For some patients, Invisalign clear aligners alone are not effective, which is where the attachments come in. Attachments are typically used in more complex cases and can help with moving teeth in a direction that the aligners alone cannot achieve, such as rotating a tooth or raising it above the gum line to align with surrounding teeth.
The attachments allow the aligners to apply more pressure to the teeth because they give them something to grip.
While it is possible to achieve results with Invisalign clear aligners alone, the attachments can do a lot to improve your experience.
For example, Invisalign attachments allow patients who have severe malocclusion to access Invisalign treatment. In addition, Invisalign attachments:
Attachments allow the aligners to grip the teeth better, which provides the additional force required to make the proper movements to correct a malocclusion.
Attachments are placed in specific spots on the teeth, allowing more precise movement of teeth.
Some research indicates that since the attachments provide extra force, treatment may be reduced.
There are several different types and shapes of attachments, which means we can customize your treatment to meet your specific needs.
Typically, the basic treatment plans do not require the use of attachments- but many of the plans recommend or require them. During your consultation, Dr. Kurtz will determine if attachments need to be included in your treatment plan. If you have the following, Invisalign attachments may need to be included in your treatment plan:
If your teeth do not align when your mouth is closed, you have severe malocclusion. In most cases of severe malocclusion, Invisalign alone is not effective. You may require several attachments to facilitate the movement of teeth into their proper position within the jaw.
Some of our patients have one tooth that is significantly crooked. This can make it almost impossible for Invisalign alone to be effective and requires the use of one attachment on the affected tooth.
It is very important to note that nearly every patient we see needs at least one attachment included in their treatment plan. It is very rare to encounter a patient that doesn't need any attachments at all. That being said, if the following applies to you, attachments may not be necessary:
If your malocclusion is very mild, you may not need attachments.
Most patients start seeing results within the first few weeks of treatment. Dr. Kurtz will be evaluating your treatment every few weeks to ensure that it is going as planned. If not, we may recommend adding attachments as part of your plan. However, if treatment is progressing as expected, it means the aligners are effective and you can continue without them.
Invisalign aligners are designed to be removed while eating and brushing/flossing your teeth. However, they should be in your mouth for at least 20 hours a day. If you are wearing them as directed, treatment will be effective and you should not need attachments.
During your consultation, Dr. Kurtz will determine if Invisalign attachments should be included in your treatment plan. If so, we will be able to plan the position and angle of the attachments. Then, we can move forward with placing them.
First, Dr. Kurtz will use a special gel to clean and prepare the tooth's surface. Once the gel is washed off, a bonding agent will be applied, and a template will be placed on your teeth. This will help ensure that the attachments are placed in the right spots. We will fill the spaces in the template with composite resin, which is hardened with UV light. Finally, the template is removed.
Dr. Kurtz will then teach you how to properly insert and remove your aligners to keep from damaging them.
When you are wearing your aligners, the attachments should not be seen. However, when you do not have them in, they may be slightly more noticeable as little white bumps on your teeth. Dr. Kurtz will match the resin as closely to your natural tooth color as possible to reduce visibility. Still, while they may be somewhat visible, they are not as obvious as the brackets and wires of traditional metal braces.
If you have malocclusion and believe that Invisalign may be a viable treatment option for you, schedule your consultation with Dr. Kurtz at Invisalign Toronto today. Dr. Kurtz is a Diamond and Top 1% Provider of Invisalign services. We have 2 locations to serve you and our hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Friday 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
During your consultation, Dr. Kurtz will take some images and evaluate your bite to determine if Invisalign is right for you. He will also determine at this time if attachments should be included as part of your treatment.
We believe that everyone deserves to have the straight smile they desire, therefore, our friendly office staff will work with your insurance provider to determine your coverage, as well as explain our financing options.
The team at Invisalign Toronto understands that you have questions about Invisalign and Invisalign attachments. We will be more than happy to address each and every concern you may have. Still, we wanted to bring your attention to some of the most common questions we hear when it comes to Invisalign attachments.
Removing the attachments is an easy process- but should only be done by a professional, as you could damage your teeth if you try to do it yourself. At the end of treatment, Dr. Kurtz will remove the attachments with a special tool designed to chip away the resin. Once all of the resin has been removed, your teeth will be polished so that there is no indication that the attachments were ever there. This process is painless, but you may feel some minor vibrations during the procedure.
Installation of Invisalign attachments should not hurt because they bond to your teeth- but your aligners may feel snug for the first few days, which may cause slight discomfort. In some cases, you may have sore lips, gums, and cheeks because your mouth needs time to adjust to the attachments and the force of the aligners on your teeth. This can be managed with OTC pain relievers.
Slight discomfort is an indication that the treatment is working. Once your mouth gets adjusted to the attachments and aligners, the pain should subside. If it does not, schedule an appointment as soon as possible so that Dr. Kurtz can determine the cause and help you get some relief.
Typically, Invisalign attachments will stay on for the duration of your treatment. However, this is determined on a case-by-case basis. During your consultation, we will determine if you need attachments at all and how long they should be worn. It is possible that, during treatment, if it is determined that treatment is progressing as expected, we may be able to remove the attachments.
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