How to place attachements?

Removable aligner therapy came into the picture in 1946 when Kesling first invented clear aligners. Prior to this, fixed appliances were widely preferred as tools of change for orthodontic breakdowns. When clear aligners like Invisalign and ClearCorrect took to the market, they were rapidly popularized for their ease of wear and superior aesthetics.

In order to provide increased retention to the aligners and ensure successful movement of the teeth into their new positions, your orthodontist may add attachments to your clear aligner treatment. Attachments, also known as engagers, are tiny bumps that are bonded to your tooth structure with the help of composite. Not all orthodontic malalignment will require the addition of attachments, but the shape and quantity of attachments needed may be decided by your orthodontist.

How are attachments placed?

The application process is very simple and will not cause the patient pain or discomfort.

• Once the aligners are ready to be fitted, your orthodontist will apply an etching gel to the surface of your tooth where the attachment will go. Typically, the attachments are placed around the middle of the tooth to provide anchorage to the aligner. This process creates microscopic roughness to your tooth surface that ensures the attachment’s tight bonding.
• The tooth is then cleaned and dried after waiting for a short time.
• Your orthodontist will then use a small brush to apply a bonding agent to the tooth surface. This helps secure the attachments in place.
• Aligners usually come with a template aligner – an appliance with tiny spaces where the attachments will go. With the help of such a template, they load the composite into the bulbs.
• Then, they place the template aligner, which now contains the composite, over your teeth.
• With gentle pressure, your dentist is able to fully secure the attachments in place.
• A special curing light is used to harden the composite material.
• After the composite has hardened, the template is removed and any excess material is shaved off.

While attachments help accelerate the treatment process, it may take some time to get used to putting the aligners in with the attachments in place. The attachments click into the aligners at their designated locations, so as to increase the retention of the aligners. Therefore, it can take a bit of practice to perfect putting on your aligners.

It is crucial to understand how to take care of your teeth once the attachments are placed. Plaque build-up around the attachments can be a real issue. Be sure to take your time to clean around the attachments before putting your aligner trays back in.