How to make your own aligners Parts & tools you will need: Crown & bridge scissors Abrasive buff polishers (e.g. Scotch-Brite™ wheels) coarse & medium Model trimmer Vacuum or pressure thermoformer Dental lathe Plastic sheets Wheel saw ¼” 1 Remove excess base from the model with a model trimmer. This will allow the plastic to fit more tightly. 4 Use the wheel saw to cut about 3mm below the gum line all around the model. 7 Apply medium pressure with the coarse wheel to remove the rough edges on the tray. Remove any excess white material on the tray. 2 Remove protective material and heat the plastic until you have a ¼” sag. 5 Pop the tray out carefully. Do not apply too much force on the tray or it will deform it. 3 Vacuum form the plastic for about 30 seconds. 6 Take the crown and bridge scissors and cut about 1mm below the gum line all around. Make sure the scissors are pointed out. 8 Apply light pressure with the medium wheel to finish polishing the tray. Repeat until smooth. For parts or materials, call (888) 331-3323