MY DOCTOR MENTIONED "ATTACHMENTS." WHAT ARE THEY AND WHY WOULD I NEED THEM FOR MY ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT?
MY DOCTOR MENTIONED "ATTACHMENTS." WHAT ARE THEY AND WHY WOULD I NEED THEM FOR MY ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT?
DEFINITION From DIGITAL ORTHODONTICS - Solo Edition by Dr. Bak Nguyen
Please keep in mind that this is an orthodontic process to mold bone and to replace metal brackets. To maximize and even sometimes, to make a movement possible, we need maximum control over that tooth. An attachment is like a handle temporarily glued on the tooth to increase the movement and its precision.
Without attachment, we are losing part of the precision and force of movement, making the treatment either longer or even inefficient. This is often not an option open for debate. As a general rule, attachments can not only move teeth, but it can also optimize the movement within each aligner, making the whole process quicker than without attachments.
While in treatment, patients will pull against these attachments and some will fall. Don't beat yourself up for that. If the teeth are still within the "track" of the movement, you can still move forward. The impression of that tooth will be addressed during your refinement process, as your mouth will be scanned again for refinement.
Attachments are present in most clear aligners treatment plan, especially in hard cases and severe crowding. Personally, I like to remove the attachments at the end of the first set of aligners, after I have accomplished the biggest dental movements. By then, I would have accomplished 80 to 90% of my results.
After that, I prefer to give my patient more comfort and confidence, avoid installing new attachments. It is not always possible, but when it is, it is greatly appreciated by the patient.
I do so because I keep in mind that 50% of my success is dental-based. I still need the cooperation of the patient for the other 50%. Where it is possible to give them more freedom and comfort, I will do so, knowing that after the first half of the treatment and when the teeth are about straight, your patient is often less compliant to wear his or her aligners as much. By helping them, I am helping my cause for compliance.
With experience, to not listen at all to the concern of my patients, I am setting myself up for failure. Compliance and psychology are main components of modern orthodontics.
An attachment is made of composite, the same white filling material used to repair dental cavities. It can be color-matched to the teeth and can be removed pretty easily without leaving any trace on that tooth once due for removal.