Tracking means the tray and teeth are staying synchronized
When teeth fail to reach the programmed position, visible gaps may appear between the aligner and the tooth or attachment.
The cause matters
Insufficient wear, a lost attachment, difficult movement, inadequate space or a distorted tray can produce similar-looking fit problems.
Do not keep advancing blindly
Moving into later trays when the current one is clearly not seating can compound the mismatch. Contact the treating office for case-specific instructions.
Early intervention is usually easier
A small tracking problem may be corrected with additional wear, attachment repair or another measure; a larger mismatch may require rescanning and replanning.
Questions to take to a consultation
- What is the diagnosis and treatment objective?
- Who will personally diagnose, plan and supervise treatment?
- What reasonable alternatives exist?
- What is included in the total fee, including refinements and retainers?
- How often are in-person visits expected?
Sources and verification
Primary and professional references used to review this page. External information can change; verify current provider and regulatory details at the publisher.