What Are Invisalign Attachments?

If you are dealing with tooth alignment or bite issues, you don’t have to go through metal braces treatment.

Invisalign in East Amherst is a discreet and popular orthodontic alternative that can deliver impressive results.

However, if you've been researching Invisalign, then you might have read that these clear aligners are not as effective as braces. But they can use something called attachments to treat more complex alignment issues. 

Keep reading this short blog post from The Ivory Dental Co. to learn more about this topic.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign is a type of clear aligner that patients wear to reposition their teeth. The process works by putting constant pressure on the teeth, which slowly helps them move to better placement and correct alignment or bite issues.

Pressure is a key component of braces as well, so it’s something Invisalign and braces have in common.

Patients will need to wear their aligners at least 22 hours a day for best results and will go through several sets of trays until they correct their smile. 

The trays are custom-made by the Invisalign lab using scans of your mouth, which create a precise movement of your teeth.

Where do Invisalign Attachments Come in?

Compared to braces, Invisalign can’t put the same amount of pressure on your teeth to correct severe misalignment or rotate the teeth.

Traditionally speaking, Invisalign was used to correct minor to moderate cases of orthodontic issues, while the more complex ones were left for braces.

But attachments extend clear aligner therapy to more patients than ever before. They are small buttons that are bonded to the teeth. When the aligners go on your teeth, thanks to these pins, Invisalign can put even more pressure on the tooth. 

With attachments added, a dentist may also use rubber bands to help improve jaw alignment.

How Do Invisalign Attachments Affect Your Treatment?

If you need attachments in combination with your clear aligners, here are some changes you can expect:

• Heightened visibility: Buttons can be tooth-colored, but even so, they can make your treatment less discreet;

• Harder maintenance: Invisalign maintenance is easy since you can remove the aligners to brush your teeth. But food and bacteria tend to latch near the buttons, so you will need to focus more on properly cleaning your teeth every day than normally.

• White spots: It doesn’t always happen, but getting attachments may leave white spots on the surface of the teeth. They can be removed through whitening or bonding, however.

Getting Invisalign in East Amherst

Are you from East Amherst and interested in getting Invisalign? Then you can see Dr. Bridget Sweeney for a short appointment to find out if you're a good candidate for these clear aligners!

To get started, schedule an Invisalign consultation at The Ivory Dental Co. online or call our office at (716)-221-0042 to find out more about our services.