Questions about attachments

[MrBurns]

As I started my fourth set of trays (of 28U/28L) yesterday, I also got my first attachments. I thought there were going to be three, but it turns out there are five.

The young lady who put them on told me that if one or two come off, don't worry about it. If more than that come off, call them. The orthodontist came over when she was done to inspect them and clean them up a bit, and he said the same thing.

During the (very painful) removal of the lower tray this morning, one did pop off. My next appointment with the orthodontist is in 12 weeks (September 6).

There's obviously a reason for attachments, or they wouldn't be there. They have a job to perform in the aligning process. For the next 12 weeks, that function will not be happening on that one tooth. It seems to me that this is a problem.

So the questions: What have you all been told about losing one or two attachments? Is it really a problem that this attachment won't be there? What will that do to my treatment progress?

Any answers appreciated! Thanks.

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

Depending on the movements required and the stage at which the attachment comes off, it may or may not be necessary to put it back on. However, if you are the beginning of the treatment, and your doctor has requested an attachment on that tooth, it is likely that movements during treatment require it to function properly.

[GoofyGG]

I was told that if one came off then not to panic but make an appointment to get it put back on.

[InvisaNewbie]

I had one attachment on my bottom teeth (three on top) and it popped off the first time I removed my bottom set of trays. I made an appointment to get it replaced, but it was a good few weeks and another set of aligners by the time of the appointment. I had the attachment replaced last week, and I did notice there was a bit of pain for the first few days as the aligner was presumably doing the job it should have been doing from the start. I hope that tooth doesn't cause me any problems if it's been 'shoved' into the right position for my current tray extra quickly....

[MrBurns]

I sent an e-mail to the ortho's office. We'll see what they say. I hope they reply today, since they make enough money in four days each week that they are closed on Fridays.

[MrBurns]

Grr. I put my cellular phone number and my e-mail address on the message I sent to them. So what did they do? Called and left a message at the house, where it was way after business hours when I got it.

Anyway, they do want me to call in next week and make an appointment to get the attachment put back on.

With a little practice, I've managed to find a way to get the aligners off with no pain and very little pressure on the attachments. So this time I should be able to keep them all in place!

[InvisaNewbie]

Quick question - are attachments the same as buttons? I thought the two words were used interchangeably, but then I saw some people have said they've had attachments AND buttons....

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

Two different things, although you are correct that a lot of people use them interchangeably.

Attachments are tooth-filling material shapes that are placed on the teeth using a template.

Buttons can be metal or plastic and have a base like a brace and then a rounded area to which elastics can be attached.

[MrBurns]

I did call the orthodontist and got in right away. They replaced the missing attachment. But even better: One of the other attachments was super sharp and pointy. It was digging in to my lower lip and swelling it. That then caused me to accidentally bite that lip quite often. The orthodontist smoothed the attachment down and now I'm doing really well!