ArticleScientific reports2023
Comparison of translucency, thickness, and gap width of thermoformed and 3D-printed clear aligners using micro-CT and spectrophotometer.
Article in Scientific reports, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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Who cites it
38 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 42 citations in OpenAlex.
- Accuracy of three-dimensionally printed retainers and aligners : A systematic review.Journal of orofacial orthopedics = Fortschritte der Kieferorthopadie : Organ/official journal Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Kieferorthopadie · 2026Pooled it
- Hygroscopic behaviour and colour stability of 3D-printed and thermoformed aligner materials: an in vitro study.BMC oral health · 2026Article
- Impact of Different Cleaning Protocols on the Optical and Morphological Properties of 3D-Printed Aligners After In Vitro Aging.European journal of dentistry · 2026Article
- Impacts of clean-up visualization techniques on excess composite of orthodontic attachments.Journal of orofacial orthopedics = Fortschritte der Kieferorthopadie : Organ/official journal Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Kieferorthopadie · 2026Article
- Biocompatibility of a novel directly printed orthodontic aligner at variable material thicknesses.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Micro-computed tomography evaluation of aligner fitting on anchorage attachments.Korean journal of orthodontics · 2026Article
- Direct-printed aligners in orthodontics: Integrating digital design, materials science, and clinical biomechanics.Korean journal of orthodontics · 2026Review
- Thermoforming time variability of PET-G and TPU aligner sheets across consecutive thermoforming cycles: an in vitro study.BMC oral health · 2026Article
- Automated micro-CT quantification of clear aligner fit: a pilot comparison of manufacturing processes.BMC oral health · 2026Article
- Influence of restorative material types on 3D printed aligner accuracy using intraoral scanners.BMC oral health · 2026Article
- Micro-CT evaluation of aligner fit and thickness in 3D-printed and thermoformed aligners: Differences in relation to inner-surface offset design and tooth regions.Korean journal of orthodontics · 2026Article
- Dimensional behaviors of direct-printed versus thermoformed clear retainers in relation to changes of inter-piece occlusal contact distribution measured by T-scan after intraoral aging: a prospective clinical study.Progress in orthodontics · 2026Article
- Next-Generation Orthodontics: Functional Resins, Biomechanics, Biocompatibility, and Current Clinical Reality of Direct 3D-Printed Aligners.Journal of functional biomaterials · 2026Review
- 3D volumetric changes and force delivery at the attachment region of different aligner materials.Clinical oral investigations · 2026Article
- A standardized protocol for clear aligner thickness measurement using a 3D-printed auxiliary device.The Angle orthodontist · 2026Article
- Fit analysis of 3D-printed versus thermoformed clear aligners for labial tooth movement using micro-CT: an in vitro study.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Thickness distribution and site-specific variability of thermoformed multilayer clear aligners: anFrontiers in dental medicine · 2026Article
- Retentive force of thermoformed and direct 3D-printed clear aligners with different margin designs and attachments: anFrontiers in oral health · 2026Article
- Measurement of Aligner Thickness and Gap Width in Two Types of Clear Aligner Sheets Manufactured Using Two Different Thermoforming Machines - A Nano-CT Pilot Study.Turkish journal of orthodontics · 2025Article
- Embrasure aligner fit and thickness in 3D-printed and thermoformed aligners: a microcomputed tomography study.Progress in orthodontics · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The present study compared the thickness and gap width of thermoformed and 3D-printed clear aligners (CAs) using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and evaluated their translucency using spectrophotometer. Four groups of CAs were tested: thermoformed with polyethylene terephthalate glycol (TS) or copolyester-elastomer combination (TM), and 3D-printed TC-85 cleaned with alcohol (PA) or with centrifuge (PC). CIELab coordinates were measured (n = 10) to evaluate translucency. CAs (n = 10) were fitted onto respective models and micro-CT was performed to evaluate the thickness and gap width. Thickness and gap width were measured for different tooth type and location in sagittal sections on all sides. The PC group showed significantly higher translucency than the PA group, which was similar to the TS and TM groups (p < 0.01). After the manufacturing process, thickness reduction was observed in the thermoformed groups, whereas thickness increase was observed in the 3D printed-groups. The TM group showed the least gap width amongst the groups (p < 0.01). Thermoformed and 3D-printed CAs had significantly varied thicknesses and regions of best fit depending on the tooth type and location. Differences in the translucency and thickness of the 3D-printed CAs were observed depending on the cleaning methods.
Identifiers
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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.