How Environmentally Friendly Is the Disposal of Clear Aligners?
Monday, December 02, 2024 11:31 AM
Clear aligners have gained increased acceptance among patients undergoing orthodontic treatment owing to their inconspicuous appearance. On average, the efficiency of clear aligner therapy is a little over 60%, which means one or two sets of revision aligners are necessary to achieve the desired clinical outcome. With a certain number of clear aligners generated for each patient, one of the concerns that is largely overlooked is the indiscriminate disposal and the environmental impact of used aligners. Generally, household plastic waste is processed via one of the three common methods: incineration, recycling, or landfill. If used aligners are disposed of similarly to general plastic waste and incinerated, the question is what is its environmental impact. Read more.