Antibacterial Aligners

Aligners And Retainers Made Of Petg Plastic - A Hygienic Solution

Innovative, Antibacterial Material For Invisible Braces

Aligners and retainers made of clear plastic are the modern way of straightening teeth and in many cases replace the classic treatment with metal braces. Many patients ask us whether aligners and retainers are hygienic at all. After all, plaque can build up in the trays. We give you the answer to this question – and valuable tips on oral and aligner care.

Aligners, Retainers & Co: A Clean Affair Thanks To Special Coating

Clear aligners and retainers are made of soft plastic – based on a tooth impression. The disadvantage of standard acrylics is their susceptibility to bacterial colonization. This results on the one hand from the structure of the material itself, and on the other hand from the situation in the mouth. Bacteria can easily multiply in the warm, moist climate of the oral cavity. If oral hygiene is inadequate, they form bacterial biofilms on teeth and aligners which are difficult to remove, thus increasing the risk of periodontitis. In addition, the acidic excretory products of the bacteria quickly make the acrylic rigid, brittle and unsightly.

The Hygienic Solution - Superhydrophilic Petg Plastics

Korean scientists have finally developed an antibacterial coating for aligner and retainer plastics, significantly increasing the hygiene factor in aligner treatment. For this purpose, they modified the classic polymer film made of polyethylene terephthalate with glycol (PETG) and then coated it with carboxymethylcellulose and chitosan. This resulted in a resistant plastic with a superhydrophilic (water-loving) surface.

Advantages Of Aligners / Dental Splints Made Of PETG

For these good reasons, we at Speedcorrect Berlin have decided to offer our patients only aligners made of PET-G.

However, without a thorough cleaning of the braces and consistent oral hygiene, it still does not work.

How do I properly care for my aligners / invisible braces?

Here are some tips on how to keep your aligners (and retainers) clean and germ-free throughout treatment:

Cleaning Your Aligners

Rinse your aligners with cold or lukewarm water after removing them. This will prevent saliva and bacteria from “settling” in the aligners. Then clean them with a soft toothbrush and a little liquid soap. In between, your invisible braces will enjoy a “bath” in a lukewarm cleaning solution for braces or a special cleaner for aligners. We will be happy to recommend the right products for you.

Important:

Using water that is too hot can deform the aligners. For the same reason, you should only clean the aligners under lukewarm water.
Heavy scrubbing can damage the invisible braces.
Do not use toothpaste to clean the aligners. The polishing particles in toothpaste can roughen the splint material and settle as a whitish deposit on the aligner and affect its transparency.

Thorough Dental Care

The invisible braces are removed before every meal. Please brush your teeth thoroughly or at least rinse your mouth before reinserting the previously cleaned aligners. Do not forget to clean the interdental spaces. Interdental brushes or interdental sticks are best suited for this purpose. By maintaining good oral hygiene, you can prevent “fermented” food residues from getting stuck between your teeth and the aligners.

It is extremely important that you keep your aligners and retainers hygienically clean throughout the treatment. If you have difficulties with this, let dr.med.dent. Marc Adler or his team help you with this. We will be happy to demonstrate the best way to clean your invisible braces so that they are always fresh and clean. We will also be happy to give you tips on proper dental care.

Call us today under 030 44 323 019 or email us at info@speedcorrect.de.

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Unsichtbare Zahnspange Berlin