Invisalign® attachment fell off? Here’s what to do

Also known as Invisalign buttons, attachments provide some of our patients in Houghton-le-Spring with a little extra help during their Invisalign journey. They help your aligners stay in place while they do the work of straightening your teeth. 

Occasionally, we do get calls from patients worried because their attachments have fallen off. We recommend contacting us to sort out a replacement; while losing an attachment is inconvenient, it’s a very easy problem to solve, and no damage will be done to your teeth. 

Why do Invisalign buttons fall off? 

If one of your attachments comes off, it’s usually not due to a problem with the attachment itself. 

Your attachments are most likely to come off when you eat harder or stickier foods, or when you are taking aligners on and off. Attachment loss may also be slightly more likely to occur early on in your Invisalign treatment, or if you have a crown or implant. If the attachment has been placed incorrectly, this may also affect whether it comes off early. 

If you’re starting out with Invisalign

If you’ve just started having teeth straightening treatment, it’s normal to make a few mistakes as you familiarise yourself with your aligners and how to wear them. 

Some people are also tempted to explore their Invisalign aligners and attachments with their tongue or fingers as they get used to the feel. Try not to do this, as this can loosen your attachments. 

However, if an attachment does come off, don’t worry. It’s common for an attachment to come off in the first few days of treatment. Just call us as soon as possible. 

Biting directly into hard foods

When you eat foods which are harder to bite into or chew, this may increase the force against your attachments if you are not careful when eating. If you bite directly onto something hard like an apple or crusty bread, the sudden force could knock your attachment loose.  

Chewing sticky foods 

If you chew something sticky such as toffee with a tooth that has an attachment on, this can create a pull, weakening or dislodging it. 

Taking your aligners on and off incorrectly

Taking your Invisalign aligners off too suddenly, removing them from one side or twisting them might loosen and dislodge the attachments that secure them to your teeth. This is because your Invisalign attachments are designed to keep your aligners in place while you are wearing them, giving you a snug fit.

Crowns and implants 

If you have a crown or an implant, the bonding used to secure your attachment to your tooth may work less well on an artificial surface such as porcelain or zirconia. 

If you do lose an Invisalign attachment, this is usually easily fixable. However, it’s important you let us know quickly, as with a missing attachment your treatment may take longer and be less effective. 

Incorrect placement by your dentist

If there is moisture on your tooth during the bonding process, or if your Invisalign attachment has been fitted incorrectly, or not bonded under ideal conditions, your attachments could be more likely to fail. 

At Church Street Dental Practice, our team are highly trained in all aspects of Invisalign and will ensure your Invisalign attachments are properly bonded to your teeth, minimising the likelihood of losing an attachment or having it fall off.

How do I know if my attachment has fallen off?

It’s not always obvious straight away, especially if you can’t see the attachment easily. A few signs to look out for:

• Your tooth feels smooth in a spot that usually feels slightly raised
• Your aligner feels looser than usual, or doesn’t click into place the way it normally does
• You notice a small hard piece in your mouth, in your aligner case, or even in food
• One area feels different to the others when you run your tongue over your teeth

If you’re not sure, it’s always worth checking with us rather than waiting to see. A quick call means we can tell you what to look for, or get you in to check if needed.

What to do if an Invisalign attachment comes loose or falls off 

Having an attachment come loose can be worrying. However, it is relatively simple for us to fix. There are a few steps you can take so you can get back on track with minimum disruption: 

1. Clean your aligner thoroughly to ensure the attachment is not trapped within it when you put it back in
2. Continue maintaining your oral hygiene routine
3. Avoid doing anything that could loosen other attachments (eg biting directly into harder foods, taking your aligners off unevenly)
4. Contact your dentist or orthodontist right away

Will Invisalign still work with a missing attachment? 

Yes, your aligners will still work. In mild to moderate cases, our patients can often wear Invisalign without any attachments at all. 

However, if an attachment comes off, your clear aligners’ effectiveness will be reduced and they may not fit as snugly as they did previously. This is because attachments help to secure your aligners in place. They play a key role in guiding teeth to their new positions, so if one comes off it can delay your progress. 

How are Invisalign attachments replaced? 

Reapplying an Invisalign button is very simple and only takes a few steps. Before you come into our dental practice in Houghton-le-Spring to have your attachment reapplied, we advise you to continue to follow your normal oral hygiene routine, and ensure you clean your aligners thoroughly. 

Here’s how we’ll replace your attachment during your visit: 

1. Clean the teeth thoroughly 
2. Use a dental gel to slightly roughen the tooth’s surface 
3. Place your new attachment 
4. Harden it with a special light 

After your attachment has been fitted, we may need to provide you with a new aligner set for that week; your dentist will advise you. 

My Invisalign attachment fell off – what next? 

Having an attachment fall off can be alarming, especially if it happens early on in your treatment. If it happens to you, don’t worry. Come to see us straight away in Durham so that we can fit a replacement. To minimise the chances of it happening again, we suggest that you take care when removing your aligners or putting them in, and taking care when you bite very hard or chewy foods.

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