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Microplastics Release From Clear Aligners: A Scoping Review of Current Evidence, Health Implications, and Policy Directions.
Summary
If you're using clear aligners (like Invisalign) to straighten your teeth, this review of existing research found that these plastic trays can shed tiny plastic particles called microplastics into your mouth. Scientists don't yet know how much this actually affects your health, but the finding is prompting calls for more safety testing and the development of safer aligner materials. Bottom line: it's worth knowing about, but not a reason to panic—just a signal that more research is needed.
BACKGROUND: Despite the dramatic increase in the use of orthodontic clear aligners in recent years, little is known about the presence of microplastics (MP) and their impact on human health. Through a scoping review study, we hope to map out the worldwide research on this intriguing topic of MP in orthodontic clear aligners. METHODS: The eligibility of both published and unpublished articles was determined using a three-stage search strategy suggested by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The databases PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were thoroughly searched. Only publications in English language were taken into consideration for the study, which included research done worldwide during the previous 10 years to February 2025. At any stage of the selection process, disagreements between the two reviewers over whether to include an article were settled by debate and consultation with a third reviewer. The gathered data was shown using a narrative summary and a PRISMA ScR checklist. This gave an overview of the most recent data about MP in clear aligners. RESULTS: Literature search resulted in 638 articles out of which 250 duplicates were removed. Three hundred and eighty-eight articles were screened for titles and abstracts out of which full text screening of 10 studies were done, and six articles proved the presence and the role of MP in Clear Aligners. Gray literature was also included in the scoping review. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that although there is already evidence that transparent aligners release MP when in use, it is still unknown how much of a health danger they present. To solve these issues, more extensive in vivo research and the production of sustainable, safer materials and other policies are required.