight, healthy smile you’ve been looking forward to.