My Clear Aligners Won’t Go On! Now What?

While your clear aligners are supposed to fit securely to your teeth, sometimes things don’t go as planned. If you’re struggling to get yours to go on properly, it can be easy to want to give up on treatment and stop wearing them. But don’t despair. Here are a few tricks you can try to help get them in place, so your treatment doesn’t derail.

Bite Sticks

If you’re struggling to get your aligners on all the way, your first step should be to try a bite stick. These reusable plastic sticks help you put your trays in properly by giving you something to bite down on and help push them into place. To use them, all you need to do is bite down on one starting from the back of your arch. Take small bites, slowly advancing the stick forward biting each time until the entire aligner is in its correct position.

Take A Step Back to Your Old Aligners

If a bite stick still doesn’t work, you may need to switch back to your last set of aligners. Be sure to check with your orthodontist first, as this will likely set your treatment back a few weeks. If you find that you need to do this a lot, take a closer look at how long you’re removing your aligners for. You should be wearing them for at least 22 hours a day, so if they’re off longer, this could be delaying your progress.

Don’t Forget Your Bite Exercises

If you have been instructed to do bite exercises to help encourage your teeth to move on schedule, don’t skip them! They are designed to stimulate the front teeth to move in time with the back teeth, because they are not used as frequently and thus need a little extra encouragement along the way!

Aligner Damage

Finally, if none of these steps seem to help, this could be due to damage to the aligner itself. To keep yours in good shape, never wear them to eat or drink anything but cold or lukewarm water. Anything hotter can cause them to melt or warp and change their fit.

Remember, your aligners need to fit securely to your teeth in order for them to work properly. If they aren’t going on correctly, you can try these additional steps to get a better grip or contact your orthodontist for help.

About Our Practice

At Arlington Heights Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry, we know that when it comes to kids, things don’t always go as planned, and that includes orthodontic treatment. If your child is struggling to get their clear aligners on, or is having any other issues with their treatment, we’re here to help. For assistance with any issues that may arise with their aligners or any other oral health problem, please call us at your earliest convenience at 847-255-3020, or visit our website to schedule an appointment.