Invisalign aligners are built to handle daily wear, but they’re not indestructible. If you’ve noticed a crack or a break in one of your trays, don’t panic. It happens, and there’s a straightforward way to handle it.
First, work out how bad the damage is
A small crack that hasn’t split the aligner is usually fine to keep wearing until your next tray is ready, though it’s still worth mentioning to your dentist at your next check-in. If the aligner is properly broken and no longer holds its shape, it’s best to stop wearing it. A distorted aligner can’t apply the right pressure to your teeth and may end up working against your treatment plan rather than with it.
Get in touch rather than DIY-ing a fix
It can be tempting to patch a crack yourself, but home fixes (like using adhesive) aren’t a good idea. Those products aren’t designed to sit in your mouth for extended periods, and they can introduce substances you really don’t want against your teeth. The safer move is always to contact your dentist and let them assess the aligner properly. Depending on the damage, they may be able to repair it or organise a replacement tray.
How to reduce the chances of it happening again
- Take your aligners out before eating or drinking anything other than water
- Store them in their case whenever they’re not in your mouth
- Rinse and clean them regularly before putting them back in
- Avoid biting down on them or clenching unnecessarily
- Follow the technique your dentist showed you for inserting and removing them
Staying on track with treatment
A cracked aligner doesn’t necessarily derail your progress, provided it’s dealt with promptly. Your dentist can advise whether you need to wear your previous tray a little longer, move ahead to the next one, or wait for a replacement. The main thing is not to leave a broken aligner in longer than you should, or skip wearing one altogether.
Considering your options
If you’re partway through Invisalign treatment and run into an issue, our team is here to help sort it out quickly so your treatment can keep moving. And if you’re still deciding between Invisalign and traditional braces, we’re happy to talk through which approach might suit your lifestyle best as part of our broader orthodontics care.
Get in touch
A cracked aligner is a common hiccup, not a setback to panic about. Contact our team, tell us which tray you’re on, and we’ll sort out the next step so your treatment stays on track. Feel better about starting braces or aligners.
