Depending on how long you've worn your Invisalign tray, you may need to get a replacement or you may be able to move onto the next set. It is not recommended to continue wearing the damaged trays.
Nonetheless, if you do need to get a replacement set of aligners, there will be a cost.
How long have you worn your Invisalign trays?
If you've worn your Invisalign trays for at least 5-7 days, we recommend moving onto the next set. However, if it has been less than 5-7 days, you should contact your dentist to inquire about potentially getting a replacement set instead.
At least 5-7 days of wear: You can try putting on the next set of trays to see if it fits because usually after about 5-7 days of wear, the teeth should've finished moving. That is how long it takes for the teeth to settle into place.
Less than 5-7 days of wear: If you haven't had the chance to wear the Invisalign for at least 5-7 days you should contact your dentist.
You may need a replacement set because the teeth may not have had enough time to move.
In the meantime, you should put back on your old set to prevent any potential shifting of the teeth.
You may be wondering why your dentist sometimes have you wearing a tray for up to 2 weeks at a time or even longer. The reason is because they are waiting for the bone to catch up and fill in.
Teeth typically finish moving into position in about 5-7 days.
The rest of the time is spent waiting for the bone to fill in to stabilize the teeth!
Moving the teeth too quickly may result in root resorption.
Ultimately what you should do would depend on how long you've been able to wear your aligners. If it hasn't been enough time, you will need a replacement set. If it's been an adequate amount of time, it is more practical to move forward with the next set!
You shouldn't wear broken Invisalign
It's not safe to wear Invisalign trays that are cracked, broken or damaged because there may be unintended consequences.
Unintended consequences:
Unintended teeth shifting. If your invisalign tray is damaged, its structural integrity will also be damaged. It could very well not be holding your teeth in place as intended. What if the teeth shift in the WRONG direction because of it?!?!
Mouth injuries. Damaged trays will have sharp and rough edges which can cut your tongue, lips or cheeks. That may result in injuries or the formation of canker sores.
Aspiration risk. It is unlikely for any individual to accidentally swallow a whole intact invisalign tray but a small broken one can be swallowed. It is an aspiration and choking risk, similar to why nesbit flippers are frowned upon.
In summary, if you persist on wearing the cracked, broken or damaged aligner trays, it may actually hamper your orthodontic treatment progress.
Cost to replace damaged Invisalign trays
On average, it costs about $40-$50 to replace a set of damaged Invisalign trays. Most of the cost is actually due to the 2 day UPS shipping that they use. Yes, that is the standard shipping method and is what they use for ALL of their aligners including the vivera retainers.
Can it be free? No, because we've never had an instance where they would replace our patient's trays at no cost. They will bill your dentist and your dentist will pass the cost onto you with no exception!
The takeaway point here is to NOT lose or damage your trays whenever possible. These are additional costs that you will have to factor into your overall orthodontic treatment.
That's what we do
That is basically what our dentists in Long Island City do when our Invisalign patients have a cracked or broken aligner tray. If you've worn it for at least 5-7 days, we recommend moving onto the next set. If it is before that then it may be better to get a replacement set.
Just be aware that there is a replacement fee. You should probably budget to have about 1-2 replacements throughout your entire treatment. Although most of our patients usually end up not needing it.
