ArticleCurrent microbiology2021
Changes in the Microbiome of the Inner Surface of Clear Aligners After Different Usage Periods.
Article in Current microbiology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Impact of Clear Aligners on the Oral Microbiome: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence.Clinical and experimental dental research · 2026Pooled it
- Orthodontic treatment and oral microbiota changes: a systematic review of oral dysbiosis revealed by 16S rRNA gene analysis.The Angle orthodontist · 2025Pooled it
- White spot lesions, plaque accumulation and salivary caries-associated bacteria in clear aligners compared to fixed orthodontic treatment. A systematic review and meta- analysis.BMC oral health · 2023Pooled it
- Incidence and distribution of white spot lesions after clear aligner versus fixed appliance therapy : A retrospective digital photograph and intraoral scan analysis.Journal of orofacial orthopedics = Fortschritte der Kieferorthopadie : Organ/official journal Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Kieferorthopadie · 2026Article
- Effects of cleaning methods on the removal efficacy of Streptococcus mutans biofilm and material properties of thermoplastic aligner materials.BMC oral health · 2026Article
- The Changes of Microbiome Attached on Clear Aligners after Drinking Coca-Cola.Polish journal of microbiology · 2026Article
- Assessment of microbial growth in various aligner materials.Bioinformation · 2026Article
- Microbial changes in different parts of the oral cavity during the early stage of clear aligner treatment: a preliminary study.Clinical oral investigations · 2025Article
- Effect of Surface Wettability and Energy on Bacterial Adhesion to Dental Aligners: A Comparative In Vitro Study.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Time-dependent microbiome dynamics in orthodontic thermoplastic materials: comparing PETG and TPU.Clinical oral investigations · 2025Article
- Biofilm Composition Changes During Orthodontic Clear Aligners Compared to Multibracket Appliances: A Systematic Review.Microorganisms · 2025Review
- Effects of removable clear dental aligners on the composition of the oral microbiome.Journal of oral microbiology · 2025Article
- Dynamics of the oral microbiome during orthodontic treatment and antimicrobial advances for orthodontic appliances.iScience · 2024Review
- The microbiome alterations of supragingival plaque among adolescents using clear aligners: a metagenomic sequencing analysis.Progress in orthodontics · 2024Article
- Home Biofilm Management in Orthodontic Aligners: A Systematic Review.Dentistry journal · 2024Review
- Assessment of Food Masticatory Capability with Clear Aligners.Dentistry journal · 2024Article
- Chewing Function with Efficiency Tests in Subjects Wearing Clear Aligners.Dentistry journal · 2024Article
- Comparative characterization of supragingival plaque microbiomes in malocclusion adult female patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with removable aligners or fixed appliances: a descriptive cross-sectional study.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2024Article
- Characteristics of oral microbiota and oral health in the patients treated with clear aligners: a prospective study.Clinical oral investigations · 2023Article
- Impact of Clear Aligners on Oral Health and Oral Microbiome During Orthodontic Treatment.International dental journal · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Clear aligners are removable orthodontic appliances that cover the tooth surface. The microbial composition and pH of the inner surface of aligners directly affect the enamel health. In this study, eight subjects who used the same type of clear aligners were instructed to brush their teeth normally and to not clean their aligners until sampling. Saliva and the contents of the inner surface of the aligners (liquid and plaque) were collected at 0 h (T0), 4 h (T4), 8 h (T8), 12 h (T12), and 24 h (T24) after usage, and pH values and microbial compositions were measured. The microbial composition was analyzed with 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and changes were assessed based on operational taxonomic unit abundance. The pH, alpha diversity values, and abundance of specific microbes on the inner surface of the aligners gradually decreased from T0 to T24 (P < 0.05). An insignificant increase in microbial community beta diversity was observed from T0 to T24. Principal component analysis revealed that the microbial composition at T0 was different from at T12 and T24. The relative abundances of phylum Firmicutes (P < 0.01), orders Lactobacillales and Bacteroidales (P < 0.05), and genus Streptococcus and species Streptococcus infantis increased significantly, while those of genera Actinomyces and Rothia and species Rothia aeria decreased significantly at T24 (P < 0.05). These findings reveal that uncleaned aligners might lead to enamel damage, especially after continuous usage for 12 h. Thus, clear aligners should be cleaned after 12 h of usage or at least within 24 h of usage.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.