Why should you use attachements?

Clear aligners have quickly become a mainstay in orthodontic treatment. Unlike fixed appliance therapy, clear aligners offer comfort and a very attractive cosmetic advantage. Owing to the elevated aesthetics provided by these clear aligners like Invisalign, we are now coming across an upsurge of adults and teens seeking clear aligner therapy.

Like traditional braces, clear aligners help correct your bite and straighten out your teeth by making small movements, over a period of time. Interestingly, Invisalign and other clear aligners work by switching out a sequence of aligner trays for a new set every 1 to 2 weeks until the desired teeth positions are accomplished.

Sometimes, however, dentists recommend attachments be placed with clear aligners. These are small button-like structures that are directly bonded to your teeth. While patients love clear aligners for the virtually invisible esthetics they provide, it is important to understand everything that goes into the treatment. This includes understanding why attachments are essential to your orthodontic process.

What are attachments and what do they do?

Treatment with aligners is fairly simple – you receive a new set of discrete aligner trays every few weeks which helps resolve issues of malocclusion. In some cases, aligners on their own, may not be able to exert forces enough to guide the teeth into their new positions. This is where attachments come in.

Attachments are small bulbs that are attached to your teeth with the help of a tooth-coloured composite. They are necessary in cases when the size, shape, or position of the tooth prevents it from being able to move properly with aligners alone.

Aligners are akin to brace wires. This means that attachments are to aligners what brackets are to braces. They provide leverage to the aligners so that they can achieve more complex movements like rotating, lengthening, or tipping the teeth in the desired direction. They anchor the aligners, allowing them to stay in place. They also give the extra boost and precision needed to provide the right movement to the teeth.

Depending on your teeth and the complexity of your case, the orthodontic will assign a particular shape of attachment for your aligner therapy. The attachment may be round, triangular, square, or rectangular.

If you’re advised for a clear aligner treatment, you may worry that attachments can make aligners more noticeable. However, since they are made of tooth-coloured composite materials, they will inherently blend in with your natural teeth.