Can wear time, material composition, and manufacturing processes affect microplastic release from clear orthodontic aligners? A multidisciplinary in vitro study

Summary

An in vitro study found that clear orthodontic aligners release microplastic fragments during wear, with replacement after 7 days potentially limiting the quantity of smaller particles released compared to longer wear periods. This raises questions about intraoral microplastic exposure from a widely used medical device, though the clinical significance and in vivo implications require further investigation.