Throughout the Invisalign process, you will wear a series of aligners that will gradually move your teeth ever closer to their ideal positions. However, if your treatment isn’t going exactly as planned, your dentist may tell you that you need Invisalign refinements. What exactly are refinements? Why might they be required? And how can you minimize your chances of needing them? Below are the answers to these crucial questions.
What are Invisalign Refinements?
Invisalign refinements are simply extra sets of aligners that may get added to your treatment plan. With any type of orthodontic treatment, there’s always a chance that the teeth will shift differently than expected. Thus, an additional set of aligners may be needed to ensure that the teeth ultimately move in the way that they should.
Outside of the fact that they’re added to the treatment plan while you’re already in the process of straightening your teeth, Invisalign refinements are more or less the same as regular aligners. They need to be worn for at least 20 to 22 hours every day, and you should only remove them for meals or oral hygiene purposes.
Some patients will only need one refinement aligner while others might require multiple. Depending on the circumstances, refinements could add around three to six months to your treatment plan.
Why Might You End Up Needing Refinements?
Sometimes refinements could be a result of not wearing your regular aligners as often as you should or not having them replaced in time if they’re lost or damaged. Failing to stick to the required wear time can easily throw off the Invisalign treatment process.
However, even if you do everything right, some teeth may simply be more difficult to move than others. As such, refinements are often needed because the teeth did not respond to the regular aligners as intended.
How Can You Keep Your Invisalign Treatment On Track?
You can’t control how quickly or easily your teeth move, but you can lower your chances of needing refinements by being diligent about wearing your aligners for the required amount of time. Make sure you’re aware of how long your aligners are outside of your mouth, and don’t forget to put them back in whenever you’re done eating or brushing your teeth. If an aligner is ever lost, call your dentist immediately so that you can get a replacement as soon as possible.
Even if you do end up needing refinements, you can rest assured that they will help keep you on track toward your goals for Invisalign treatment. By the end, you’ll ultimately be able to enjoy a straighter, more confident smile.
About the Author
Dr. Andrew R. Glynn went to The Ohio State University for his dental education. He entered private practice in 2019, and he offers his patients a wide range of services; this includes Invisalign clear aligners for discreetly correcting a wide range of dental alignment issues. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Glynn at Glynn Dental of Reynoldsburg, visit his website or call (614) 864-4618.