Do 3D-printed aligners change bone health differently than standard ones?
NCT ID NCT07617571
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at how two types of clear aligners—3D-printed versus thermoformed—affect bone metabolism in adults with minor crowding. Thirty participants will be randomly assigned to one type, and researchers will measure changes in a bone-related protein and gum health. The goal is to see if the manufacturing method makes a difference in how the jawbone responds to tooth movement.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Orthodontic aligners (3D-printed resin or thermoformed PETG)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help orthodontists choose aligner materials that are gentler on bone, potentially improving treatment outcomes.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study (30 people) measuring bone markers, not clinical outcomes. Results may not translate to real-world benefits or apply to more complex cases.
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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About 30 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Jun 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Jul 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- 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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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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: * Minor malocclusion (2 to 4 mm of crowding) . * Patients in need for Antero-posterior expansion and labial tipping of incisors without interproximal reduction * No use of anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics in the past 6 months. * Periodontal parameters of gingival index \<1 and no pocketing with a generalized pocketing depth of \<3mm. * Radiographic parameters of no crestal bone loss. * No history of smoking. Exclusion Criteria: * Signs of inflammation of the gingiva, and periodontitis. * Systemic conditions (kidney disease, HIV, and liver disease). * Teeth missing or poor oral hygiene. * Bone disease e.g.; osteoporosis.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University
Alexandria, Egypt
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Braces vs. clear aligners: which is gentler on your gums?
- Tight fit, lasting grip? the torque test for orthodontic anchors
- Can 3D-Printed retainers outlast the Old-School wire?
- Can a tooth-colored, one-visit space saver replace the metal band-and-loop in kids?