If your Invisalign treatment plan includes attachments, you may be wondering what they are and why they are necessary. Here is a clear explanation of this commonly misunderstood aspect of Invisalign.
What Are Invisalign Attachments?
Attachments (also called buttons) are small, tooth-coloured shapes bonded to specific teeth as part of your Invisalign treatment. They are made from the same composite resin material used for tooth-coloured fillings. In size and shape, they might resemble a tiny raised dot, rectangle, triangle, or half-sphere — depending on the specific type of tooth movement they are designed to facilitate.
Why Attachments Are Needed
Aligners work by applying light, continuous pressure across broad tooth surfaces. But some movements require more precise or complex force application than a smooth aligner can provide. Attachments give the aligner something to grip — creating leverage points that allow it to move teeth in ways that would otherwise be impossible or imprecise. Rotations, extrusions (bringing a tooth forward), and some vertical movements typically require attachments.
Will They Be Noticeable?
Attachments are designed to be as discreet as possible — they are tooth-coloured and match your natural tooth shade. When aligners are in, the attachments are effectively invisible. Without the aligners, they are small and subtle, though they can be felt with the tongue. Most patients adapt to the sensation quickly and find attachments much less noticeable than they expected.
Caring for Your Attachments
Food and plaque can accumulate around attachments. Brush carefully around each attachment at every brushing session. Avoid very hard, crunchy, or sticky foods that could dislodge an attachment — if one falls off between appointments, contact your provider so it can be replaced before it affects your treatment progress. At the end of Invisalign treatment, attachments are polished off and the tooth surface is restored to normal. At Smileworks Dental in Calgary, we guide you through every aspect of your Invisalign treatment. Book a complimentary consultation to get started.