Assessment of Clear Aligner Disposal Practices among Dentists in Chennai: A Questionnaire-based Survey

Introduction:The increasing use of clear aligner therapy (CAT) in orthodontics has raised environmental concerns regarding its disposal.Aligners, primarily composed of nonbiodegradable thermoplastic polymers, contribute to biomedical and plastic waste.This study assesses the disposal practices of clear aligners among dental practitioners in Chennai.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 dental practitioners in Chennai using an online survey distributed via Google Forms.The questionnaire consisted of 17 questions, divided into demographic details (7) and aligner disposal practices (10).The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0, with Chi-square tests used to determine statistical significance (p < 0.05*).Results: Of the participants, 58% were male, 54.7% held a bachelor's degree, and 67.3% were in private or partnership practice.While 62.7% reported segregating aligners as biomedical waste (BMW), only 54.7% had discussed disposal methods with aligner companies.The most common disposal method was biomedical red waste bags (48.7%), though 35.3% handed aligners to patients and never collected back.A significant association was found between good disposal practices and higher education (p = 0.03*), type of practice (p = 0.02*), years of experience (p = 0.04*), and aligner practice duration (p = 0.02*).Conclusion: While most practitioners recognized the environmental impact of improper aligner disposal, inconsistencies in disposal methods were evident.Increased awareness and standardized guidelines are needed to improve sustainable disposal practices among dental professionals.