Torkomian Talar, de la Iglesia Fernando, Puigdollers Andreu
Universitat internacional de Catalunya (UIC barcelona), Carrer de Josep Trueta, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona 08195, Spain.
Universitat internacional de Catalunya (UIC barcelona), Carrer de Josep Trueta, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona 08195, Spain; Ortodoncia tres torres, Carrer de Jacinto Benavente, 6, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Barcelona 08017, Spain.
J Dent. 2025 Apr;155:105616. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2025.105616. Epub 2025 Feb 5.
To assess the differences between the traditional thermoformed clear aligners (TFA) and the emerging 3D-printed clear aligners (DPA) by comparing their mechanical and chemical properties, manufacturing process, accuracy trueness and precision, and effect on sustainability. To evaluate whether 3D-printing is more efficient than thermoforming in the manufacturing of clear aligners.
Data was collected from scientific articles related to 3D-printed aligners' properties and comparative cross-referenced articles related to the thermoformed aligners' properties.
The sources assessed to retrieve the articles were scientific databases Scopus and PubMed.
A PICO format research question guided the study selection by both assisting in the formulation of keyword combinations and establishing a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria to meet this review's objectives.
The results indicate that both aligners have good mechanical properties, but the DPA distinguished themselves with two novel properties, shape memory and design flexibility. Additionally, they exerted a consistent force profile in contrast to the TFA. The DPA have higher accuracy, trueness and precision than the TFA, however similar to the thermoforming process, direct-printing also varied the thickness of the DPA from the original master STL model. There are limited studies on sustainability and biocompatibility of the DPA.
Following this review, it can be concluded that 3D-printed aligners are likely to serve as an alternative to the thermoformed aligners in the near future, seeing their innovative and promising properties. However, further experimental studies with higher quality of evidence and an emphasis on randomization are necessary to confirm current laboratory-based studies' findings and address important limitations before promoting the aligners to a larger audience.
The design flexibility of 3D-printing technology, and the shape memory property of currently marketed 3D-printed aligners could positively impact the accomplishment of precise, desired orthodontic outcomes, potentially reducing clinical treatment time.
通过比较传统热成型透明矫治器（TFA）和新兴的3D打印透明矫治器（DPA）的机械性能、化学性能、制造工艺、精度真实性和精确性以及对可持续性的影响，评估两者之间的差异。评估3D打印在透明矫治器制造中是否比热成型更高效。
从与3D打印矫治器性能相关的科学文章以及与热成型矫治器性能相关的比较交叉参考文章中收集数据。
评估用于检索文章的来源是科学数据库Scopus和PubMed。
PICO格式的研究问题指导研究选择，既有助于制定关键词组合，又有助于建立一套纳入和排除标准，以实现本综述的目标。
结果表明，两种矫治器都具有良好的机械性能，但DPA具有形状记忆和设计灵活性这两种新特性。此外，与TFA相比，它们施加的力分布更均匀。DPA的准确性、真实性和精确性高于TFA，然而，与热成型工艺类似，直接打印也会使DPA的厚度与原始主STL模型有所不同。关于DPA的可持续性和生物相容性的研究有限。
经过本综述，可以得出结论，鉴于其创新和有前景的特性，3D打印矫治器在不久的将来可能成为热成型矫治器的替代品。然而，在将这些矫治器推广给更多受众之前，需要进行更高质量证据且强调随机化的进一步实验研究，以证实当前基于实验室研究的结果并解决重要局限性。
3D打印技术的设计灵活性以及目前市场上3D打印矫治器的形状记忆特性可能对实现精确、理想的正畸效果产生积极影响，有可能缩短临床治疗时间。
