Invisalign is widely recognized as being a perfectly comfortable way to straighten teeth in a manner that’s barely noticeable to anyone but the patient undergoing Invisalign treatment. While Invisalign treatment is meant to be undetectable to onlookers by its very design, the treatment is highly effective at giving patients their very best smile.
To achieve their best smile, some patients need more than Invisalign clear aligners. In addition to their aligners, some people will need Invisalign attachments to achieve the results they’re hoping for.
The Purpose of Invisalign Attachments
Invisalign aligners are used to treat a variety of orthodontic conditions, such as spacing, overbites and crossbites. Each set of aligners you receive will gently move your teeth closer to proper position. Sometimes, patients need attachments for their Invisalign aligners to do their job.
Thanks to Invisalign attachments, Invisalign can be used to treat a wider array of conditions than it could without them. In general, an Invisalign attachment acts like a little handle that gives aligners a tiny target to push on during treatment.
An Explanation of Invisalign Attachments
If your orthodontist says you need Invisalign attachments, don’t panic. Getting attachments for your Invisalign treatment doesn’t involve any drilling or painful shots.
An Invisalign attachment is a small, tooth-colored dot of bonding material that’s placed on certain teeth in precise positions. These dots can be different sizes depending on their specific purpose. These Invisalign attachments are located on the front of a patient’s teeth and they enable the person’s aligners to grip their teeth smoothly. While the attachments bond to your teeth, they’re easily removed with some painless polishing at the end of your Invisalign treatment.
Buttons and Elastics
Tiny dots of bonding material may not be the only attachments you’ll need. You might also need buttons and elastics to achieve your best smile.
Buttons are basically small plastic or metal brackets that serve as anchors for elastics. If you need buttons and elastics, it’s likely that your clear aligners will be trimmed a bit. Trimming your aligners will enable you to use buttons and elastics without jeopardizing the way your aligners fit over your teeth.
See If You’re a Candidate for Invisalign Treatment
Before you concern yourself with Invisalign attachments, you need to see if you’re a candidate for this kind of treatment. To see if Invisalign treatment is right for you, contact Clearsmile Orthodontics to make an appointment to see Dr. Colin Webb.
As a Diamond Plus Provider, Dr. Webb treats hundreds of patients with Invisalign every six months. If you’re eligible for Invisalign treatment, Dr. Webb will create a custom treatment plan for you. Dr. Webb and his talented team will oversee your treatment and guide you along the path that will lead you to your best smile.
To learn more about Invisalign treatment and attachments, get in touch with the experts at our Charlotte, NC orthodontic practice on South Boulevard. We look forward to telling you all about Invisalign and seeing if you’re a candidate for this kind of treatment soon!