Study of Damage and Microplastic Release in Clear Aligners Under Cyclic Loads

In this research work, the mechanical performance of a thermoformed clear dental aligner is studied. Its performance is evaluated under the cyclic compression test, which is designed to simulate the occlusal forces applied on the aligner during swallowing operations for its entire usage period. The...

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Main Authors: Claudia Barile, Caterina Casavola, Claudia Cianci, Domenico Ciavarella, Giovanni Pappalettera, Carmine Pappalettere, Vimalathithan Paramsamy Kannan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Engineering Proceedings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/85/1/16
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author Claudia Barile
Caterina Casavola
Claudia Cianci
Domenico Ciavarella
Giovanni Pappalettera
Carmine Pappalettere
Vimalathithan Paramsamy Kannan
author_facet Claudia Barile
Caterina Casavola
Claudia Cianci
Domenico Ciavarella
Giovanni Pappalettera
Carmine Pappalettere
Vimalathithan Paramsamy Kannan
author_sort Claudia Barile
collection DOAJ
description In this research work, the mechanical performance of a thermoformed clear dental aligner is studied. Its performance is evaluated under the cyclic compression test, which is designed to simulate the occlusal forces applied on the aligner during swallowing operations for its entire usage period. The mechanical results show that the aligner exhibit stable energy absorption and stiffness behaviour throughout its use period and thus can potentially be used for clinical applications. The microplastic released from the aligner due to the fatigue-like damage is analysed using optical microscopy. Most of the microplastics released have larger dimensions, which may be excreted from the gastrointestinal tracts and have less possibility to pass through the epithelium passively. Therefore, the use of aligner may not pose any cytotoxic health risks.
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issn 2673-4591
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publishDate 2025-02-01
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series Engineering Proceedings
spelling doaj-art-fe71da5d198e4dcaa1f8fd54d8a2ffaa2025-08-20T03:24:33ZengMDPI AGEngineering Proceedings2673-45912025-02-018511610.3390/engproc2025085016Study of Damage and Microplastic Release in Clear Aligners Under Cyclic LoadsClaudia Barile0Caterina Casavola1Claudia Cianci2Domenico Ciavarella3Giovanni Pappalettera4Carmine Pappalettere5Vimalathithan Paramsamy Kannan6Dipartimento di Meccanica, Matematica e Management, Politecnico di Bari, 70037 Bari, ItalyDipartimento di Meccanica, Matematica e Management, Politecnico di Bari, 70037 Bari, ItalyDipartimento di Meccanica, Matematica e Management, Politecnico di Bari, 70037 Bari, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, ItalyDipartimento di Meccanica, Matematica e Management, Politecnico di Bari, 70037 Bari, ItalyDipartimento di Meccanica, Matematica e Management, Politecnico di Bari, 70037 Bari, ItalyDipartimento di Meccanica, Matematica e Management, Politecnico di Bari, 70037 Bari, ItalyIn this research work, the mechanical performance of a thermoformed clear dental aligner is studied. Its performance is evaluated under the cyclic compression test, which is designed to simulate the occlusal forces applied on the aligner during swallowing operations for its entire usage period. The mechanical results show that the aligner exhibit stable energy absorption and stiffness behaviour throughout its use period and thus can potentially be used for clinical applications. The microplastic released from the aligner due to the fatigue-like damage is analysed using optical microscopy. Most of the microplastics released have larger dimensions, which may be excreted from the gastrointestinal tracts and have less possibility to pass through the epithelium passively. Therefore, the use of aligner may not pose any cytotoxic health risks.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/85/1/16clear dental alignerclear aligner treatmentmicroplasticsimage processing
spellingShingle Claudia Barile
Caterina Casavola
Claudia Cianci
Domenico Ciavarella
Giovanni Pappalettera
Carmine Pappalettere
Vimalathithan Paramsamy Kannan
Study of Damage and Microplastic Release in Clear Aligners Under Cyclic Loads
Engineering Proceedings
clear dental aligner
clear aligner treatment
microplastics
image processing
title Study of Damage and Microplastic Release in Clear Aligners Under Cyclic Loads
title_full Study of Damage and Microplastic Release in Clear Aligners Under Cyclic Loads
title_fullStr Study of Damage and Microplastic Release in Clear Aligners Under Cyclic Loads
title_full_unstemmed Study of Damage and Microplastic Release in Clear Aligners Under Cyclic Loads
title_short Study of Damage and Microplastic Release in Clear Aligners Under Cyclic Loads
title_sort study of damage and microplastic release in clear aligners under cyclic loads
topic clear dental aligner
clear aligner treatment
microplastics
image processing
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/85/1/16
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AT domenicociavarella studyofdamageandmicroplasticreleaseinclearalignersundercyclicloads
AT giovannipappalettera studyofdamageandmicroplasticreleaseinclearalignersundercyclicloads
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