The tooth that feels different
Tell us the side and roughly which tooth, plus what you were eating or doing when it happened. If it came off while you removed the tray, say so. Unsure an attachment was ever there? We can check the records.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Invisalign Attachment Repair in Burlington
A hard bite at lunch, a tiny chip on your fork, and a tooth that now feels bare. If you are coming from Burlington, we can check the tooth and your aligner’s fit and explain whether that attachment needs replacing.
It broke off over lunchReport a broken attachment
A chip of composite on your plate
Crusty bread, a firm apple, an absent-minded crunch on ice. Aligners come out for meals, which leaves attachments doing their quiet work without a tray to shield them. Every so often one cracks or pops off, and you spot a pale fleck that is not food.
These bumps are bonded to chosen teeth so the aligner can grip and steer them. Their position and shape come straight from your treatment plan. When one goes missing, the clinician wants to know which tooth, how the tray fits once it is back in, and how far along you are.
Hang on to the piece if you find it, but do not try to stick it back. Contact the office supervising your aligners. If that is our team, call with the details; if another provider leads treatment, check with them first so any help we give lines up with their plan.
Describing what happened
Which tooth, which tray, and what you felt
Deciding how urgent it is, or why it broke, is not your job. A short account of what you noticed gives the clinician what they need.
Changes once the tray goes back in
Notice any gap over a tooth, a looser hold, a warped edge, or trouble clicking it into place. Have the tray number ready. Avoid forcing a tray that resists, and do not move on early hoping the next one fits better.
Rough edges, soreness, or repeats
Mention a jagged remnant catching your tongue, a tender cheek, or a bump that has broken before. Patterns help the clinician think about the surface, tray fit, or eating habits. Straight answers are welcome here; no one is assigning fault.
Keep your current aligners and bring them along. Ask which tray to wear for now and whether your scheduled change should go ahead.
The point of a proper check
Put the attachment back where the plan needs it
Your attachments are prescribed features with a specific role in moving teeth. A replacement should follow the original design. While you are in the chair, the clinician can also confirm the aligner is seating properly and look for anything else that needs attention.
Calling soon cuts down on guessing about wear. You will find out if you should be seen before your next tray and how to manage until then. Because every lost attachment is a little different, no single waiting window applies to everyone.
Patient information: Invisalign — the purpose and placement of attachments
An answer for your stage
Ask whether this attachment is active in the current movement and how its absence changes what you do this week. The response should come from your plan. General internet timetables are not built around your teeth.
The tray gets checked too
Raise any crack, sharp area, or change in fit along with the broken bump. The clinician can tell whether the attachment or the aligner is the real issue. Fixing only one could leave the original irritation in place.
Leaving with certainty
Confirm your tray, your next switch date, and when you will next be reviewed. If something has changed from the plan you started with, ask to go over it again. A repair should come with instructions, not loose ends.
During your Burlington-to-Milton visit
Four parts to a typical repair
What happens depends on whether the attachment is gone entirely, partly chipped, or tied to another problem. Let us know about fillings, crowns, or recent treatment on that tooth.
Review stage, timing, and symptoms
We ask which tray you are on, how consistently it has been worn, when the bump broke, and how things feel. The clinician checks what the plan intends for that tooth. Records from another supervising office may be needed first.
Inspect what is left and how things fit
Any remaining composite is assessed and the aligner is seated as appropriate. Ask whether the issue goes beyond the attachment. The clinician should explain the findings before rebuilding anything.
Bond a new attachment if required
When replacement is needed, the enamel gets a bonding preparation and fresh composite is shaped to the prescribed form, often with a template. A curing light sets it, and excess is cleaned off. It is a clinical step that cannot be copied at home.
Check seating and talk through what is next
The tray is tried over the new attachment and you will hear how to continue. If removal has been a struggle, practise it with the team. Confirm your stage, change date, and what to do if it breaks again.
Eating and living with attachments
Gentle habits help the new bump last
Follow your clinician’s wear and change instructions. A replacement does not mean you should restart a tray, jump ahead, or stretch out the schedule unless advised.
Use the removal technique you were shown
Ask for a refresher if the tray catches on the attachment. Avoid taking it out more than necessary, and do not bend it to slide past a ridge. Report fit problems instead of altering the tray.
Be thoughtful with very hard foods
With trays out for meals, cut firm foods into smaller pieces and avoid chewing ice or hard candy. Brush around each attachment before the aligner goes back in, keep up flossing, and ask about tricky areas. Lingering irritation is worth a mention.
Watch for another chip, but leave it be
Resist picking at attachments or biting packaging. If one chips or disappears again, write down when and call. Repeated loss calls for reassessment rather than pushing harder on the tray or reaching for glue.
Burlington questions about attachments(905) 876-4488
Food, fragments, and what comes next
When you call, share the tooth, your tray number, and any change in fit or comfort. It helps us move quickly to a plan.
Which foods are hardest on aligner attachments?
Very hard or sticky foods, ice, hard candy, and biting into firm items with the front teeth can all strain attachments. Cutting food smaller and chewing more gently helps. Ask the team if you are unsure about a particular habit.
Should I keep the piece that broke off?
You can keep it to show the team, but it will not be reused. A new attachment is formed with fresh composite in the planned shape. Never try to reattach the old piece with any adhesive.
Is it okay to eat on that side before the repair?
Keep removing your aligners to eat as usual and be gentle on that side. If the tooth is sensitive or something feels sharp, mention it. Do not leave the tray out longer because a bump is missing.
Do I have to call even though the tray still clicks in?
Yes, report it. A tray that seats comfortably does not confirm whether the attachment is needed for the movement happening now. Your supervising clinician can advise on timing and any change to your schedule.
How do I plan a visit from Burlington around work?
Call with your tray number and details, and the team can suggest whether you need to come in before your next change. We are open Monday to Thursday until 7pm, and Friday to Sunday visits are by appointment.
Does a broken attachment set my treatment back?
Not automatically. It is something to report and assess. The clinician reviews your stage and fit, explains any effect, and arranges a response suited to your plan.
Repair visits in Milton
Tell us what broke and when
If an attachment breaks during aligner treatment with our team, contact our Bronte Street practice. Share the tray number, the affected tooth, and any discomfort or fit change so we can plan around where you are in treatment.
If another office supervises your aligners, contact them for instructions and coordination. Please phone about urgent symptoms rather than booking online.
Visit Milton Dental ClinicUnit 1, 342 Bronte St. S, Milton, ON L9T 5B7Get directions
Clinic hours
- Monday–Thursday
- 11am–7pm
- Friday–Sunday
- By appointment only
Areas we serve
- Milton
- Oakville
- Mississauga
- Georgetown
- Halton Hills
- Acton
- Campbellville
- Brampton
- Burlington
- Puslinch
- Rockwood
- Erin
- Caledon
- Etobicoke
- Old Milton
- Bronte Meadows
- Timberlea
- Dorset Park
- Dempsey
- Clarke
- Beaty
- Coates
- Harrison
- Scott
- Willmott
- Ford
- Bowes
- Cobden
- Walker
- Mountain View
- Milton Heights
- Hawthorne Village
- Valley View
- Fallingbrook
- Nassagaweya
- Trafalgar
- Esquesing
- Nelson
- Brookville
- Moffat
- Glen Williams
- Norval
- Limehouse
- Stewarttown
- Ashgrove
- Hornby
- Silver Creek
- Speyside
- Scotch Block
- North Oakville
- River Oaks
- Glen Abbey
- West Oak Trails
- Palermo
- Bronte Creek
- College Park
- Joshua Creek
- Uptown Core
- Preserve
- Iroquois Ridge
- Lisgar
- Meadowvale
- Meadowvale Village
- Churchill Meadows
- Erin Mills
- Central Erin Mills
- Streetsville
- East Credit
- Creditview
- Heartland
- Sheridan
- Mount Pleasant
- Credit Valley
- Huttonville
- Churchville
- Springbrook
- Northwest Brampton
- Bram West
- Fletcher's Meadow
- Fletcher's Creek South
- Alton Village
- Orchard
- Millcroft
- Headon Forest
- Tansley
- Brant Hills
- Tyandaga
- Kilbride
- Lowville
- Aberfoyle
- Morriston
- Arkell
- Hillsburgh
- Freelton
- Carlisle
- Waterdown
- Flamborough
- Mountsberg
