Effectiveness of Clear Aligners in Different Thicknesses

Plain-language summary

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, pain, and satisfaction levels between patients treated with different thicknesses of clear aligners among Class I maxillary mild crowding cases. Two types of clear aligners with thicknesses of 0.5 and 0.75 mm were used. The null hypotheses were as follows: There is no clinical difference in effectiveness, pain, and satisfaction levels between different thickness of clear aligners. The alternate hypotheses were as follows: The thicker the clear aligner, the greater orthodontic force applied to tooth which affects the amount of orthodontic tooth movement, pain, and satisfaction levels of patients. The primary aim was to evaluate pre- and post-treatment changes in amount of orthodontic tooth movement. Maxillary cephalometric parameters were measured on lateral cephalograms and maxillary dental parameters were measured using OrthoAnalyzer, and compared before and after treatment. Visual Analogue Scale and Patient Satisfaction Evaluation Form were used in order to assess the pain and satisfaction levels of patients. Pain and satisfaction levels were measured before the aligner insertion (T0), at the 4th hour (T1), 2nd day (T2), 1st week (T3), 1st month (T4) and at the end of the treatment (T5).

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