Commonly Asked Questions About Clear Aligners and Attachments

Patients who want to get straighter teeth might consider using clear aligners. These provide a discreet method of getting straighter teeth. Many times, patients find them more comfortable than traditional braces. If you want to know more, keep reading about clear aligners and how attachments work with them.

What are clear aligners?

Clear aligners are a discreet method of straightening the teeth. The trays are clear and are difficult to detect when in place. These do not usually cloud, yellow, or discolor. Of course, that requires the patient to clean them correctly. The patient usually gets a new set every two weeks, and each one moves the teeth slightly closer to the final position.

What are the advantages of using clear aligners?

The orthodontist can examine the patient to see if they are the right candidate for these aligners. The orthodontist will be there to answer questions the patient might have. It is also critical to have the teeth cleaned regularly by the orthodontist. The advantage is that the clear aligners can come off of the teeth for cleaning and eating.

That means the patient will not have as many eating restrictions. It is also easier to clean the teeth with no aligners than with wires and brackets. It helps the cleaning go faster. That means the patient is less likely to have oral health problems once the aligners come off for good.

What should patients know about attachments for clear aligners?

In some cases, the patient might need to have attachments to help the aligners do the job correctly. That could include hooks or buttons, which can place more pressure on one tooth if necessary. The location of them matters. These usually go around the tooth’s middle, anchoring the aligner in place.

There are different shapes of attachments, and these might be triangular, circular, or square. The kind depends on the motion the orthodontist wants to accomplish. That could include rotating the tooth or only moving it to one side. Since these can anchor the aligners, they can help the aligners fit the teeth tighter, moving them better. If the teeth move the intended way, the treatment can move smoother.

In some cases, the food might build up around the attachments. That means that patients need to be extra careful about cleaning everything well after every snack or meal. Still, patients should remember that the attachments are only there for a time and can help the treatment go faster. Plus, not every tooth requires attachments. The number depends on the patient’s condition.