Invisalign Attachments: Everything You Need to Know

More adults and teenagers are opting for Invisalign over traditional braces to straighten their teeth. These clear aligners have gained popularity for effectively correcting teeth alignment while also being less noticeable than traditional braces. But despite being a pretty powerful cosmetic dental procedure, Invisalign aligners alone may not be able to achieve desired results due to factors including the size, shape, or angle of the patient’s teeth. This is where the magic of Invisalign attachments comes into play.

What are Invisalign Attachments?

Invisalign attachments are tiny, tooth-colored buttons or bumps bonded to your teeth with dental composites. The buttons are strategically placed to give the aligners a stronger hold on the teeth as they move them into place. They also secure and attach Invisalign elastics to your teeth for additional force. ‍

Invisalign attachments are available in various shapes, including circular, rectangular, square, and triangular. Your dentist will figure out what kind of attachment your teeth need to fix alignment issues.

How Do Invisalign Attachments Work?

An Invisalign attachment essentially serves as the anchor point that helps direct the aligner’s force for more efficient tooth movement. They are usually put in the middle of the tooth, making it easier for your aligners to stay in place. But since the attachments click into your aligners in specific places, you’ll find that having Invisalign attachments can make it a little harder to put in and remove your trays.

Are the Attachments Noticeable?

At Dental Studio 101, we make every effort to ensure that our patient’s Invisalign attachments look as much like their real teeth as possible. But there may be instances where they are slightly obvious, especially if the attachments are on your front teeth. Still, you can’t deny that Invisalign aligners and attachments are much less discreet than standard metal braces, right?

Do Invisalign Attachments Hurt?

You may experience discomfort when you receive attachments for the first time or switch to a new aligner. This is expected because your aligner puts pressure on your attachments, helping them reposition your teeth. But don’t worry because the pain or discomfort is usually gone after a few days.

Your new attachments may also feel uncomfortable against the inside of your mouth when you take out your aligner, but any discomfort usually fades with time.  Meanwhile, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol to relieve the pain and discomfort.

Are Attachments Necessary for All Invisalign Patients?

Invisalign attachments allow the aligners to fix teeth faster and handle more complex cases that used to require braces. And while attachments are very common, they are not required in every case. Invisalign aligners are more than capable of correcting simple teeth alignment issues on their own.

During the initial consultation, your orthodontist will design your treatment plan and let you know if you need attachments. If your orthodontist recommends them, then it’s because they’re necessary for achieving the straighter, more beautiful teeth you’ve always wanted.

Do They Affect the Cost of Invisalign Treatment?

Money is often the primary reason some resist putting on Invisalign attachments. The cost of an Invisalign treatment with just the aligners can range from $3000 to $6000. Adding attachments will increase the price some more.

While you may decide against Invisalign attachments, we don’t recommend that you do so. There’s a reason why your dentist included them in your treatment plan. Without the buttons, your teeth might not move as quickly or effectively. It will take longer to complete treatment, which will drive up costs.

Straighter Teeth with Invisalign

Invisalign’s popularity as a great way to straighten teeth just keeps growing. And with attachments, people with complex teeth alignment problems can now use Invisalign to straighten their teeth instead of resorting to braces.

If you live in Scottsdale or North Scottsdale, stop by Dental Studio 101’s state-of-the-art dental spa or contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists to find out if Invisalign with attachments is the right treatment for you.

Dental Studio 101 is committed to understanding each patient’s unique cosmetic dental care requirements and delivering individualized treatment plans to achieve the best results.

Begin your journey to a more dazzling smile. Contact us today!