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Three-dimensional analysis of aligner gaps and thickness distributions, using hard x-ray tomography with micrometer resolution
Summary
Researchers used hard x-ray tomography with micrometer resolution to perform three-dimensional analysis of gap distributions and film thickness in orthodontic aligners, finding that thicker material on occlusal surfaces is beneficial for resisting aligner wear during use.
Hard x-ray tomography with micrometer resolution is a powerful technique employed to localize the gaps between aligners and teeth, and it also enables film thickness measurements after thermoforming. The thicker film on the occlusal surfaces is most welcome because of aligner abrasion during wear. The NaturAligner® surfaces consist of a 25 - μ m -thin cellulose layer, and thus the microplastics released via abrasion of less than this thickness are expected to be substantially less critical than for other commercially available, optically transparent aligners.
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