Help! My Invisalign Doesn’t Fit!

Invisalign aligners are incredibly powerful orthodontic appliances—they can provide you with the same great results as traditional braces without dietary restrictions or metal brackets.

That said, wearing them will take some getting used to. When you first get your aligners, you may find that you feel like they don’t fit correctly. Here’s why that might be the case, and what you can do about that.

How Should My Aligner Fit?

When you first get your aligners, it’s actually perfectly normal for them to feel a little bit uncomfortable. Your aligners work by putting pressure on misaligned teeth, nudging them into place over time. It’s only natural that they’ll be uncomfortably tight for a while when you first get them; you’ll find that that fades with time.

Your aligner also needs to contain your teeth after they move, which means that they also need to have enough space to accommodate them. For that reason, it’s actually pretty common for trays to contain small gaps.

What Are Some Signs That My Aligner Doesn’t Fit?

If your aligner feels the way that was described above, it’s a sign that your trays are working as intended, even if it’s a little uncomfortable. However, it is possible for an aligner to have issues that causes it not to fit properly.

This can be possible due to  a manufacturing error, but it may also be the case that your aligner has broken or warped, for any of a number of reasons. This can happen due to grinding teeth or hot temperatures, like if you ran your aligner through the dishwasher, for example.

If you find that excess material is rubbing against your cheeks or gums, it could be that your aligner wasn’t trimmed properly. If you find that your aligner can’t seat completely on your teeth, or that it keeps falling off, that may be a sign that it’s warped or broken.

What Do I Do If My Aligner Doesn’t Fit?

If you think that you have a problem with your tray, you should call your dentist. They’ll be able to help you evaluate whether there’s some kind of issue, and can order you a replacement tray if necessary. They may ask you to fall back to a previous aligner, or move you up to the next stage prematurely if that is feasible for you.

About Our Practice

At Dolfield Dental, we’ve spent the past decade forming a reputation for incredible dental care with a patient-centered focus. We begin our oral healthcare with an understanding of what you’re trying to achieve. We’ll then spend time working alongside you to understand how you can reach those goals as effectively as possible.

If you have any questions about how your Invisalign aligner ought to fit, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (410) 902-4110.