IPR and attachments, explained

IPR

Making a little room, so your teeth can line up.

IPR (interproximal reduction) means gently polishing a tiny amount of enamel from the sides of selected teeth. Sometimes teeth are simply a bit too wide for the space they have — that’s why they crowd and overlap. IPR creates just enough room for them to straighten.

Tiny amounts. Usually a few tenths of a millimetre — about the thickness of a few sheets of paper, from enamel that is far thicker.
Quick and usually painless. Done with fine polishing strips. No injections or drilling into the tooth.
Doesn’t harm your teeth. Done within the planned amount and followed by good brushing, it leaves your teeth healthy and strong.
Small gaps are planned. You may see little spaces for a while. They close as your teeth move — by mid to late treatment, no gaps are visible.

Space in your jaw

Not quite enough room

Your teeth are a little wider than the space in your jaw, so they overlap and twist.

Aligner grips here

The aligner wraps snugly around the attachment, so it can push and turn the tooth in exactly the planned direction.

Attachments

Small handles that help your aligners grip.

Attachments are tiny, tooth-coloured bumps bonded to some of your teeth. Your aligner fits snugly over them, giving it something to push against.

Why they matter. They let aligners turn, raise and tilt teeth precisely — moves a smooth tray can’t grip on its own.
Barely noticeable. Matched to your tooth colour and only a few millimetres wide — most people won’t spot them in conversation.
Gentle to place, easy to remove. Bonded on with a template — no drilling. At the end they’re polished off.
A small habit. They can pick up stains from coffee, tea or smoking, and may feel rough to your tongue for the first few days.