If you’ll be travelling for more than a couple weeks, please let the Laurent Orthodontics team know so that we can plan your treatment around when we won’t be seeing you. That may mean giving you extra Invisalign, or changing the wires we use, or timing of rubber bands, or not starting something brand new, etc. In most cases, even being gone for a month or two won’t interfere with the timing or progress of your treatment. Longer than that, we may need to have a plan to make sure your treatment is progressing as we expect.
For any time away from home, you should be prepared in case something goes wrong while you’re away. Bring extra wax, rubber bands, and back up Invisalign trays as appropriate for your treatment.
You can always text us a picture and we’ll help troubleshoot the issue you’re having. Many of our patients can correct their problem with a tweezers and some guidance!
The most common issues & their temporary fixes are:
Broken Bracket
The brace comes off your tooth. If the brace is sliding on the wire, it is secure and can wait to be repaired until you return. If the movement of the brace is bothering you, try to hold it in place with some wax. If it is the most back brace that broke, the wire will be long in that section of the mouth. If the wax won’t stay (& sometimes it won’t), you can try to trim the wire with a nail clipper behind the last brace that is still attached. Be careful though! You don’t want to lose/drop/swallow the piece of wire you cut and sometimes you actually make it MORE pokey if you don’t trim it well.
Poking Wire
If the end of the wire starts to feel long and pokey, the best solution is wax on the end. Make sure it warms up and you really smoosh it onto the end of it. In a real pinch, small pieces of cotton ball can cover the ends well too.
Not Wearing Aligners
I tell all my patients, “Invisalign works on vacation!”. However, I know your routine will be different – eating more frequently or aren’t somewhere you can wash your hands or brush, for example. If you’re not coming close to your 22 hours/day wear, wear them EVERY NIGHT and don’t count those days towards when you should change to the next aligner. For example, if you’re changing aligners every ten day, but eight of those days were on vacation – change the dates on the package so that you’ve worn them for 22 hours per/day for ten actual days.
Lost Retainer/Aligner
If you’ve lost your retainer, please contact ASAP when you return to have a new one made. We may be able to order one while you’re gone to have ready to deliver when you return – give us a call/text and we can let you know if that’s possible or if we need to see you in person. If you’ve lost your current aligner, hopefully you have the previous one as back up or the next one available. If you’re not sure what to do, please give us a call/text/email and we’ll help you.
Broken Retainer
If it is still wearable – no small pieces or sharp parts – you should continue wearing it until we can check it for an adjustment or recommend a remake. If it’s not wearable, it’s even more important that you make an appointment ASAP when you return.
As a final back up, there are orthodontists all over the world who could likely help with a serious situation. They likely won’t fix a brace but could cut an end or remove something that’s broken in a way you can’t stand. You’ll have to fill out paperwork and there will likely be charge for this visit. Most orthodontists aren’t willing to see minor issues and won’t fix broken brackets, etc. If they do remove something (a brace, an expander, etc.), please save it because we can usually reuse/replace it when you return.
And as always, you’re welcome to call/email/text us questions or pictures of any issues you’re having and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Have a great trip!