Invisalign Attachments: Why Are They Needed?

Invisalign is a proprietary appliance that allows patients to have their teeth straightened and bad bites corrected using a series of removable, clear aligners.  These clear (plastic) aligners are changed about every 2 weeks and gradually move teeth into a position that has been treatment planned by an Orthodontist trained in using Invisalign.

The advantages of using clear, removable aligners to move teeth versus the traditional way with braces and wires are many. The first and most obvious advantage is that they are removable. You can eat what you want, brush and floss your teeth, and then place the aligners back in your mouth. Traditional braces require some dietary restrictions and are notorious for trapping food and irritating gums and cheeks.

Another big advantage is a significant decrease in discomfort. The aligners move your teeth about .25mm every two weeks. This small amount of movement is significant in aligning the teeth and correcting the bite, but it is small enough to cause minimal to zero discomfort.

Another distinct advantage is that the aligners are nearly invisible. Most of the time, people will not even realize you have them on! However, some “bumps,” known as attachments, are placed on the teeth, and these are sometimes visible (if you look closely for them).

Why Are Attachments Needed?

Over the past 13 years, Align Technology, the makers of Invisalign, have learned that some tooth movements would not occur with just the plastic aligner pushing on the teeth.  Through research and development and their teams of engineers, they have designed “attachments” that are placed on the teeth in a strategic position and with a specific design to move that tooth in the direction that was treatment planned by the doctor.

These “attachments” are placed using tooth-colored composite resin, similar to what is used to place traditional braces on teeth. They are removed very easily with a polishing tool at the end of the aligner therapy, and no damage is done to the teeth.

Are They Necessary?

Strategically placed attachments are necessary to obtain the desired results in the final positions of the teeth. Without certain types of attachments, the results from the Invisalign aligners would not be ideal. Most patients want the best results from their orthodontic treatment and understand that attachments are much less invasive than traditional braces and wires.

Make sure to talk with your doctor during your free consultation about the attachments and where you can expect them on your teeth. An Invisalign provider who has experience and a background in treating a significant number of cases will be able to tell you which teeth are most likely to need these attachments.