There are several different brands of digitally customised clear aligners available for dental practitioners to use. Invisalign® is one of the most well-know.
Invisalign® attachments are small lumps of dental bonding placed on your teeth to help direct the aligners. Depending on where the attachments are placed, they can be noticeable to a keen-eyed observer. Here, we’ll look at some ways to ensure you’re doing all you can to keep your attachments and clear and unnoticeable as possible throughout your Invisalign treatment course.
Note: This product is not available for purchase by the general public. Always follow the directions for use.
What You Need to Know About Invisalign® Attachments
Most patients who undergo Invisalign® treatment require attachments. The small, tooth-coloured dots of translucent material are placed at certain locations on particular teeth. Similarly to fixed braces, Invisalign attachments are set in place with a certain frequency of blue light. This technology ensures that there is no need to lie in the chair with your mouth open, waiting for the bond to set.
Your attachments will click into corresponding little hollows on your Invisalign® aligners, helping your teeth to move as determined by your treatment plan.
Attachments are an important part of most specialist orthodontist managed clear aligner treatments, and needed to ensure that aligners can deliver concentrated, directed pressure exactly where needed in order to achieve complex movements. The attachments help to ensure you get the best possible outcome for your orthodontic treatment.
The position and amount of attachments required is highly individual, depending on your orthodontic needs. As this can be unpredictable, be prepared to receive more attachments than you may expect. If the position or amount of attachments is something that is important for you to understand at the outset, we’d encourage you to let your orthodontist know at your initial consultation.
In any case, the good news is that there are a few things you can do to make your Invisalign® attachments less noticeable, including:
Limit Drinks That Stain Your Teeth
Drinking pretty much anything that can stain your teeth, like tea, coffee and red wine, will stain your Invisalign® attachments. So, during your treatment, aim to limit the amount of stain-inducing foods and drinks you consume if you have to wear Invisalign® attachments.
Brush Often
Rinsing your mouth after consuming stain-inducing foods and drinks as well as regularly brushing your teeth can help keep your teeth sparkling and make your attachments less obvious.
Ditch the Lipstick
In some cases lipstick can transfer to the attachments and even your aligners, so you may want to put off the colourful pout during your treatment and go natural for a while! Lip balms or subtly-tinted glosses can be a great alternative.
Invisalign® attachments may seem like a burden, but with the right care, you can make them far less noticeable.
The best way to find out if your treatment requires attachments and how best to take care of them is to talk to a qualified, specialist orthodontist like Dr. Fine. Book your free* assessment today.
*If orthodontic X-rays are required, a fee of $180 applies. See Terms and Conditions. Treatment may not be suitable for you.
Find out more about Invisalign®:
- Learn more about Invisalign aligner treatment, and how long Invisalign treatment generally takes to work.
- Learn about the differences between Invisalign vs braces, and choose the best treatment for you.
- Read more about Invisalign cost in Sydney.
