Attachments FAQs

What are attachments?

What is the purpose of attachments?

When are attachments used?

How do you place attachments when the teeth are very crowded?

What should I do if an attachment is lost or falls off during treatment?

How can you place attachments without them overfilling?

How should I handle excess flash from the attachment?

What is the best method to remove the attachment template?

How do I attach an attachment to a decalcified tooth?

How do I attach attachments to teeth that are significantly lingually inclined?

What is the best tool to remove attachments?

What are the recommended movements for standard attachments?

 

What are attachments?

Attachments are small, tooth-colored blobs made of composite resin that are temporarily bonded to your teeth during clear aligner therapy. These attachments are crucial for making certain movements possible, which aligners alone might not achieve. By acting as engagers for the aligners, they allow for more precise control over tooth movement, such as rotations and translations.

What is the purpose of attachments?

Attachments serve several key purposes in clear aligner therapy:

• Enhanced Precision: They provide specific points for the aligners to grip onto, enabling precise movements that are less predictable to achieve with aligners alone.
• Increased Effectiveness: For certain tooth movements, such as rotations or vertical movements, attachments make these adjustments more predictable and effective.
• Improved Alignment: They can be essential for achieving the desired results within the treatment timeframe by ensuring that forces are applied more efficiently.

When are attachments used?

Attachments are not necessary for all clear aligner therapy patients but are used when specific, more complex tooth movements are required. The decision to use attachments is based on your individual treatment plan and the movements needed to achieve your ideal smile. Common scenarios when attachments might be used include:

• Rotations: Teeth that need to be rotated to align properly with adjacent teeth.
  Intrusions and Extrusions: Vertical movements where teeth need to be either brought down or pulled up.
• Significant Tooth Movements: When a tooth needs to be moved more than a minor adjustment, attachments can provide the additional force needed.

 

How do you place attachments when the teeth are very crowded?

In cases of extreme crowding, you can request to place attachments later in the treatment. This allows for some reduction in crowding before the attachments are applied.

What should I do if an attachment is lost or falls off during treatment?

You can use either the previous or current tray as a template to replace the lost attachment.

How can you place attachments without them overfilling?

To avoid overfilling attachments, puncture the attachment bubble on the labial side with a needle or explorer. This creates a vent, allowing excess material to escape before light curing.

How should I handle excess flash from the attachment?

Excess flash is typically removed with a multi-fluted carbide burr. It's important to remove it because if left, it can slightly lift the aligner, affecting its fit and causing tracking issues.

What is the best method to remove the attachment template?

Applying petroleum jelly or mineral oil to the inner surface of the attachment bubble usually helps release the attachment from the template. Alternatively, you can section the template and use the segmented pieces to place the attachments.

How do I attach an attachment to a decalcified tooth?

Bonding to a severely decalcified tooth is challenging. Using glass ionomer materials may be helpful.

How do I attach attachments to teeth that are significantly lingually inclined?

For lingually inclined teeth, you can request to place attachments later in the treatment. This allows for some improvement in the lingual inclination before placing attachments.

What is the best tool to remove attachments?

A multi-fluted carbide burr is generally the best tool for removing attachments.

What are the recommended movements for standard attachments?

Standard attachments are recommended for tipping, translations, retention, intrusion, and torque.

Can I request to keep my old attachments during a revision?

Yes, you can indicate in your intake form that you wish to keep the old attachments.

Can you produce a retainer based on last step that has attachments?

We strongly advise submitting new patient scans without attachments to ensure the production of retainers that accurately capture the patient's current anatomy, ensuring optimal fit and long-term retention. Alternatively, if requested, we can digitally remove attachments from the final stage STL to create retainers. Should this service be required, please contact our support team for assistance.