Recycling: A much-needed initiative in clear aligner treatment

Clear aligners have become a new normal in the orthodontic space. With an increased volume of people opting to “go digital” with clear aligners, there is a need to peruse the industry in a different light. Most people fail to realize the carbon footprint that is associated with getting clear aligners. People can get as many as 40 sets of upper and lower clear aligners throughout course of their treatment. Have you ever wondered where these plastic trays go after?

Following the menacing aura of the COVID-19 outbreak, dentists and orthodontists around the globe have made critical changes to their practice, especially regarding waste disposal of non-infected materials. A new standard must, therefore, be adopted to highlight the rising demand for recycling clear plastic aligners in an environmentally responsible way.

Experts emphasize that throwing clear aligners in the bin after their use is not an appropriate method of their disposal as they can end up clogging the ever-growing heap of the landmine. This guide shows you that there’s an easy and responsible method of dealing with old aligners.

Why should you recycle aligners?

You must be thinking that it is much easier to toss your clear aligners in the trash. Why bother with your aligners when they no longer serve their purpose? Afterall, what’s a tiny piece of plastic in the grand scheme of things?

However, used clear aligner trays have become a pressing issue in recent times. Even though most clear aligners are made with biodegradable bioplastics, they will still take longer than non-plastic degradables to break down. Invisalign® alone has treated more than 10 million people, not to mention other up-and-coming brands that are following a similar business venture.

It has been estimated that more than 25 million clear aligners end up in general waste landfills each year. That’s a lot of your worn plastics potentially swimming in our oceans.

Should you keep your aligners?

Some people tend to keep hold of their old aligners once they have completed their treatments. However, this is less than ideal. The technology behind clear aligners is designed specifically to make changes to the alignment of your teeth. Therefore, after a certain time, these aligners would no longer fit your mouth.

While it is advised that you keep a backup whilst wearing your clear aligners, however, they become redundant beyond their expiration. Since these clear aligners are designed to fit the mold of your teeth, they should also not be passed on to anyone else.

How to recycle aligners?

The great news is that you can hand over your clear aligners to your orthodontist so that they can proceed with recycling your aligners while minimizing waste.

Most companies today manufacture clear aligners using biodegradable and eco-friendly materials like bioplastics. These environmentally friendly devices need to undergo a pre-determined set of disposal and recycling processes.

The plastic waste is first gathered, categorized, and cleaned. Typically, recycling phases are divided into four common routes.

• Primary recycling involves reusing plastic waste into products with similar properties to the original product.
• Secondary recycling consists of mechanical recycling such as collection, segregation, sorting, and cleaning.
• Tertiary recycling consists of chemical processes that break down plastic materials into smaller molecules, typically gases or liquids.
• Quaternary recycling includes energy conservation from plastic waste through acid neutralization, adding carbon, and incineration with the addition of ammonia.

Recycled orthodontic materials serve the benefit of being both economic as well as ecological. Medical plastics need to be categorized depending on their recyclability for which a framework must be developed. Some companies have also been taking in used clear aligners from private companies to dispose of in an environmentally friendly manner.

Takeaway

The bottom line is that clear aligners, no matter how bio-friendly they may be, should not be disposed of with the general municipal waste as they can still retain infectious components. As more and more dental practices are adopting newer recycling methods for reconditioning various materials, we are headed towards a much more sustainable future that is not only beneficial to nature but also in nurturing the doctor-patient relationship.

PlusSmile® is proud to participate in making our world a more sustainable one. Therefore, we invite you to drop off your old clear aligner trays at the dental clinics so that we can dispose of them as they were meant to. Help us save our world in our own little ways.