Invisalign trays work hard on their own, but sometimes they need a little boost to fit as snugly as possible and encourage both crowns and roots to shift into their new positions. Enter Invisalign attachments. Most Invisalign patients have these little dots strategically placed on the teeth to improve the speed and efficiency of their chosen alignment method.
Here are just some of the facts to know about Invisalign attachments.
1. They come in different shapes.
Attachments can be squares, rectangles, triangles, or other shapes. The dots are made of tooth-colored composite filling material and bonded to the teeth for the duration of your treatment. They are all small and designed to be unobtrusive, but the kinds of attachments you receive will depend on the goal that is trying to be achieved. Sometimes the shape, angle, or size of a specific tooth needs extra help to force it into its proper spot.
2. Location is strategic.
It may seem like the attachments on your teeth are haphazardly placed because you may have one on a front tooth, another on a molar. They may be situated toward the bottom of a tooth or right in the middle. But each placement is very strategic so a tray can work most effectively.
3. They can be annoying.
Any Invisalign-wearer will tell you that even though they love their chosen alignment method, after a while it can sometimes be annoying. You simply don’t want to deal with it anymore. Unfortunately, you must press on, but you can take breaks from treatment when you eat meals and clean your teeth. The attachments, however, are on there for the long haul.
Attachments are more visible than the trays because they do stick out a little and, if you don’t clean them carefully, food and bacteria can build up on them. They also make it a little more difficult to snap aligners into place because they must be very precise to get the dots into the spaces created just for them.
4. Every tooth does not need an attachment.
Your Fort Lauderdale Invisalign provider will determine at the start of treatment just how many attachments you will need to make your trays work best. Typically, not every tooth requires an attachment, and some may not be necessary for the entirety of your treatment.
5. Adding an attachment is easy.
There are no invasive steps necessary to get the composite buttons in place. The tooth is prepped as though for bonding, a template will be used to mark the attachment’s location, and the template will be filled and cured to ensure that the small dot is in the proper place. Removal of the dots requires light buffing and nothing more. Eventually, you’ll forget they were even there.
6. Attachments make Invisalign possible for more people.
Some people have been told that Invisalign could never work for them, that their alignment issues are too complicated, but this orthodontic alternative is possible for more people because of attachments. Those tiny, silly shapes help trays achieve tooth movements that might otherwise have been impossible.
Are You a Good Candidate for Invisalign?
You’re not destined to have attachments if you get Invisalign. Some people don’t need the bumps at all. Don’t let attachments discourage you from considering Invisalign. This revolutionary treatment has created millions of beautiful, straight smiles for so many adults. Find out if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Charmaine Johnson, Fort Lauderdale Invisalign provider at Premier Smile Center.
