Losing an Invisalign aligner can feel stressful in the moment, especially if you’ve been working hard to stay on track with your orthodontic treatment! Whether it was accidentally thrown away, left at a restaurant, or misplaced during travel, you’re not alone—it happens to many patients. However, that doesn’t mean it has to derail your progress. Here are some tips you can quickly follow if you find yourself with a lost clear aligner.
Let Your Provider Know at Once
The most important step is to contact your orthodontist or dentist as soon as possible. They know your treatment plan better than anyone else and can give you personalized guidance to prevent unnecessary delays. Waiting too long could allow your teeth to shift in the wrong direction, so even if you think you know what to do next, it’s always best to check in first! They may recommend moving forward, stepping back, or ordering a replacement aligner, depending on your situation.
What You Can Do in the Meantime
While you’re waiting to hear back, or if you lose your aligners at night or when you’re out of town, you can wear your previous aligners if you have access to them. This at least helps to keep your teeth from shifting until you’re able to hear back about your next steps. This is often what your provider will recommend, too—though in some cases, they might also say that it’s okay to wear your next set, if you were close to swapping. You shouldn’t skip wearing your aligners altogether, though, unless you’re told explicitly.
Preventing Future Aligner Loss
Once you’re back on track, a few small habits can prevent it from happening again.
- Always store your Invisalign aligners in their case when they aren’t being worn.
- Avoid wrapping them in napkins or setting them on tabletops, where they can easily be tossed.
- Keep your clear aligners away from rowdy pets and younger children.
- If you’re going out of town, bring your previous (and future) sets of aligners with you.
Losing an Invisalign aligner happens more often than you might think, and it’s usually easy to fix. However, the key is acting quickly and communicating with your provider; with the right steps, your progress should not be impeded!
About the Practice
Our team here at Miles of Smiles offers a wide range of dental and orthodontic services for patients of all ages, including Invisalign clear aligners. With Dr. Scott Schmidhauser leading the way, you can trust that you receive top-of-the-line dental care from a dedicated team that always puts patients first. If you have any questions about the blog or need to schedule an appointment for yourself or a loved one at our Londonderry office, call or visit us online for more information. Telephone: (603) 437-8204.