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After decades of dominance by traditional metal braces, many patients are turning to clear aligners to straighten their teeth. After all, they’re virtually invisible and offer many of the same benefits! But what happens when your teeth don’t seem to be moving as expected? If you’re feeling frustrated with slow progress with your aligners, continue reading. You’ll learn why this might be happening and what you can do to get back on track!
You Aren’t Wearing Your Clear Aligners Enough
One of the biggest reasons clear aligner treatments like Invisalign or SureSmile don’t progress as expected is compliance. If you’re not wearing the aligners for the recommended 20-22 hours per day, it can create delays that might throw your entire treatment schedule off.
If you want to be more consistent, try setting up timers and reminders on your phone. This will give you gentle nudges throughout the day that will keep you focused on your treatment.
You Aren’t Performing the Chewing Exercises
If your aligners aren’t fitting snugly against your teeth, they may not be applying enough pressure to shift them. This can especially affect your front teeth as they don’t get as much natural “seating” as your rear ones do.
When your aligners go over your teeth and seat themselves, they pull and push your pearly whites in different directions. Sometimes, the front of your aligners won’t do this properly on their own. So, you’ll need to chew the small spongy bite tools that come with your kit for three to five minutes to make it happen.
Some Teeth Are More Solid Than Others
Some teeth, like lateral incisors (the teeth next to your two big front ones), take longer to move because of their structure. Even if most of your teeth shift as expected, a few might lag behind.
To create a treatment plan for clear aligners, your dentist uses a program that runs thousands of simulations based on your scans. Your dentist then makes determinations using their knowledge of facial anatomy and the most likely scenarios. However, no person or computer can predict the future!
This is why going to check-ins is so important. There, your dentist can make adjustments based on the results of your treatment and continue moving your treatment forward.
Clear aligners are a great way to straighten your teeth, but they require commitment and patience. If your teeth aren’t moving as planned, don’t panic! By wearing your aligners properly, following your treatment timeline, and talking to your dentist when you have concerns, you’ll be back on track in no time!
About the Practice
At All Smiles Leesburg, our compassionate team of dental experts uses advanced technology and techniques to deliver truly stunning smiles. Whether you need dental restorations or clear aligner orthodontics, we can provide you with a treatment plan that’s tailored to your needs! Call (703) 777-4443 to schedule a clear aligner consultation with us or visit our website to see a full menu of services.