I have been talking with my dentist about having Invisalign done for awhile now. One of the biggest things he (and my mom) lectured me on is that it takes patient participation for success. I finally convinced them both I was totally on board, especially since my mom chipped in to help me straighten my teeth before my upcoming wedding. Would you believe that in the first week, I melted my Invisalign trays?! I’m so embarrassed and don’t know what to do. I took them out during breakfast and when I washed my PJ pants, I never took the trays out of the pockets. They have shrunk a little bit because they feel even more snug than they were. Do you think I can get away without telling anyone? Or do they need to be redone?

– Kendra in Lousiana

Kendra,

First things first, take a deep breath. Although it sounds like you were on a mission to prove to your mom and cosmetic dentist that you were ready to be responsible with your Invisalign treatment.

You mention that they feel snug, which is to be expected since the aligners are made of plastic. Exposure to any type of heat can distort them. The misshaped aligners may not seem like a big deal, but since the trays were calculated for precise movements of your teeth, it may actually hinder the new positions that your teeth need to be moved to. If the ill-fitting trays don’t adequately re-position the teeth, there is a good chance that you won’t be ready for your next set of trays.

You’re not going to want to hear this. But you need to stop using them. There is a chance they will be okay, but it is important to wear the trays for the allotted time and per the instructions given by your dentist. At the the very least, it would be good to have them checked out by your dentist. Then, he can help determine if the first trays may need to be redone. Each set of Invisalign aligners builds off the previous set. Since you are just beginning your Invisalign treatment plan, you need to achieve the movement goal of that first set before proceeding to the next set.

Good luck! And trust me, you’re not the first person to have melted their trays. Hopefully you learned your lesson and it’s smooth sailing from here on out.