written by Dr Shaik Farhatulla, Reviewed by Dr satish Chandra date: 08.07.2025 "How Attachments Help Aligners Work Better – Explained Simply" Clear aligners are custom-made plastic trays that gently move your teeth over time. But unlike traditional braces, aligners don’t have wires or brackets—so they sometimes need extra help to move certain teeth. That’s where attachments come in. 📌 What Are Attachments? Attachments (also called engagers) are tiny tooth-colored composite shapes bonded to specific teeth. They: Come in different shapes and sizes (like squares, rectangles, ellipses) Are barely visible and match your tooth color Act like handles or anchors for your aligners to push or pull against 🧠 Think of attachments like handles on a suitcase—they give something for the aligner to grab onto. ⚙️ How Do Attachments Help? Attachments help aligners: Move stubborn teeth (like canines or rotated teeth) Create complex movements like rotation, extrusion (pulling a tooth out), or intrusion (pushing it in) Distribute force more precisely, helping aligners apply pressure exactly where it's needed Increase aligner grip so trays stay firmly seated on your teeth Reference: Kravitz ND et al. (2009) found that attachments improve aligner control over difficult movements like root torque and tooth rotation. Source: Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2009;135(1):27–35. 🔄 Are Attachments Permanent? No! Attachments are: Temporary – Removed at the end of treatment Painless to apply and remove Made from the same safe composite resin used for tooth-colored fillings 🧼 Do Attachments Affect Eating or Brushing? Not much. However: Food may cling around them, so brushing after meals is important Flossing may require a bit more care, especially around attachment areas You still remove aligners to eat and drink, just like always 🧪 Why Not Everyone Gets Attachments Not all cases need them. Your orthodontist will decide based on: The type of tooth movement required Tooth shape, size, and alignment The complexity of your treatment Reference: Papadimitriou et al. (2018) emphasized that attachments enhance predictability in clear aligner therapy for complex cases. Source: Progress in Orthodontics. 2018;19(1):8. 📚 References Kravitz ND, Kusnoto B, Agran B, Viana G. How well does Invisalign work? A prospective clinical study. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2009;135(1):27–35. Papadimitriou A, Mousoulea S, Gkantidis N, Kloukos D. Clinical effectiveness of Invisalign® orthodontic treatment: A systematic review. Prog Orthod. 2018;19(1):8. Proffit WR, Fields HW, Sarver DM. Contemporary Orthodontics. 5th ed. Mosby Elsevier; 2012.