You wear Invisalign for getting straight teeth and a beautiful smile. To achieve it, you have to wear the Invisalign trays for 22 hours. But, what happens if you lose your Invisalign trays.
In this article, you’ll know about it and learn what to do if your Invisalign trays are lost.
What happens if you lost your Invisalign tray?
Here is the effect of losing your Invisalign tray.
1. You may not be able to get your Invisalign back.
The first consequence is that if you lose all of your trays, you may not be able to get your Invisalign back.
Invisalign trays are custom-made for each patient. If you lose a tray, you may not be able to get an exact replacement. This could cause your treatment to be less effective.
2. You may have to start the treatment all over again.
If you lose a few trays, you may be able to get replacements, but you may have to start your treatment over from the beginning. This is because the trays are designed to be worn in a specific order.
You may need to get new impressions made and new trays made. It will prolong your treatment time and you have to wear the trays for a longer time.
3. You may not be able to wear Invisalign for a few days.
If you lost the Invisalign tray, you may have to go without Invisalign for a few days while you wait for your new tray.
4. You may have to pay for new Invisalign trays.
Losing your Invisalign tray can be inconvenient and costly. If you lose the trays, you may have to pay for new Invisalign trays. Invisalign trays are custom-made and aren’t cheap. The cost of new Invisalign trays is about $50 to $100.
5. You may have to wear your Invisalign trays for a longer time.
If you lose an Invisalign tray, you may have to wear your aligners for an extended period of time. This can be frustrating and may cause you to want to discontinue treatment.
6. You may not be able to see the results you want.
If you lose Invisalign trays and can’t wear them for the required duration, you may not see the results you want.
7. Teeth don’t move as quickly or evenly.
You may not see as much progress as you should, or your teeth may move unevenly if you don’t wear your Invisalign trays for the recommended 22 hours per day. Not wearing your trays can also lengthen the treatment time.
8. You may need to pay for additional treatment.
If you lose an Invisalign tray, you may need to purchase additional treatment to make up for the lost time. This can add significant costs to your treatment. And, if your teeth shift to improper place, you may need additional treatment.
9. Your Invisalign may not work as well.
If you don’t wear your Invisalign trays as directed such as losing the Invisalign trays, Invisalign may not work as well.
This is because the tray works by gently shifting your teeth into place. Without the tray, your teeth may not move as quickly or evenly.
10. It can cause your teeth to shift back.
If you lose Invisalign trays and don’t wear them for the recommended 22 hours per day, your teeth may shift back to their original position.
11. It can cause long-term damage to your teeth and gums.
Losing your Invisalign trays can cause long-term damage to your teeth and gums. The reason for that is orthodontic treatment need planned tooth movement.
12. You may experience more tooth pain.
If you don’t wear your Invisalign trays, you may experience more tooth pain because the teeth are not being moved as they should be and you have to wear new trays again.
How to keep your Invisalign trays from losing?
Here are some tips to prevent Invisalign trays from losing.
1. Keep them in a safe place.
When you’re not wearing your Invisalign trays, it’s important to keep them in a safe place like a case. This will help to prevent them from being lost or damaged.
2. Check for them before you leave the house.
Before you leave the house, be sure to check for your Invisalign trays. This will help to ensure that you don’t forget them and that they don’t get lost.
3. Don’t leave them in your car.
Leaving your Invisalign trays in your car is a surefire way to lose them. It’s important to keep them with you at all times so that you don’t have to worry about them being misplaced.
4. Don’t put them in your pocket.
Putting your Invisalign trays in your pocket is a surefire way to lose them. If you must put them in your pocket, be sure to keep them in a case so that they don’t get lost.
5. Don’t wrap them in a napkin.
It may seem like a good idea to wrap your Invisalign trays in a napkin when you’re not wearing them, but this can actually cause them to get lost. Napkins can be easily misplaced, and if your trays are wrapped in them, they may be thrown away.
6. Keep track of them.
It’s important to keep track of your Invisalign trays so that you know where they are at all times. Be sure to put them in the same place every night so that you don’t have to search for them in the morning.
Can you skip an Invisalign tray if you lose one?
It’s not recommended that you skip an Invisalign tray if you lose one, as this could cause your treatment to be less effective overall. If you do lose a tray, be sure to contact your orthodontist as soon as possible so that you can get a replacement. In the meantime, try to wear your other trays for the recommended amount of time each day to keep your treatment on track.
Can you get copies of Invisalign aligners?
You can get copies of Invisalign aligners but, it’s not necessary. It will add to the cost and waste your money. Instead of that, you can have a new set of aligners when your Invisalign trays are lost or damaged.
How much does it cost to replace lost Invisalign trays?
The cost to replace lost Invisalign trays can vary depending on your specific treatment plan and insurance coverage. However, the average cost for replacing lost Invisalign trays is around $50-$100 per tray. If you have questions about your specific treatment plan and insurance coverage, please contact your orthodontist or insurance provider.
What do I do if you lost your Invisalign?
Losing your Invisalign aligners can be frustrating, but there’s no need to panic. In most cases, you can simply call your orthodontist and get a replacement set.
The first thing you have to do after losing an Invisalign tray is to contact your orthodontist as soon as possible. You also have to visit the orthodontist’s office to get a new set of trays.
However, if you’re unable to get in touch with your orthodontist, you should use the previous Invisalign trays to hold your teeth in their current place and avoid teeth from shifting back to their original position.
If you’re close to the end of your treatment, you may need to consider wearing a retainer for a few weeks until your new aligners arrive.
In the meantime, it’s important to keep your teeth clean and avoid eating sticky or hard foods that could damage your teeth.
Conclusion
If you lose your Invisalign tray, it’s important to contact your orthodontist immediately. They will be able to provide you with a replacement tray and ensure that your treatment stays on track.
However, it’s important to note that losing a tray can cause your treatment to take longer.
With a little bit of carefulness, you can successfully weather this minor setback and continue on the path to straight teeth.
Pallab Kishore is a certified dentist and the owner of Orthodontic Braces Care.
He completed BDS in 2014. Now, he is an MS resident in Orthodontics, BSMMU. He likes content writing and has 12+ years of experience in blogging.
