Do clear aligners protect tooth bone better than braces? a head-to-head trial
NCT ID NCT07716007
First seen Jul 21, 2026 · Last updated Jul 22, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study compares two popular ways to straighten teeth in adults with mild-to-moderate crowding: clear aligners and traditional fixed braces. The main question is whether the two methods differ in how they affect the bone that surrounds the teeth. Using 3D X-ray scans and digital models, researchers measure bone level and thickness around the lower front teeth before and during treatment. Adults are randomly assigned to receive either clear aligners or braces, and the results are compared over about six months.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If clear aligners are found to preserve more bone around teeth than braces, this could help orthodontists choose the best method for straightening teeth while protecting long-term dental health.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, short-term study with only 20 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The bone changes measured may not predict long-term dental health.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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20 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Aug 2024
- Finished
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Apr 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 25 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults 18-25 years of age, of both sexes. * Mild-to-moderate mandibular anterior crowding (2-6 mm). * Angle Class I molar relationship with normal overjet (1-3 mm) and overbite (1-2 mm). * Full permanent dentition with a healthy periodontium. * Normal anteroposterior and vertical skeletal pattern. Exclusion Criteria: * Any local or systemic condition, or trauma, capable of affecting craniofacial growth and development. * History of previous orthodontic or interceptive treatment. * Loss of periodontal attachment. * Craniofacial anomalies, facial asymmetry or skeletal discrepancy.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Future University in Egypt (Department of Orthodontics)
Cairo, 11865, Egypt
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