What Are Invisalign Attachments and Why Might You Need Them?

You might be wondering ‘what are Invisalign attachments’ if you’re considering Invisalign treatment to straighten your teeth.

Invisalign is the most popular clear aligner treatment product on the market.

In simpler cases when only a few teeth need moving, Invisalign attachments might not be necessary as the aligners alone can achieve your desired movements. However, in more complex cases when greater control over tooth movement is required, such as rotating teeth, moving teeth vertically, or closing larger gaps, Invisalign attachments are needed to ensure the aligners can grip your teeth effectively.

In this guide, we’ll be explaining:

• What Invisalign attachments are
• How Invisalign attachments can help
• How Invisalign attachments work
• How to choose the best Invisalign provider

At Sensu, we’re proud to be London’s leading specialist provider of Invisalign. Together, our specialist led team have straightened more than 14,000 smiles using this incredible system.

Our highly experienced specialist orthodontists Dr. Ilias Marinopoulos and Dr. Kirpal Benwara oversee the majority of our Invisalign cases. Not every provider has the expertise and confidence to take on complex cases so if you’ve been told you’re not suitable for aligners, we’d like to offer you an alternate opinion.

Let’s start by exploring what invisalign attachments are and how they look.

What Are Invisalign Attachments?

Invisalign attachments are small tooth-coloured resin shapes that are applied directly to the surface of your teeth. The aligner is then fitted over the attachments and grips onto them, allowing for more targeted movements of certain teeth. As the aligner fits over the attachments, it feels more snug and secure.

A great thing about the attachments is that they are carefully matched to the natural colour of your tooth enamel so you can barely notice them.

This means most people don’t feel self-conscious wearing them, as others won’t even realise they are there. While they look virtually invisible, you can feel a slight bump with your tongue as they sit on top of your natural teeth but it’s something your tongue and mouth will get used to.

Your specialist, as part of the planning process, will identify exactly where the Invisalign attachments need to be placed so that your aligners work as effectively as possible.

When Might Invisalign Attachments Be Used?

Invisalign attachments are not always necessary; it depends on the complexity of your case and how much your teeth need moving to achieve a balanced smile.

Invisalign attachments might be needed to:

• Move teeth up or down into the correct position
• Close larger gaps between teeth
• Turn teeth that are rotated or twisted
• Correct misaligned teeth or move tooth roots
• Improve how the upper and lower teeth bite together
• Provide extra grip for more accurate tooth movements

Whilst Invisalign is one of the most effective solutions on the market, sometimes aligners need a little extra help. That’s why Invisalign attachments are used, to help more complex cases where teeth are in difficult positions allowing patients to achieve a smile they will love.

Attachments are placed according to your treatment plan which will be discussed in your consultation and they are designed to help achieve specific tooth movements. Often, the same attachments remain in place throughout most or all of your treatment.

How Do Invisalign Attachments Work?

Your specialist will assess whether you need Invisalign attachments before starting your treatment depending on the complexity of your case. If they deem them necessary, they will identify the best teeth for the attachments to ensure they move your teeth as effectively as possible.

The attachments will likely be placed at the start of your journey and before you receive your aligners as this is what the aligner grips onto. Your clinician will use a safe dental bonding agent with tooth coloured resin which is set with a blue light which allows the attachments to be secured onto your natural teeth so they can be moved into the right position.

As you progress through your Invisalign treatment, the attachments will likely all stay in place and your new sets of aligners will be designed to fit over them. It’s usually best to keep the Invisalign attachments in place until your treatment is fully complete as this can ensure your teeth continue to move as planned and you achieve the results you want.

Below outlines the process of Invisalign attachments step-by-step:

• Initial consultation to determine the best approach for your individual case.
• A ClinCheck design video is worked on by your specialist and the Invisalign design team to assess where precisely the attachments need to be placed for the desired tooth movements.
• When it comes to the fitting of your first set of aligners, if attachments are necessary, your teeth sometimes will need to be cleaned to remove any food or plaque so they are ready for the attachments to be secured.
• A dental bonding agent is then used to stick the composite resin attachment to your teeth and set hard with a blue light through the pre-made precise attachment guides provided.
• Once the attachments are in place, your Invisalign aligners can be fitted over them and treatment will start.

How Are Invisalign Attachments Removed?

Once your treatment is finished, the Invisalign attachments are removed with a safe non-enamel-cutting dental bur to take off the majority of the composite material from your natural teeth. We will ensure any remaining bits of resin are removed and sometimes extra care and appointments may be required to polish your teeth so they are left feeling smooth and shiny.

The process is generally quick and painless, despite feeling a little bit of pressure at first. Invisalign attachments do not leave any lasting damage as the enamel is carefully preserved throughout the process and only the bonding material and composite resin is removed.

It’s important you don’t try to remove Invisalign attachments yourself at any point during your Invisalign treatment. They are securely bonded to your teeth to keep them in place, and attempting to remove them could damage your natural tooth underneath.

Choosing The Right Invisalign Provider

Choosing the right Invisalign provider means finding a dentist that you can trust – one that answers your questions around your treatment and tells you exactly what to expect from it.

There are lots of Invisalign providers online, but taking your time to do your research, to read reviews, and to check out the results is an important part of finding the right one as you need to be confident that they can deliver.

Check out some of our before and after photos here allowing you to see the results we have achieved for some of our clients.

At Sensu, we’re the UK’s leading specialist provider of Invisalign, straightening more than 14,000 smiles using this system.

Our packages are all-inclusive and here are some of the amazing value add-ons to your Invisalign treatment.

• Specialist-led treatment
• Removable retainers
• Home teeth whitening
• Teeth contouring (reshaping)
• One year of aftercare

With any Invisalign treatment at Sensu, you will also get a free hygiene session to help you start and finish your treatment with a healthy smile.

Invisalign Attachments FAQs

Do Invisalign attachments hurt?

Invisalign attachments are generally painless to attach as they are secured using a special dental boning agent. You might feel a little pressure as they allow for targeted movement of certain teeth, but this usually settles quickly.

Can Invisalign attachments fall off?

Invisalign attachments can occasionally fall off but this is not an emergency. However it can affect progress sometimes so it’s important to let us know when this happens as soon as you notice so the team can determine if they need to be re-attached or not.

Are attachments necessary for Invisalign?

Invisalign attachments are not always required for every case. They are usually only used when additional grip is needed for more complex tooth movements. Your specialist will tell you whether attachments are necessary based on your treatment plan.

How long do Invisalign attachments stay on?

Invisalign attachments usually stay on your teeth throughout your treatment, whether this is 6 months, 1 year, or longer. They are removed once your Invisalign treatment is complete, although in some cases attachments may be added, removed, or repositioned during treatment if deemed necessary.

What Are Invisalign Attachments and Why Might You Need Them?

Invisalign attachments are small tooth-coloured ‘handles’ which guide certain teeth into place. If you have teeth in difficult positions such as rotated teeth or teeth that are not fully aligned with the rest of your bite, Invisalign attachments might be necessary to achieve the best result.

They are generally painless and quick to secure allowing slightly more pressure to certain teeth without the need for brackets and wires.

At Sensu, we as the UK’s leading specialist provider of Invisalign will always assess whether attachments are needed depending on your individual case.

By booking your free consultation, worth £350, we can take a look at your existing teeth alignment and work out the best route forward.

Book your free consultation below and let’s see how we can help.