From the severity of your misalignment to the number of trays you need, there are a number of factors that will influence the length of your Invisalign treatment. One aspect that many patients forget to consider, however, is compliance. Neglecting to follow all of your orthodontist’s instructions can quickly cause you to fall off-track with your timeline, requiring you to spend more time and money on treatment. Luckily, there are a few best practices you can implement to help you get back on track. To learn what they are, read on!
#1. Wear Your Clear Aligners More Often
Remember, to effectively move your teeth, you need to wear your trays for at least 22 hours a day. If you’ve eased up on that habit, there is no time like the present to start! To manage your time, allocate 15 minutes for breakfast, 30 minutes for lunch, and 45 minutes for dinner. The remaining 15 minutes you can use to brush, floss, and clean your aligners. Note: try using a timer to help you keep track of your wear time.
#2. Use Your Chewie
Chewies are small, but they can play a big role in helping you stay on track with your original treatment plan. By chewing on them each time you put your trays back in, you can have confidence knowing that your aligners are on properly. If they aren’t, then your teeth may not move into the positions they need to for the next tray, delaying your treatment further.
#3. Prioritize Your Check-In Appointments
Every six weeks or so, you’ll need to visit your orthodontist for a check-in appointment. Sometimes, this includes picking up your next set of trays. Other times, it’s simply to ensure your teeth are tracking properly. Regardless, it’s of the utmost importance that you don’t skip these visits! If there is a complication, like your teeth aren’t moving as they should, your orthodontist can provide detailed recommendations on what you should do to prevent any delays in the future. If you don’t attend your appointments, you may not find out until it’s too late.
#4. Switch Your Trays on the Correct Days
While some patients change trays every 14 days, others change every 10 or 7. The interval depends on your unique treatment plan, which is why it’s so important that you stick with it. To help you remember, you can set up a reminder in your phone. Or, you can download the Invisalign app, input your treatment information, and have it send you a notification when it’s time to change. These automated reminders will help you stay on track, ensuring you don’t miss a single milestone.
You don’t want to fall off-track with your Invisalign treatment; that just means waiting longer to see your beautiful new smile! Fortunately, the above best practices will help prevent that from happening.
About the Practice
With Dr. Sam Alkhoury and Dr. Alan Carlotto leading our team at Simply Orthodontics, patients can rest assured that their smiles are in the best hands. That’s because each treatment starts with our friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable team and ends with a personalized plan. Plus, we are here to help you with any obstacles along the way, like falling off-track with your original treatment timeline. If you have a question about Invisalign best practices or you’d like to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call (508) 435-1200.