Aligner Material - FAQs

For frequently asked questions on aligner material, refer to the following: 

• What are ClearCorrect aligners made out of?
• Are ClearCorrect aligners BPA-free?
• Can my patient drink hot beverages like coffee or tea while wearing aligners?
• Is the Zendura used to make the aligners the same as the Zendura sold in the online store?
• What machines can I use to make my own Zendura aligner?
• What plastic do you recommend for making replacement aligners?
• Why are the distal edges of the aligner missing sometimes?

For further information about our aligner material and safety information, please contact your local Customer Care representative. 

What are ClearCorrect aligners made out of?

Our aligners are made from Zendura, a custom formulation of medical-grade polyurethane which has been thoroughly tested for biocompatability. This advanced plastic was created exclusively for ClearCorrect by Bay Materials.

Are ClearCorrect aligners BPA-free?

Yes! Our aligners are FDA approved and free of bisphenol-A ("BPA") and phthalates. 

Can my patient drink hot beverages like coffee or tea while wearing aligners?

We don't recommend it. Hot liquids can distort the material. Coffee and tea are also likely to stain the aligners, and sugar can get trapped between the teeth and the aligners. It's best to remove the aligners before eating or drinking anything other than water.

Is the Zendura used to make the aligners the same as the Zendura sold in the store?

Yes! The same Zendura plastic used to make your patients' aligners is available on our online store at a providers-only price of $60 for 20 sheets. This way, you won't have to compromise quality for the convenience of making your own aligners in-house.

What machines can I use to make my own Zendura aligner?

Bay Materials recommends the use of a pressure-forming machine (such as a Biostar, MiniStar, or Drufomat) when thermoforming Zendura plastic. However, you may be able to achieve good results using a vacuum-forming machine by following these instructions.

What plastic do you recommend for making replacement aligners?

ClearCorrect aligners are made from Zendura® plastic which has been specially formulated for ClearCorrect by Bay Materials. It is a superior plastic for clear aligners: it leads the class in stress retention, crack & impact resistance, clarity, and stain resistance. 

Zendura aligner plastic is available for purchase at a special discounted price for ClearCorrect providers in the online store.

Consult your thermoforming machine manual for proper instructions, heating time, cooling time, etc.

Why are the distal edges of the aligner missing sometimes?

Sometimes we receive impressions that don't have enough detail to accurately model the distal edges of the posterior teeth. Distortion is much more prevalent in this area, because it can be difficult to make sure that the impression material completely covers the teeth in the back of the mouth.

Of course, we always prefer to receive complete, accurate impressions. But we don't want to inconvenience our providers unnecessarily either.

In some cases, we'll make an exception and process the case even though the distal surfaces of the posterior teeth are incomplete in our model. The aligners still have plenty of surface area to grip the teeth. We just trim off the potentially inaccurate area so that the case can progress without delay.

If you want to make sure that your patient's aligners fully cover the distal surfaces of all the teeth, just double-check your impressions to make sure that they're not distorted in that area, and you should be fine.