ArticleCureus2026
Three-Dimensional Assessment of Composite Attachment Wear in Clear Aligner Therapy: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionClear aligner therapy relies on composite attachments for precise tooth movement; however, wear may compromise force delivery and treatment efficacy. This study quantitatively assessed morphometric changes in the attachment dimensions and volume over six months and explored patterns according to sex, jaw, and tooth position. MATERIALS AND
methodsThis prospective cohort study included 12 adults (aged >18 years) with mild-to-moderate malocclusion, contributing 50 attachments bonded with G-ænial Universal Flo (GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) composite material. Intraoral scans were obtained post-attachment bonding (T1) and at six months (T6). Attachments were isolated and analyzed using SOLIDWORKS software (Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., Waltham, Massachusetts) for changes in width, length, height, and volume. Non-parametric tests and linear mixed models were used to evaluate the wear patterns (significance: p < 0.05).
resultsA significant reduction of attachments occurred over six months in all dimensions. The mean width, length, height, and volume decreased from 2.95 (1.90-3.18) to 2.30 (1.40-2.50) mm, 2.25 (2.10-2.50) to 1.60 (1.50-1.90) mm, 1.20 (1.10-1.03) to 1.00 (0.90-1.10) mm, and 9.50 (7.15-10.85) to 7.35 (5.70-8.50) mm³, respectively. The consistent and large Cohen's d effect size indicated a substantial magnitude of change. Posterior attachments showed greater width and volume loss than anterior attachments. Mandibular attachments had higher volume loss than maxillary attachments. No significant sex differences were observed (p > 0.05).
conclusionsSignificant reductions in attachment dimensions and volume were observed over six months, confirming progressive wear during clear aligner therapy. Posterior and mandibular attachments demonstrated greater attrition, highlighting the influence of biomechanical loading and anatomical location. Regular monitoring of attachment integrity and the use of more wear-resistant materials may improve force delivery, treatment efficiency, and clinical predictability.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
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.