Where Are Invisalign Buttons Placed on the Teeth?

Invisalign buttons or attachments are placed strategically along the front surfaces of some of the teeth to help guide more of the moderate to difficult movements that can be accomplished with Invisalign.  Although, we do try to minimize the number of attachments or buttons on the teeth, inevitably, we still end up with some of these to help facilitate the movements.  All of these buttons or attachments are tooth-colored and they are barely visible to the eye, they can sometimes initially be an obstacle that the end-user has to adapt to.  However, over time, these buttons become very easy to adapt to and sometimes the end-user even forgets that they are on the teeth until they are removed at the end of treatment.  In our practice, we try to minimize the number of anterior front buttons or attachments to help decrease the visibility.

Invisalign buttons are placed on certain teeth to allow the retainers to grasp onto the tooth and cause some type of tooth movement like rotation. The buttons are merely tooth colored filling material bonded to teeth in specific shapes and on specific teeth, and every case is different. Some cases do not  require buttons. The shape, location and number needed are different for each case. Once the Invisalign procedure is finished the tooth colored buttons are easily removed. Attachments and their placement are crucial to each case.
 

Invisalign buttons or attachments are white composite filling materials bonded on the sides of teeth using a tray guide and are removed after Invisalign is completed by a gentle shaving procedure with no damage to the tooth.  Their purpose is to allow for the invisalign tray (aligner) to grip that tooth more securely and make a difficult movement more effectively.  Generally only a few teeth need these attachments and space closure can  be one of these situations needing an extra grip.

Attachments and their placement are crucial to each case. Attachments help the guidance of each tooth, not just the part of the tooth you see, but the big root that is under the gumline that you can't see. If you try to close a space with an aligner and don't use attachments you will simply tip the teeth and not straighten the roots. Attachments aid in expressing the movements of your invsalign case and the tracking of your aligners. So your answer is YES attachments on the teeth, where spaces are present, are important to close the spaces correctly.

Invisalign is a great way of moving teeth, but the aligners on their own are limited.  I compare it to a cupboard door.  If you want to close the door you simply push on it, similarly Invisalign is good at pushing teeth.  However, if we want to open that same door we can't unless we have a handle.  That is exactly what the attachment is, it's a handle for the plastic to grab and enable movements such as pulling and rotating.  Most cases require these attachments, or buttons, and its part of the planning of the case.

Hope this helps.

Invisalign buttons are placed on certain teeth to allow the retainers to grasp onto the tooth and cause some type of tooth movement like rotation.  Once the Invisalign procedure is finished the tooth colored buttons are easily removed.

The buttons are merely tooth colored filling material bonded to teeth in specific shapes and on specific teeth, and every case is different.  Some cases do NOT require buttons.  The shape, location and number needed are different for each case.