Table of Contents
When you first got your Invisalign aligners, we’re sure that you fast-forwarded to the end: you had straight teeth, a big smile, and you were being complimented left and right. There were no metal wires, no embarrassing food restrictions, just clear aligners and an easy journey.
And then… reality hit. Fast-forward a couple of weeks, and you are looking in the mirror thinking: “Hold on… my teeth look so unchanged. Is this even working?”
Don’t panic. You’re not alone. At Partha Dental, we see patients almost on a daily basis who fear that their Invisalign is not working.
There are many reasons why someone can feel this way, and the reality is, Invisalign works perfectly for many cases but only when a few ground rules are followed.
When those ground rules fall to the wayside (it happens to us all!), the phenomenon is known as Invisalign failure.
The good news? Every one of these failures has a remedy. Let’s explore the 7 reasons why your Invisalign treatment is making you nervous and how to treat them before your smile journey is derailed.
1. You’re Treating Them Like Optional Sunglasses
Let’s be honest, are your aligners spending more time in their case than in your mouth?
Invisalign only works if you wear them 20-22 hours a day. If they are off for lunch, tea breaks, Zoom calls, gym sessions, and Netflix binges… well your teeth certainly can’t move themselves.
This is the number one reason patients say, “My Invisalign is not working.”
Fix:
- Set phone reminders.
- Pop them back in right after meals.
- Think of them like Wi-Fi: when it’s off, nothing works.
2. You’re Skipping Steps Like It’s a Netflix Intro Button
Every Invisalign tray is designed to shift your teeth just a little bit. If you skip a tray, rush through them, or hold on to one tray too long, then you are inevitably going to confuse your teeth.
This is when patients end up complaining about Invisalign not workingas they expected- because their teeth forgot the rhythm.
Fix:
- Stick to the schedule your orthodontist gives you (generally 1-2 weeks per tray).
- Use the Invisalign app or mark a calendar.
- No “binge-watching” aligners- one tray at a time.
3. Forgetting the Magical Chewies
You’ve probably noticed that sometimes your aligners don’t “sit” perfectly on your teeth.
Those little gaps? They are bad news. If the aligners don’t fit snugly, they aren’t able to apply pressure to move your teeth properly.
That is why chewies were made. A small roll of foam that you bite down on to make the aligners fit tightly to your teeth. If you skip the chewies, you risk failure with the Invisalign.
Fix:
- Make chewies your binge buddy. Watching cricket highlights? Movies? Just chew for 5-10 minutes after putting in a new tray.
4. Neglecting Your Attachments (Those Little Bumps that Do All the Hard Work)
If you think of the attachments like the sidekick in a superhero movie. They are little and tooth colored, but they are the ones doing all the heavy work. Without them, all of your aligners might not grip, especially for tricky tooth movements.
If you lose an attachment (and you may from biting into a hard panipuri ), you will find out quickly when your trays are no longer fitting well, and now yourInvisalign not working.
Fix:
- Check your attachments daily.
- If one falls off, call your dentist right away.
- Don’t wait to tell in the next appointment small delays create huge problems later.
5. Not Keeping Track of Your Invisalign Progress
Here’s a big mistake patients make: thinking that their teeth are moving “on schedule” without actually checking. By the time you realize the aligners don’t fit, you’ll be months behind.
That’s called a tracking fail. And yes, it is one of the top reasons why many cases of Invisalign fail.
Fix:
- Take selfies every week to compare with your previous smile photos.
- Track your progress using the Invisalign app (it allows you to take pictures too).
- Be sure to visit the dentist regularly to catch minor issues before they become major ones!
6. Eating & Drinking With Aligners In
We hear you’re hungry, you’re busy, and sometimes taking the trays off when you eat feels hassle-y!
But eating or drinking with aligners is a one-way ticket to dental tragedy.
Food can crack or warp them. Hot chai or coffee can stain them. If the tray is damaged, your teeth will not move as planned. Another way to screw up your chances of success with Invisalign!
Fix:
- Stick with water if aligners in. If it’s anything else, take it out, eat, rinse your mouth, and put aligners back in.
7. Being a Dentist at Home
This one is the biggie. Invisalign is not meant to be a DIY kit.
Dentists spend extensive time and training designing and prescribing an orthodontic plan for you and having the most recent science, statistics, and best practices guided by the professionals Skipping check-ups, not accepting some refinements, or doing some “creative hacks” (yes, we’ve seen boiling aligners to “reshape” them) are all leading indicators that your treatment is not going to work.
Fix:
- Trust your orthodontist.
- Show up for your follow-ups.
- Let the dentist guide your treatment refinements and changes.
Fixing Your Invisalign Not Working
By now, you have likely figured out what is delaying your smile. Here’s the best part virtually all of the issues were caused by you and can be reversed with a few calculated choices.
Here’s what you should do:
1. Wear your aligners for 20–22 hours daily.
2. Use chewies to make them fit better.
3. Don’t skip trays, and if you skipped a tray, follow the timeline.
4. Each week, you will want to track your Invisalign progress.
5. Call the dentist if your attachments break or aligners or trays stop fitting.
6. Don’t eat/drink with trays except for water.
7. Don’t skip any check-ups with your orthodontist.
Do this and you will be back on track and surprised back with your smile sooner than you realize.
At Partha Dental we have helped thousands of patients turn, “stuck” invisalign journeys to success stories!
Whether that be the easy rule of how to track invisalign progress, to broken attachments or adjustments on treatment. We’ve got you covered.
Call us now– 04041420000to book your appointment at Partha Dental today, and let’s ensure your Invisalign adventure ends with a picture-perfect smile.
8. FAQs
There may be a problem with your Invisalign treatment if the trays feel loose or do not fit snugly in your mouth, or if you have not seen visible changes for several weeks in a row.
Not really. It only “fails” when user instructions are not followed. Almost every case can be rectified with refinements and proper instruction.
Take mirror selfies weekly, use the app provided by Invisalign, check the efficacy of chewies.
Only for mild to moderate corrections! For complex cases, they both take similar time.
Immediate call your dentist Depending on timing, the dentist will instruct you to either wear the previous tray or move to the next tray.Read more
Dental Questions? We’re here to help!
Disclaimer:
The prices mentioned in this blog are indicative and may vary based on the severity of the condition, technology used, and materials suggested by the Dentist. They are accurate as of the date of publishing and subject to change as per clinic policy. Third-party or AI-generated estimates may not reflect actual clinic pricing. For accurate costs, please visit your nearest Partha Dental clinic.
