Clear aligner color showdown: straight edge vs. Gum-Hugging design
NCT ID NCT07628491
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026 · Updated 4 times
Summary
This study looks at whether the edge design of clear orthodontic aligners changes how much they discolor after 14 days of wear. Fifty people in the final stage of aligner treatment will wear aligners with two different gumline designs—one straight and one following the gum curve—on different jaws. Their color is measured at the start and after two weeks to see which design stays clearer.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Tri-layer thermoplastic finishing clear aligner (device)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help orthodontists choose aligner designs that stay clearer and more aesthetic during treatment.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study (50 people) looking only at color change, not overall treatment success. Results may not apply to all aligner brands or longer wear times.
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
-
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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50 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2026
- Finished
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Jul 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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15 years and older
- 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.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Adolescent and adult patients (age 15 years or older at enrollment) * Undergoing a finishing (refinement) stage of clear aligner therapy, with only small residual tooth movements remaining, including both patients completing active orthodontic treatment and patients with prior orthodontic treatment who require additional refinement (e.g., minor relapse or loss of retention) * Adherence to the prescribed oral hygiene instructions * Written informed consent; for participants aged 15-17 years, written consent from a parent or legal guardian Exclusion Criteria: * Deficient oral hygiene * Excessive consumption of intensely staining beverages (coffee, tea, red wine, colored carbonated drinks) * Systemic conditions or medications that may affect salivary secretion or tooth color * Non-compliance with the aligner / orthodontic appliance wear protocol
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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
-
Aorys Clinic
Sibiu, Sibiu County, 550118, Romania
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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