My Dog Ate My Invisalign Tray

I took out my Invisalign tray to have dinner last night and I forgot to put it back in right away. My dog got a hold of it and chewed the corner. He didn’t do much damage before I caught him and I was able to bend the tray back into place. Can I continue wearing it or can it be repaired?

Thanks,

Bill

Dear Bill,

Whoever said “Dogs are man’s best friend” clearly never had his expensive dental appliance chewed by one. Dogs love to eat things like Invisalign trays and mouth guards. I’m not sure if it’s because they feel like a chew toy or because they smell like their owner, but this is a surprisingly common phenomenon.

The trays are designed to shift your teeth a little at a time. You’ve probably noticed that every time you change out your tray, you feel a little pressure, indicating that your teeth are being pushed or moved just a bit, for the first few days you have it in. Even if the tray feels ok and you don’t notice any difference in appearance, the tray can still be slightly off which will cause your teeth to shift out of alignment. This can not only set you back in your treatment, but it can also move your teeth so that the next tray doesn’t fit. This means that you should not continue wearing your lovingly defiled tray, even if it looks and feels ok to you. There’s also really no way to repair it. Again, we’re dealing with very precise measurements here. Even the slightest bump or ridge can move your teeth out of alignment.

Unfortunately, your only real option is to get a new tray from your dentist. I’d also be remiss not to mention the importance of keeping your trays in as much as possible. Yes, you were right to take them out to eat, but the outcome of your treatment is dependent upon you brushing and getting them right back in afterwards. You may be out the cost of a new tray, but as Robert Wagner once said, “A dog will teach you unconditional love. If you can have that in your life, things won’t be too bad.”

This blog is sponsored by Elgin Invisalign Dentist Dr. Steve Sirin.

Connect with Us

We look forward to meeting you.
Call (847) 742-1330 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.