Back Vs Front Placement of Invisalign Button

Question

With Invisalign, I understand that it is now possible to place the buttonattachments on the BACK of the teeth to make it completely hidden. Is this procedure just as effective as putting the button attachments on the FRONT of the teeth?

	What are the disadvantages of placing the buttons on the back of the teeth if any?

Gerilyn Alfe, DMD · Answer

Where the attachments are placed on the teeth is predicated by how the teeth need to move.  Invisalign recommends where to place them based on which teeth need to move, how much they need to move and what the bite is like to start.  Most attachments on the back of the teeth would be in the way of the teeth biting together and would either break off often (requiring many follow up visits to the dentist to have them rebonded) or be in the way when the teeth come together, preventing you from eating normally.

Jason K. Tam, DDS · Answer

The location and type of attachment required depends on the actual movement of tooth required.  They should be placed into a location where a "pushing" action will deliver the correct movement since aligners are unable to "pull" teeth in any direction as braces can.
Other attachments are used as anchors and these will need to be placed in a location to resist forces of displacement.  They should also be put in a location where they will not be broken off when the teeth are closed together.
At times, attachments are placed on the inside of the upper teeth.  These may be used as "bite turbos" to help open the bite or torque the teeth.  Again, depending on the movement required, attachments on the lingual surface may work as well or better as those on the front.
To keep attachments less visible, more experienced providers are now abandoning the ellipspoid (oval) attachments for a rectangular bevelled one near the incisal edge (biting) surface of the tooth.

Back Vs Front Placement of Invisalign Button

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Back Vs Front Placement of Invisalign Button

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about Invisalign

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.