Invisalign is a popular way to straighten teeth, particularly for those uncomfortable with the “mouthful of metal” look they imagine braces will give them. Invisalign and Invisalign Teen move teeth with the power of braces but with a nearly invisible look. The treatment consists of several clear aligner trays, with the next set in line switched out every 1-2 weeks.
What do you do with the old trays when you put in the new trays? At Woodhill Dental Specialties, we get this question often. As treatment proceeds, the number of old trays can build up rapidly. Do you throw away old Invisalign trays? Can you recycle Invisalign trays, or do you need to keep your old Invisalign trays?
Invisalign is the name of the treatment system that is an alternative to traditional metal braces. The system uses custom-made trays made from a blend of plastics and polymers to fit your teeth exactly. Using advanced software, Invisalign creates several trays that move specific teeth in specific ways. The trays come in sets — one for the upper teeth and one for the lower teeth. The Invisalign software system creates a treatment plan that shows what trays should be worn, when, and for how long.
The patient is given several sets at the start of their treatment, usually up to 5-6 sets, depending on how long each should be worn. The trays usually are worn for 1-2 weeks at a time. The patient wears the first set, then, a week or two later, switches to the next set in the plan. That continues for about six weeks until the patient returns to our office. We check the patient’s progress and give them the next set of trays to continue moving their teeth. This continues for 9-15 months until treatment is complete.
If you’re switching out trays weekly, you’ll have quite the buildup of Invisalign trays by the time your treatment is done! What do you do with all the old trays? Throw them out? The answer to that is “no,” and here’s why.
Should the next trays get lost or damaged, we’ll ask you to return to the old ones until the new ones are replaced so we can keep your treatment on track. We may also ask you to return to an older set of trays if we feel certain teeth don’t have enough time to move into position.
Once your treatment is complete, we ask that you keep your last few trays in case you lose your clear retainers. You should be able to wear your last Invisalign until the retainers are replaced. That way, you won’t lose that beautiful, new smile.
There’s another good reason not to toss your trays. Technically, they’re considered medical waste, meaning they must be disposed of a certain way for safety reasons. So simply tossing them in the trash is a no-no.
Standard recycling bins are not an option for Invisalign trays. They're made from a specialized mix of plastics and polymers that regular recycling programs can't process, and because they've been in your mouth, they fall into a medical waste category that requires proper disposal.
That said, recycling is possible through a program called TerraCycle. Align Technology has partnered with TerraCycle to specifically handle aligner recycling. Used aligners and their plastic bags are collected, sanitized, melted down, and reformed into hard plastic that gets made into new products like park benches and picnic tables. If you want to recycle your trays, visit terracycle.com to find a participating location near you, or consider their mail-in Oral Care Zero Waste Pouch option.
Ask us at your next visit whether we're participating in the TerraCycle program. If you're interested in making sure your trays stay out of a landfill, it's worth the conversation.
Here's a practical breakdown:
Keep your most recent previous set. Always hold onto the set you just switched out. If your current trays are lost or damaged, we'll ask you to use the previous set while replacements are made. This keeps your treatment on track without any gaps.
Keep your last few sets after treatment ends. Once your treatment is complete, hold onto your final few sets of trays in case you lose your retainers. Your last Invisalign tray can serve as a temporary backup to keep your teeth from shifting while replacement retainers are made.
Keep your first and last sets for comparison. Many patients like to hold onto their very first and very last trays to see the full before-and-after of their treatment. It's a great reminder of how far your smile has come.
Recycle or bring in the rest. Once you're confident you won't need older trays as backups, bring them to us. We'll make sure they're disposed of properly. If we participate in the TerraCycle program, we can send them in for recycling rather than landfill disposal.
Not right away. You should keep your most recent set as a backup in case your current trays are lost or damaged. Once treatment is complete, hold onto your last few sets in case your retainers need to be replaced. After that, standard trash disposal is technically an option, but bringing them to your dental provider for proper disposal or TerraCycle recycling is the better choice.
Yes, used Invisalign trays are considered medical waste because they've been in contact with the body. This means they can't go in a standard recycling bin and shouldn't just be tossed in the trash. Bringing them to your dental provider for proper disposal is the recommended approach.
No. Invisalign trays are made from a specialized plastic blend that standard municipal recycling programs can't process. The only recycling option is through TerraCycle, either through a participating dental office or via TerraCycle's paid Oral Care Zero Waste Pouch mail-in option.
Your last set of Invisalign trays can serve as a temporary backup if you lose your retainers, but they aren't a permanent replacement. Retainers are specifically designed to hold teeth in place without exerting pressure to move them. Using an old aligner tray long-term as a retainer isn't recommended since it may allow gradual shifting over time.
Hold onto your immediately previous set throughout treatment as a backup. Once treatment ends, keep your last two to three sets until your retainers are confirmed to fit well and are in good shape. After that, bring the remaining trays to your provider for disposal or recycling.
At Woodhill Dental Specialties, we'll take care of proper disposal for you — just bring your old trays in at your next visit. If you have questions about your Invisalign treatment or want to get started, make an appointment with our team in Dallas or Rockwall, TX.
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