Wearing the last tray longer instead of refinements?

[leevshan]

The last tray is supposed/designed to be your final 'perfect' tooth position.
If this is so, I wonder if one could just wear it longer instead of going for refinements? Assuming the teeth need minor correction.
(I think the last few trays won't fit anyway if there is more than minor adjustment needed)

[Sunny]

The refinements are to correct issues that weren't completed completely or correctly during the first stage of treatment.

Due to this, the final tray may not (and rarely is) supposed/designed to be your final 'perfect' tooth position. It's more about these trays being designed by a computer to the best of what the program says can be done.

Talk to your ortho about this, as I'm sure your professional can explain it better than I have.

[myhollywoodsmile]

Hmm, also what looks right on the computer screen doesn't necessarily translate perfectly to what looks right in your mouth. As my orthodontist is always telling me a clincheck is a guide, nothing more. It is only when you get down to the end result you can tell what, if anything, needs refining. in my experience my teeth fitted the last upper tray perfectly, but I still needed 9 refinements and even after those they aren't perfect so we are going to do a second refinement. Having said that I am a picky person...

[leevshan]

myhollywoodsmile, how many refinements are included with your Invisalign?
If you have used them all, and you are still not satisfied, do you have to pay more for another refinements?

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

Unfortunately this does not work. There is a limited amount of movement possible per tray. In addition, the aligner is plastic and does fatigue, meaning it will not maintain its form forever with different pressures on it.

Don't look at refinement as failure of treatment. Expect refinement as you would for detailing a smile with braces (bending wires, repositioning brackets, wearing elastics).

There are two main reasons for "failure" of treatment using Invisalign:

1. Improper treatment planning/diagnosis by the doctor.
2. Lack of patient compliance with the aligners.

If you wear your aligners as directed, and your orthodontist/dentist is experienced with Invisalign, you should not worry about being unsatisfied with your final outcome after refinement.

[leevshan]

Ah, so the tray does fatigue... that's probably why I felt like after two weeks, the tray seems to be more elastic/stretched.
Cheers Dr. Tam