What can the Dental Pod clean? (2025)

How did we test the Dental Pod?

Supporting the cleaning of your oral appliance as part of a regular care routine is a top priority for us at Zima Dental. We have rigourously tested over 50 different oral appliance variations using the following 3 step process:

1. Cleaning Exposure: We ran each oral appliance variant through 30 cleaning cycles in the Dental Pod. 

2. Safety Assessment: Using 3D scanning, our team thoroughly checked each appliance for superficial damage, microscopic abrasions, and appliance shape or volume changes.

3. Long-Term Assessment: We followed up with the owners of each appliance for up to 3 months, to ensure their oral appliance continued to operate as expected.

Can the Dental Pod clean my aligner?

Aligners, including those from Invisalign, Byte and Smile Direct Club, can be cleaned with the Dental Pod as part of a regular care routine.

The majority of clear aligners are made from medical-grade polyurethane resins, which are susceptible to damage from cleaning techniques such as brushing. Since the Dental Pod does not rely on physical scrubbing, it is designed to avoid the need for abrasive contact during cleaning.

The material Invisalign aligners are made from, SmartTrack, is particularly well suited to being cleaned with the Dental Pod.  

Can the Dental Pod clean my retainer?

Retainers, including Hawley, Essix and Vivera retainers, can be cleaned with the Dental Pod as part of a regular care routine.

1. Hawley Retainers (Wire and Acrylic):

Cleaning Hawley retainers with the Dental Pod offers an alternative to manual cleaning methods such as brushing, which may contribute to surface wear over time. Brushing, especially with abrasive toothpaste or a hard-bristled brush, can scratch the acrylic surface or distort the delicate metal components of the retainer. Scratches can create areas where residue and buildup may accumulate over time, which can contribute to odour and hygiene concerns. 

2. Clear Plastic Retainers (e.g., Essix, Vivera):

Cleaning clear plastic retainers with an ultrasonic method offers a suitable alternative to manual cleaning methods, helping to remove debris without abrasive contact. Traditional brushing, particularly with harsh toothpastes or a firm brush, can introduce micro-scratches into the clear plastic, compromising its transparency and creating areas where buildup may accumulate over time

Can the Dental Pod clean my dentures?

Dentures, including complete (full), immediate, and partial dentures, can be cleaned with the Dental Pod as part of a regular care routine.

1. Complete (full) dentures:

Complete dentures have a large surface area that sits against the gums and palate, which can make them more challenging to clean using manual methods alone. Ultrasonic cleaning creates microbubbles that act across the surface, including in areas that may be harder to reach. This helps manage residue and buildup over time, including from denture adhesives.

2. Immediate dentures:

Immediate dentures are often used following dental procedures and may require gentle handling. Ultrasonic cleaning provides a non-abrasive alternative to brushing, helping to manage residue without the need for scrubbing.

3. Partial dentures:

Partial dentures combine artificial teeth with natural ones and may include metal components. Ultrasonic cleaning offers an alternative to manual cleaning, helping to reach detailed areas without direct abrasion.

Flippers, flexible, nitrogen-charged, over and hybrid dentures (and more) were also tested in the Dental Pod as part of our evaluation process.. 

Can the Dental Pod clean my mouthguard?

Mouthguards, including those made by Opro and Safejawz, can be cleaned with the Dental Pod as part of a regular routine.

Due to their shape and structure, mouthguards can accumulate buildup over time, particularly in grooves and contours. Ultrasonic cleaning helps act on these surfaces, including harder-to-reach areas, supporting a more consistent cleaning routine.

Can the Dental Pod clean my night guard?

Hard, soft and dual laminate night guards can all be cleaned with the Dental Pod as part of a regular care routine.

1. Hard night guards:

Hard night guards often contain small crevices that may be difficult to clean manually. Ultrasonic cleaning generates microbubbles that act on the surface and within these areas, without the need for abrasive brushing.

2. Soft night guards:

Cleaning soft night guards with ultrasonic cleaners provides a convenient alternative to manual techniques such as brushing. Soft night guards often mould closely to the teeth, creating fine grooves and detailed impressions of the dental structure. These intricate patterns can trap debris and buildup over time.

Ultrasonic technology generates microbubbles that act on the surface of the appliance and within these fine grooves, helping to dislodge residue without the need for abrasive scrubbing.

Soft night guards can also retain moisture during use, which may contribute to odour if not cleaned regularly. Incorporating ultrasonic cleaning as part of a consistent routine can help maintain the overall condition and freshness of the appliance.

3. Duel laminate night guards:

Cleaning dual laminate night guards with an ultrasonic cleaner provides a suitable and non-abrasive option as part of a regular care routine. One key aspect of dual laminate guards is the bond between the soft and hard layers, which can be affected over time by abrasive cleaning methods or unsuitable chemicals.

Ultrasonic cleaning avoids the need for direct scrubbing, helping to support the condition of the material and maintain the integrity of the bonded layers over time.

Snore, sleep-apneaa and bruxism guards (and more) were also tested in the Dental Pod as part of our evaluation process.  

For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Zima Dental customer support at support@zimadental.co.uk