Clear aligners are designed to fit seamlessly into daily life — but it’s normal to have questions along the way. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive at Alba Dental Clinic, with practical guidance on what to do in common situations.
What do I do if I lose one aligner?
If you misplace one aligner, we generally recommend moving forward to the next aligner.
Because you’ve “jumped ahead” slightly, you should then wear the next aligner for longer period of time to allow your teeth to adjust.
During this period, using a chewie is extremely important:
- When you first put in the next aligner, chew for 1-2 minutes
- This helps the aligner seat properly and supports effective tooth movement
What do I do if I lose one aligner and I have no more aligners?
If you lose your aligner and it is the last aligner you have, please call the clinic and book an appointment as soon as possible.
In the meantime:
- Wear the latest aligner you still have (the last one available to you)
- Do not leave your teeth without an aligner, as this may allow shifting
What if one attachment falls off?
If an attachment falls off, that’s okay. You can typically continue treatment as normal.
Please let us know at your next appointment, and we can arrange to have the attachment placed back on.
What do I do if I’m going on holiday?
If you’re travelling, we recommend:
- Bringing extra aligners ahead (just in case you lose one or run into issues)
Also, holidays can make it harder to wear aligners for the usual 20–22 hours a day. If you know your wear time will drop, you may need to extend the number of days per aligner.
For example:
- Instead of 12 days, you may wear an aligner for 14 days
What happens if my pet eats my aligner?
If your pet eats your aligner, it’s important to move on to the next aligner.
Similar to losing an aligner, you should:
- Wear the next aligner for longer period of time
- Use your chewies frequently to help seat the aligner properly
What do I do if my aligner is not sitting properly (not tracking)?
If your aligner is not tracking and you can see a slight gap, start with the basics:
- Use your chewie every time you put your aligners in
- Use the chewie for 5 minutes
- Aim for 20–22 hours per day of wear time
If there is still a gap:
- You can stack chewies on top of each other and bite down firmly to help apply extra pressure and seat the aligner better
- You may also need to go back to the previous aligner and wear it for a few extra days
When in doubt, please call us — we can guide you based on what you’re seeing.
How do I check what number aligner I’m on?
Each aligner has a small code printed on it.
On the biting surface, you’ll see:
- “U” or “L” (Upper or Lower arch)
- Followed by a number, which indicates your aligner set number
What if I feel myself moving my jaw with aligners in?
Aligners can feel unusual at the beginning, especially as your bite and tooth position may feel different from what you’re used to.
Some patients develop a habit of moving their jaw around. If you notice this:
- Do your best to break the habit, as we don’t want you to continue doing it
- If you’re struggling, give us a call and we’ll advise you
Why do I feel more thirsty?
This is a very common experience, especially during the start of treatment while you’re adapting.
With aligners:
- Your teeth can feel drier because the surface feels different from natural tooth texture
- Saliva produced more than usual
- Some patients feel more dehydrated
The best solution:
- Carry a bottle of water and sip regularly throughout the day
In Summary
- If you lose an aligner, you can usually move on to the next one and wear it longer (often two weeks), with extra chewie used to seat it well.
- If you lose your last aligner, contact the clinic as soon as possible and wear the latest aligner you still have.
- Attachments falling off are usually not an emergency — continue as normal and inform the clinic at your next visit.
- For holidays, bring extra aligners and extend wear days if your daily wear time drops.
- If aligners are not tracking, focus on chewie use and wear time, and contact the clinic if the gap persists.
- Increased thirst is common early on — stay hydrated and keep water with you.