Why Some Invisalign Cases Need Attachments- Answers From Our Langley Orthodontist

LANGLEY, British Columbia - April 22, 2018 - PRLog -- After deciding to use Invisalign 's clear and removable aligners ( https://www.langleyorthodontics.com/site/invisalign-langley ) to a get beautiful, impeccably aligned smile, the orthodontist may need a little extra help from Invisalign attachments to align teeth perfectly. What are attachments, buttons, and elastics, and why do some orthodontic cases require their usage?

"Using Invisalign is an excellent option for discreetly aligning teeth and making bite corrections," says Langley orthodontist Dr. Kanani, "however some more difficult cases require the additional use of attachments, buttons, and elastics. These additions allow us to offer Invisalign to a broader range of patients."

Why Are Invisalign Attachments Needed?

Invisalign corrects teeth by using a series of removable, clear plastic aligners ( https://www.langleyorthodontics.com/site/invisalign-langley ) . Each aligner is a little different than the previous one. When the aligner is new, it is purposely a little 'ill-fitting.' This misfit is how the tray slowly encourages teeth into proper alignment.

However, it is only plastic, and precise movements are difficult to accomplish with removable braces alone. In some cases, the movement itself creates a challenge, such as rotating a tooth or trying to bring more of the tooth above the gum line (extruding it).

In other cases, a tooth's characteristics, such as the shape, size, or angulation may make it difficult for the aligner to apply adequate pressure to it. In cases like these, placing an attachment can provide an anchor point to direct the strength of the aligner more successfully to the tooth.

What Are Invisalign Attachments?

In cases requiring additional pressure, such as those mentioned above, Dr. Kanani may place small, tooth-colored spots of dental bonding material on specific teeth. These little 'bumps,' as many Langley removable braces patients call them, are strategically shaped and placed according to the desired result. The application isn't painful; the orthodontist will simply bond a little dot to the front of the tooth.

Attachments may be square, rectangular, circular, ellipsoidal or even triangular. The shape and orientation of a button depend on the purpose it serves.  For example, an attachment designed for tooth rotation will be shaped differently than one aimed at tooth intrusion or extrusion. Correct placement of attachments ensures that sufficient force is placed in the exact spot required to align the teeth successfully by providing a place for new aligners to grasp.

How Attachments Are Placed

Orthodontists receive a clear plastic template from Align Technology, the people who make Invisalign.  This template is almost identical to a regular aligner, but it will have small humps that match up to specific places on certain teeth.

After cleaning the surface each tooth for the bonding process, the orthodontist will then fill the humps in the template with a dental bonding material that matches the patient's teeth as closely as possible.

Next, the template is placed over the patient's teeth. The orthodontist will then bond the attachments by shining a blue-colored light. Once the bonding material has hardened, the template will be removed leaving only the small bumps of bonding or attachments.

Buttons and Elastics

Besides attachments, the orthodontist may use buttons and elastics. The buttons are simply brackets that provide an anchor point for an elastic to be attached. In this scenario, the orthodontist will likely trim the aligner to allow room for the button and elastic.

"Attachments, buttons, and elastics give your Invisalign aligner more to grab onto and direct your bite into proper position ( https://www.langleyorthodontics.com/site/invisalign-clear... ) ," says Dr. Kanani. "Invisalign has advanced so much that we can pretty much align any patient teeth with this orthodontic treatment."

Attachments, buttons, and elastics help orthodontists make tooth corrections that would not be possible with clear aligners alone. Before treatment begins the orthodontist will discuss what attachments, if any, will be needed.

Think Invisalign is right for you? Call (604) 533-6696 to schedule a free consultation ( https://www.langleyorthodontics.com/site/contact-map-lang... ) at Langley Orthodontics today to get the smile you've always wanted with Invisalign.

About Dr. Aly Kanani: Having treated over 3,500 Invisalign patients to date, Dr. Kanani is one of only three others in British Columbia with extensive experience and success with Invisalign® and Invisalign® Teen.