{"id":302,"date":"2021-05-14T17:52:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-14T17:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wacofamilydental.com\/blog\/?p=302"},"modified":"2021-06-25T17:57:52","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T17:57:52","slug":"lost-invisalign-aligner-what-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wacofamilydental.com\/blog\/2021\/05\/14\/lost-invisalign-aligner-what-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Oh No! I Lost My Invisalign Aligner \u2013 What Should I Do?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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After eating lunch, you reach for your Invisalign aligners to put them back on. Then\u2026oh no. Dread instantly sinks in. You could have sworn you put the aligners in the case but now, you\u2019re not so sure. You try retracing your steps but quickly realize you have no idea where you placed them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s understandable if your first instinct is to panic, but there\u2019s no need to worry! Take comfort in knowing that you\u2019re not the only patient who has been stuck in this predicament. There are some practical steps you can take after losing a tray\u2014read along to find out what they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Search Carefully<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This may seem obvious, but one of the first things you should do after losing an Invisalign<\/a> aligner is to search carefully<\/em>. The thin, clear plastic makes it easy to glance over them, especially if they\u2019re in an area far from where you\u2019d normally keep them. The clear aligners are essentially invisible, so make sure you\u2019re checking countertops, bags, lockers, drawers, and sofa cushions thoroughly. Retrace your steps and search all areas you were in recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact Your Orthodontist Immediately<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unable to find your aligners? You should contact your orthodontist or dentist immediately and explain the situation. They\u2019ll advise you on what your next steps should be. Most patients may not know this, but the cost of treatment usually includes two built-in replacement trays. So, you may not even pay any additional charges or fees for a new aligner!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wear Your Previous Set or Advance to the Next One<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you just started wearing the missing aligner, your orthodontist may advise you to go back to wearing the previous set until your replacement arrives. However, if you\u2019re almost ready to move on to the next phase, they may recommend going forward with your treatment and using the next aligner. It\u2019s important to note that you should not <\/em>advance early unless you\u2019ve been given the green light by your dentist. You risk damaging your oral health if you force your teeth to move too early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do I Avoid Losing an Aligner?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Invisalign treatment is only successful if you use it as directed, which means keeping track of your aligners is critical. Here are a few tips to avoid misplacing your aligner:<\/p>\n\n\n\n