Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Winter 12-17-2025

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the efficiency of directly 3D printed shape memory aligners (TC-85 DAC resin, Graphy Inc, South Korea) vs thermoformed shape memory aligners (Clear X, K line Europe GmbH headquarters).

Methodology: 20 adult patients were included in this study complaining from 2-8 mm crowding in lower anterior region, 10 of them were treated using directly 3d printed clear aligners (4 males, 6 females), and the other 10 were treated using thermoformed shape memory aligners (5 males, 5 females). With mean age 24 years. Digital superimposition was performed using Geomagic control X software to evaluate teeth tracking, 3shape software was used to measure little’s irregularity index before treatment and before the refinement phase, the actual Vs estimated no. of aligners were calculated along with a written questionnaire to evaluate the patient satisfaction.

Results: 120 teeth were measured, Mann Whitney test was performed and revealed no statistically significant differences in tracking accuracy at any of the measured points of the lower anterior teeth (P > 0.05 for all parameters) between two groups, Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed a highly significant reduction in LII values within both groups, for Group 1: LII significantly decreased from 4.53 ± 1.58 to 0.16

± 0.05 (P = 0.005*) and for Group 2: LII significantly decreased from 4.29 ± 1.55 to 0.14 ± 0.05 (P = 0.005*), The percentage of difference between the actual  number and the estimated aligners was also not significantly different, averaging 90.53 ± 7.25% in Group 1 and 88.21 ± 15.69% in Group 2 (P = 0.99). and via written questionnaire,  at baseline, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in Q1 (comfort during insertion) and Q3 (ease of insertion and removal), both favoring Group 1 (directly 3D printed shape memory orthodontic aligners), with mean scores of 5.00 ± 0.00 versus 4.20 ± 0.79 (P = 0.023) and 5.00 ± 0.00 versus 4.30 ± 0.67 (P = 0.023), respectively. Comparison between baseline and after 2 weeks in group I was performed by using Wilcoxon signed rank test which revealed that there was a statistically significant decrease in the mean score of Q2 (aligner appearance) from 5.00 ± 0.00 at baseline to 4.50 ± 0.53 after 2 weeks (P = 0.02), indicating a slight reduction in perceived color stability after wearing the aligners for two weeks.

Conclusions: Both groups were effective regarding alleviating mandibular anterior crowding and Directly 3D printed shape memory clear aligners showed enhanced patient’s comfort during insertion at baseline.

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