It is the day of your aligner fitting appointment. You are feeling both nervous and excited. You walk into the treatment room ready to put your clear aligners on but your dentist says “Hold up! We have not put your attachments on yet!”
If you are wondering what attachments are, you are not the only one!
Attachments are tooth colored bumps, made of a dental composite material. These bumps are bonded to specific areas of your teeth following your treatment plan. Attachments help clear aligners like Invisalign or Angel Aligner guide your teeth to the desired position.
Are Attachments Necessary For Invisalign?
The answer is yes, if you want to achieve the treatment outcomes that you desire.
Attachments allow your aligners to grip and move your teeth more accurately. Without the attachments, the aligners may not be able to move your teeth as predictably, and you may not get the smile that you desire! This is even if you wear your clear aligners on for 22 hours a day.
The shape, size, location, and number of attachments is dependent on the intended tooth movement for that particular tooth. Not every tooth requires an attachment. Your dentist or orthodontist will plan it out for you before your treatment commences.
If one of your attachments falls off midway through treatment, there is nothing to worry about. It happens! If this happens, you should seek the advice of your dentist or orthodontist to see whether it is necessary for you to go in earlier to have it replaced. Do not try to re-attach it back on yourself!
If you spot a missing attachment and do nothing, that particular tooth with the broken attachment may not move according to plan. When you decide to simply move on to the next set of aligners, that tooth has a higher chance of going off-track.
How Long Do Invisalign Attachments Stay On For?
Your attachments are generally supposed to stay on for the entire duration of treatment. Depending on your teeth condition and the plan of your dentist, they may or may not remove some attachments midway through your treatment. It really depends on your customized treatment plan.
Your dentist or orthodontist will have a “template” set to guide them into bonding the attachments onto your teeth. Your teeth will be cleaned and prepared for the material to stick to your tooth well. The composite material will be loaded into the template and then placed carefully into your mouth. Once in place, a blue light will be used to harden the material.
Once bonded on, it will just feel like a small bump on your tooth. The attachments are the same color as your tooth, so they are not very visible unless you look closely. This is generally a painless process, though you might feel some pressure when they are getting bonded on.
The good news is that you will be able to continue with your daily activities, including eating as per normal, with the attachments bonded on your teeth. It may feel a little clunky at first, or even slightly sharp.
If you are one that is prone to getting ulcers in your mouth, you may also develop some ulcers at the start as your tongue and cheeks are still getting used to the attachments! After the initial adjustment period, they will hardly bother you.
Depending on the position and size of the attachments, some people may experience a little bit more food trapping at certain areas in your mouth. However, this is easily brushed off as attachments do not interfere with your daily oral hygiene routine. You can continue to brush and floss as per normal.
There are no particular foods to avoid when you are on your aligner treatment. The attachments aren’t supposed to fall out very easily. Just take a little bit more care when you are brushing your teeth. I find that in my practice, attachments do not break off as often as metal brackets do.
At the end of clear aligner treatment, the attachments will be removed. Your dentist or orthodontist would polish it off, till the surface of your tooth is smooth, without damaging any of your original tooth enamel. And because there is no destruction to your tooth at all, this process is completely painless.
Can Other People See My Invisalign Attachments?
If you are concerned about whether others can see your attachments, the good news is that attachments are not very visible unless you look closely. They appear as small bumps on the surface of your teeth, and are usually the same shade as your original teeth.
Unless you drink a lot of tea, coffee, red wine, or even smoke, the borders of the attachment might stain more easily, and that would make it a bit more visible.
One of the best things about having aligners is that you can remove them to brush and floss your teeth as you would without braces. You can also continue to eat your favorite foods without worries. Your partner will probably not be able to feel it when kissing you!
Can I Refuse Invisalign Attachments?
Absolutely.
No matter who your treating dentist or orthodontist is, or whatever they recommend you, the final decision should always be yours.
Just know that without attachments, your teeth might have difficulty in moving to your desired position and you may not end up getting the smile of your dreams!
Attachments help guide your teeth into the right position.
Attachments might not look or sound fun but they are one of the key factors for successful treatment outcomes. If you are worried about your appearance after placing attachments, there really is nothing to worry about! The attachments are tooth-coloured and usually blend in with your clear aligners.
Dr Amanda Koh
https://kohedental.comDr Amanda Koh is the Founder and Managing Director of kohe™ Dental. She is also known as The Invisalign Dentist.She has a special interest in helping patients achieve their ideal smile outcomes with clear aligners like Invisalign and Angel Aligner and braces.