Straightening your smile with clear aligners is a very gradual process. The treatment involves a number of aligners that are all designed to guide the teeth slightly closer to their ideal positions. But what if your teeth aren’t moving the way they’re supposed to? Below is a quick look at some potential reasons why your clear aligners aren’t yielding the expected results – as well as some possible solutions.
Individual Differences
Sometimes it all comes down to the patient. Not everyone’s body responds to orthodontic treatment in the exact same way; in certain cases, your teeth may simply prove to be unusually difficult to move. The lateral incisors next to your front teeth tend to be particularly stubborn.
If your teeth are resistant to clear aligners, it may be necessary to place attachments. These fixtures can help provide the additional force required to help the teeth make the desired movements.
Not Wearing the Aligners Enough
While braces are fixed in place on the teeth, clear aligners are much more reliant on patient compliance. If you don’t keep your clear aligners in your mouth for the required 22 hours a day, your teeth won’t make the necessary movements on schedule.
It’s essential to be mindful of how much time your aligners spend outside of your mouth each day. Ideally, you should only take them out during meals or when it’s time to brush and floss. You may want to start a timer whenever you remove your aligners; this can make it significantly easier to ensure that you’re wearing them enough.
Colliding Teeth
Are your teeth particularly close together? If so, there’s a chance that they could be colliding with each other during the treatment process. Naturally, this can interfere with their ability to move according to the treatment plan.
Your dentist will perform regular progress checks during your clear aligner treatment, which will give them the opportunity to see whether the teeth are colliding. If they are, they can suggest potential solutions, such as reshaping the teeth in question.
Changing Aligners Prematurely
Since each new clear aligner represents the next step in the treatment process, you may be tempted to change to the next set of aligners early once it looks like your teeth have already moved. However, this can cause problems with the bone remodeling process, and it might even damage the tooth roots, thus resulting in the teeth not moving properly.
You should always be very careful about wearing each aligner for exactly the right amount of time before moving on to the next one in the series. Try setting a reminder on your phone so that you know for sure when it’s time to make the change.
Be sure to reach out to your dentist if you have any concerns about the process of straightening your teeth with clear aligners. It’s important that you have any problems taken care of as soon as possible so that you can stay on track toward a straighter smile!
About the Author
Dr. Sheri McIntosh studied dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, which is recognized as one of the country’s top dental schools. At Distinguished Dental in Fort Worth, she has used clear aligners to help many patients achieve straighter, healthier smiles. To schedule a consultation with Dr. McIntosh, visit her website or call (817) 337-8300.