Clear aligners can offer several benefits over traditional braces. Their removability makes eating easier and allows you to clean your aligners and teeth better. Additionally, they’re invisible, helping you preserve your smile as you align your teeth in the correct positions.
Now, it’s not uncommon for your aligners to feel quite tight at first. However, some people find that their aligners don’t fit properly at all, which can put their treatment at risk. This article will discuss a few steps to take if your clear aligners don’t fit so you can get back on track with your treatment.
1. Get a bite stick or chewy devices from your dentist
Usually, biting down on your aligners is not good, even if it could help you seat them properly. You risk damaging the aligners, your teeth, or both. There are a few ways to avoid this. First, you can use a bite stick by placing this over the device and biting down until it forces its way onto your teeth. Putting this between your aligners and teeth can protect both.
“Chewies” are another option. These are soft pieces of chewable material that fix that. You can place these in your mouth along with your aligners and chew on them for a few minutes until the aligners force their way over your teeth. You can often request either one of these options from your provider if you tell them you’re having more minor trouble getting your aligners to fit.
2. Try a previous set of aligners
When you get aligner treatment, you’re provided a set of several aligners that you switch to every few weeks. Each one is further along in the treatment process. If your current set doesn’t fit, your teeth may not have yet shifted adequately to accommodate it. In some cases, switching back to a previous set of aligners may be the solution. You may need to wear these a bit longer to move your teeth sufficiently for the next set.
3. Visit your provider to get a new set
If you’ve tried biting down and going back to a previous set, but things still aren’t working out, you may need a brand-new set of aligners. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing anything wrong. Your teeth may not be moving as fast as anticipated, or there may have been a mistake when creating the treatment plan.
Regardless, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with your provider to get your treatment plan revised. Your provider will take another look at your teeth, and then you’ll go through the same process again to get a new set of aligners.
Get back on track with your aligners
You can do everything right, but sometimes, aligners just don’t fit right. Fortunately, you can get this issue fixed easily. First, try biting devices like bite sticks or “chewies” to get the aligners into place while avoiding damage. If this doesn’t work, try a previous set of aligners for a little longer. If that still doesn’t solve the problem, just schedule an appointment with your provider, and they’ll help you get a set of aligners that fits correctly.
Once you get everything fixed, wear your aligners 20 to 22 hours per day or as instructed, clean them regularly, and follow any other instructions your provider gives you. Doing this can help you get back on track toward getting that perfect smile.
