Whether you lost your Invisalign/Spark tray on vacation or accidentally threw away your Invisalign/Spark aligners, either situation can be stressful. But not to worry! With Nth Degree Orthodontics on your side, you’ll be able to handle this unexpected bump in your clear aligner journey with ease.
Here’s what to do if you find yourself searching for a lost Invisalign/Spark tray!
Check your Invisalign/Spark case!
As with any unexpected problem in life, it’s important to stay calm and not panic.
Clear aligners are a great invisible orthodontic treatment, but their clearness can cause them to be easily lost. That’s why our orthodontists stress the importance of saying “if it’s not in your face, it’s in your case”. Your clear aligner case should be the “go-to” place for your aligners to keep them clean and safe.
So take a quick peek inside your case and look around the surrounding area. (Sometimes trays can slip out of the case if it’s not closed all the way. So just like when popping in your aligners, you should wait to hear the tell-tale click of the case before setting it down.)
Retrace your steps
Whether you stopped at the bar for a frozen strawberry daiquiri on vacation or simply enjoyed dinner out with close friends and family, retracing your steps to when you last saw or had your aligners in can help.
By walking back through the last 20 to 30 minutes, you may remember that your aligners are under your dinner napkin or a friend offered to place your case in their bag for safe-keeping.
Move Forward, BUT Let Us Know!
Still can’t find your missing clear aligner? For a one-time occurrence, this is NOT a big deal. As long as you don’t make a habit out of losing aligners, the fix is pretty simple. A lost Invisalign/Spark tray is NOT an orthodontic emergency! However, it’s important to keep your orthodontist aware of any issues or damage to your aligners. Doing this ensures your treatment stays on track and that you receive expert advice on how to handle the unexpected.
Here’s how to handle a lost aligners scenario:
- If you’re within 1-2 days of switching to your next set, go for it and don’t sweat things! All will be fine!
- If you’ve just started wearing your current set, go ahead and move to the next aligner. However, you will need to wear those aligners a little longer to allow the movements to fully express and make up for the lost time from the lost trays.
What if you lost just one tray, not both? Still follow these instructions as each aligner set is meant to be worn together.
Don’t skip wearing your Invisalign/Spark tray!
While it can be disappointing when you lose a clear aligner, that doesn’t mean you should stop wearing your aligners completely. If you do not have your next set, your previous set will at least help keep your teeth from drifting out of alignment until you can get to your orthodontist for the next set. After all, you don’t want a small hiccup in your treatment to affect all the hard work you’ve done so far!
You live, you learn!
Misplacing or losing your clear aligners can be an irksome experience. But like all unexpected problems, you can learn from them!
Just forming the habit of placing your aligners in their Invisalign/Spark case and storing the case somewhere safe or within sight can make a world of difference. Use this experience as a reminder to be more diligent on storing and caring for your trays. After all, your aligners are the “vehicle” behind moving your teeth into healthy alignment and your compliance and your orthodontist are the drivers.
Still have questions about how to handle a lost Invisalign/Spark tray situation?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions!
Haven’t started your smile journey yet? Nth Degree Orthodontics has been a leading orthodontic provider in the Upstate of South Carolina for over 50 years and counting! We’re proud to be the smile architects behind tens of thousands of beautiful smiles in Gaffney, Union, Duncan, West Spartanburg or East Spartanburg.
Come meet our top-notch team and you’ll understand why we’re known for our welcoming environment.
Request a complimentary exam for you or your child today!
