What To Do When Clear Aligners Are Too Tight

Posted on: 28 June 2017

Crooked teeth can typically be fixed with braces and if you are lucky, you can choose to have clear invisalign aligners made to repair your dental misalignment issue. These aligners are made with your specific malocclusion issue in mind and sets are made continuously as you progress through the straightening process. You will want to move seamlessly from one set of aligners to the next. However, it is sometimes not this simple. If you replace your aligners after two weeks of wear, then you may notice that your new set is too tight. If this happens to you, then keep reading to learn about what you should do.

Keep Wearing Your Old Set

Once you are given your new set of aligners, you may be tempted to throw out the ones you were wearing. However, your cosmetic dentist or orthodontist may tell you not to do this. While most aligners are worn for two weeks, some sets may need to be kept in the mouth for a week or two longer. If you are an adult, then your teeth simply will not move as easily as they would if you were a teenager. This has to do with the maturity of your jaw bone and how the bone will resist remodeling to some degree.

Since your mature jaw will not always allow for easy tooth movements, you are likely to notice some tightness with new aligners if they have been constructed to shift or twist the teeth a great deal within the two week period. If you notice that your aligners are extremely tight or if they will not snap over the teeth at all, then insert your old aligner set and make arrangements to speak with your cosmetic dentist so your tooth movement plan can be adjusted. Specifically, you may need to wear several aligner sets for three weeks. 

Place Pressure On The Aligners 

Sometimes the clear aligners will need a bit of pressure to sit over the teeth. After all, aligners are made to force the teeth to move, so some pressure is to be expected. Since the teeth are moved only about a millimeter at a time, the aligners can usually be snapped over the teeth. The flexible nature of the thermoplastic aligners assists with this. 

If the aligners simply will not snap on, then you need to use extra force. Gentle pressure over the course of one to two days can typically force the aligners over the teeth. You can use several different things to help with aligner fitting. A damp washcloth is a good choice. Place the rag in the mouth wherever you see a gap between the teeth and the aligners. Bite down on the rag for two minutes and then relax the jaw. Continue to do this for 30 minutes. Wait a few hours and then bite down again on the rag until the aligners sit over the teeth the way they are meant to. 

For more information, talk to a professional like Merrillville Dental Center, P.C.

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