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Assessing The Awareness and Risk of Microplastic Exposure Among Orthodontic Patients: A Questionnaire-Based Study
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A questionnaire study of 110 orthodontic patients, including 52 clear aligner users, found low awareness that clear aligners may release microplastics. Diet was identified as the biggest source of microplastic exposure, and most participants believed plastic exposure could harm health, though the study did not test actual exposure levels.
Microplastics are particles smaller than 5mm, emerging pollutants entering the human body via ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. An average person may consume 39,000–52,000 particles yearly, increasing to 74,000–121,000 when inhalation is included. In orthodontics, plastic-based clear aligners offer aesthetic and comfortable treatment but pose potential risks, as their non-biodegradable polymers can release microplastics and bisphenol A (BPA) into the oral cavity, raising environmental and health concerns. AIM-This questionnaire study aims to evaluate awareness and potential risks of microplastic exposure, focusing on dietary patterns, behavioural factors, environmental sources, and clear aligner use among orthodontic patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD-A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted from October 2025 to November 2025 in the Department of Orthodontics. The questionnaire was developed, validated and distributed among orthodontic outpatients. The questionnaire consists of six sections and a total of 37 questions. The questionnaire received 110 responses, of which 52 were clear aligner users, and the data were entered in Microsoft Excel and analysed statistically. RESULTS-The assessment revealed low awareness of microplastic release from clear aligners across both genders. The findings highlight that all pathways play a role, but diet remains the most significant source of microplastic exposure with 31 %. A high level of concern regarding the health impacts of plastic exposure was noted among participants, with the majority of females (88.2%) and males (92%) acknowledging that plastic exposure may adversely affect human health. CONCLUSION-This study identifies a significant gap in patient awareness regarding microplastic exposure associated with clear aligners, underscoring the need for enhanced patient education.
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This systematic review investigates whether clear orthodontic aligners release microplastics during use in the mouth. The findings raise concerns about a previously overlooked source of direct microplastic exposure, since millions of people wear these plastic devices against their teeth and gums for months or years at a time.
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Researchers tested three popular brands of clear orthodontic aligners under simulated chewing conditions and found that all released microplastic particles during use. Since patients wear aligners for extended periods each day, this represents a direct and ongoing source of microplastic ingestion, raising questions about the cumulative exposure from dental devices that are growing in popularity.
Microplastics in Orthodontics
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This paper reviews how microplastics can leach from dental and orthodontic materials such as toothpaste, retainers, aligners, and adhesives, with the oral cavity being a direct route for microplastic ingestion. As orthodontic treatments become more common, especially clear aligner therapy, understanding the extent of microplastic release from these devices is important for assessing patient exposure.
Microplastic Release from Clear Aligners: a Clinical Study
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Clear teeth aligners, the plastic trays used instead of metal braces, can shed tiny plastic particles into your saliva as you wear and chew with them, according to this study. Researchers found that factors like how long you wear them each day and how you clean them affect how much plastic breaks off, meaning your daily habits could influence how much of this material ends up in your mouth. Since scientists are still learning what micro- and nanoplastics do to the body long-term, this research highlights an overlooked source of exposure worth paying attention to as more people use clear aligners for orthodontic treatment.
Microplastic Release from Clear Aligners: a Clinical Study
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Clear plastic teeth aligners, worn by millions to straighten teeth, can shed tiny plastic particles (microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics) into your saliva as you chew and wear them over time. This study is the first to measure this shedding directly in people's mouths, looking at how wear time and cleaning habits affect how much plastic breaks off. Since we don't yet fully know the health effects of swallowing these particles, this research is an important first step in understanding a possible hidden source of microplastic exposure in everyday dental care.
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