Learning About the Type of Plastic Used for Invisalign in DC

by | Feb 23, 2016 | Dental Care

Invisalign in DC is an alternative to traditional braces for straightening teeth. These clear aligners are removable and practically invisible. They are made of plastic, but not a cheap form of plastic that could gradually leach harmful chemicals. Instead, the devices are constructed of medical-grade polyurethane resins. More specifically, they are categorized as United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Class VI. The USP tests products and reports on their quality and safety. The organization’s requirements are very strict.

Class VI plastic does not contain chemicals such as bisphenol-A, also called BPA, which many consumers have become worried about. This is a common chemical in various plastic products, such as hard bottles and the interior of food cans. BPA may leach into food and beverages, especially if the plastic container is heated. Invisalign devices do not contain this chemical or other potentially toxic substances.

Although the material is safe, the wearer still must exercise proper precautions with Invisalign in DC since the devices are made of plastic. The aligners are custom-designed for each dental patient. Patients are supposed to remove them before eating or drinking anything. It can be tempting to leave them on for the sake of convenience when planning to drink a beverage or have a quick snack, since the aligners fit tightly and don’t just slip right off and on. However, drinking a hot beverage while wearing Invisalign can damage the plastic. Coffee and tea can stain the material, and so can red wine, colas and other dark sodas, and red and purple fruit juice.

There’s another important aspect to removing the aligners before eating food or drinking any beverage besides water. Food particles and sugar from beverages can get into the devices and remain against the teeth until the person finally removes the aligners. This increases the risk of tooth decay.

A clinic such as Business Name provides all the instructions necessary to keep both the patient’s teeth and the aligners in excellent condition. After this, it’s a matter of the patient following those directions and not cutting corners. Anyone interested in Invisalign for teeth straightening may get more info here.

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