Background: Clear thermoplastic materials are used in a variety of oral appliances. In some situations, patients may wear clear thermoplastic appliances while eating. However, the effect of wearing clear thermoplastic appliances on chewing efficiency is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in masticatory function between chewing with and without wearing clear thermoplastic retainers over a 6-month period, and its associated factors.
Methods: Thirty patients who received upper and lower clear retainers after debonding fixed appliances were examined for objective and subjective masticatory function at retainer delivery (T0), 3-month (T1), and 6-month follow-ups (T2) in two conditions: with and without wearing their retainers while chewing. The objective method used multiple sieves reported as the median particle size (MPS). The food intake ability (FIA) test served as the subjective method. Paired t-test was used to compare the outcomes between chewing with and without retainers at each evaluation time point. Repeated measures ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni post-hoc test was used to compare the outcomes between the three evaluating time points. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to assess whether age, sex, and extraction/non-extraction was associated with these effects.
Results: The MPS was significantly greater when chewing with retainers compared with chewing without them at T0 (P < 0.05), however, it was not significantly greater at T1 and T2 (P > 0.05). The MPS with and without the retainers tend to decrease between T0, T1 and T2. In particular, the MPS while chewing with retainers significantly decreased between T0 and T1. The total FIA score and FIA subscores for hard and soft food were significantly lower when eating with retainers at T0 (P < 0.05), however, all FIA scores when eating without retainers did not significantly change between T0, T1, and T2. No significantly associated factors were identified.
Conclusions: Wearing clear retainers while chewing decreases objective and subjective masticatory function immediately after completing orthodontic treatment. However, this significantly improved to levels comparable to chewing without retainers after a 3-month follow-up. Age, sex, and extraction/non-extraction treatment were not associated with the difference in masticatory function while chewing with and without wearing the retainers.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-05054-3 | DOI Listing |
ScientificWorldJournal
January 2025
Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
While polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) is widely used in orthodontic appliances such as clear aligners and retainers, there is limited experimental data assessing its performance under functional stresses, such as those encountered during dental movements and palatal expansion. This study aims to evaluate the ability of PETG thermoplastic material to withstand deformation under functional and expansion forces, specifically within the context of orthodontic applications. To estimate the firmness of the screw within the appliance, a universal Instron testing machine was used to record the forces released by each activation of the expander within the upper part of 10 clear modified twin blocks (MTBs) made from PETG and compare it with that released by 10 conventional twin blocks (CTBs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChem Commun (Camb)
January 2025
Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Viale Teresa Michel 5, 15121 Alessandria, Italy.
In polymer science and technology, the distinction between thermoplastic and thermosetting materials has always been sharp, clear, and well-documented: indeed, the former can theoretically be reprocessed a potentially infinite number of times by heating, forming, and subsequent cooling. This cannot be done in the case of thermosetting polymers due to the presence of cross-links that covalently bind the macromolecular chains, giving rise to insoluble and infusible polymeric networks. In 2011, the discovery of vitrimers revolutionized the classification mentioned above, demonstrating the possibility of using new materials that consist of covalent adaptable networks (CANs): this way, they can change their topology through thermally-activated bond-exchange reactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Oral Investig
January 2025
School of Materials Science and Innovation, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Phuttamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
Objectives: To address the high surface roughness and poor optical properties of three-dimensional (3D) printed orthodontic clear retainers, an alternative post-processing protocol was investigated with the goal of achieving improved surface, optical, and mechanical properties while preserving dimensional accuracy.
Materials And Methods: Samples were prepared from two biocompatible methacrylate-based 3D-printing resins (Formlabs Dental LT Clear V2, NextDent OrthoFlex) and one thermoplastic material (Duran). For the 3D-printed resins, one group was post-processed by rinsing in isopropyl alcohol, while another group was centrifuged before post-curing in glycerine.
J Orthod Sci
November 2024
Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, Iraq.
Objectives: As patients are instructed to wear thermoplastic retainers for the rest of their lives, the durability of the materials is a critical factor in evaluating whether the expense is justified. This study examined the physical and mechanical properties of three different thermoplastic retainer materials before and after thermoforming (BT and AT).
Materials And Methods: Clear Advantage Series I, Clear Advantage Series II, and Leone types were used, with each material having a thickness of 1 mm.
Anal Chem
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States.
We are developing a unique protein identification method that consists of generating peptides proteolytically from a single protein molecule (i.e., peptide fingerprints) with peptide detection and identification carried out using nanoscale electrochromatography and label-free resistive pulse sensing (RPS).
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