Customized composite attachments for clear aligner treatment
Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Wear and Clinical Survival of Attachments Reproduced With Customized Composites for Clear Aligner Therapy: A Prospective Observational Clinical Study
This project will test four different composite materials used to make attachments for people getting clear aligners to see which materials wear least and hold up best over six months.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 24 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ankara) |
| Trial ID | NCT07261735 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a prospective, observational split-mouth clinical investigation that compares four composite resins used to fabricate orthodontic attachments for clear aligner therapy. Each patient will receive four different materials—one per quadrant—applied with standardized digital templates and a uniform bonding protocol, with one investigator performing the placements. Intraoral scans will be taken at baseline, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months and analyzed with 3D metrology software by a blinded evaluator to quantify volumetric and surface wear. Lost or fractured attachments will be recorded and replaced but excluded from quantitative wear analysis, and repeated-measures ANOVA will be used for statistical comparisons.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with fully erupted permanent teeth and mild-to-moderate crowding or spacing who are scheduled for clear aligner therapy at the Gülhane Faculty of Dentistry and can attend five follow-up scans over six months.
Not a fit: Patients with extensive restorations on buccal surfaces, active periodontal disease, severe crowding, habitual bruxism, or poor oral hygiene are unlikely to benefit or qualify for this comparison.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could identify composites that better resist wear and reduce attachment failures, improving aligner treatment predictability and reducing repairs.
How similar studies have performed: Prior in vitro and short-term clinical reports have examined attachment materials and wear, but direct split-mouth three-dimensional clinical comparisons over a six-month period are limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Fully erupted permanent dentition. * No existing prosthetic restorations. * Mild-to-moderate dental crowding or spacing (2-6 mm). * Patients who are scheduled to undergo clear aligner therapy at the Department of Orthodontics, Gülhane Faculty of Dentistry, between 01.08.2025 and 01.08.2026. * Patients who agree to participate and provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * History of previous fixed orthodontic treatment. * Patients with poor predicted compliance or low cooperation. * Presence of severe or generalized periodontal disease. * High caries incidence or untreated caries. * Poor oral hygiene * Habitual consumption of hard foods. * Bruxism * Congenitally missing permanent teeth. * Dental developmental anomalies. * Teeth with existing composite resin restorations or ceramic crowns on buccal surfaces (which may interfere with attachment bonding or wear analysis)
Where this trial is running
Ankara
- University of Health Sciences, Gülhane Faculty of Dental Medicine — Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Gizem Boztaş Demir, Asst. Prof.
- Email: gizem.demir@sbu.edu.tr
- Phone: +905331518464
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.