Invisible orthodontics (IO) is a novel orthodontic technique based on the preform of the patient's dentition with a slight misalignment that drives the tooth to its position. The preforms are manufactured using flat-extruded sheets of invisible thermoplastics shaped by thermoforming and laser cutting. [1]
The viscoelastic features of the chosen thermoplastic and the experience of the professional performing the treatment, rule not only the efficiency but also the pain and comfortability during the whole treatment[2], [3]Thus, too stiff materials can be disastrous in the wrong hands, while soft plastics would have a negligible effect on dentition. Hence, viscous properties are essential in how the stress decays over time. [4], [5]
Accuracy in manufacturing has also huge implications in treatment since it assures that the forces are the ones prescribed at each point. Thus, it is essential to easily shape the thermoplastic, seen as a low characteristic time, but the process of tooth moving requires the opposite. [3]
Our study aims to settle a relationship between properties in the time domain, such as stress relaxation and elasticity, and those in the frequency domain obtained by stretching and analyse the importance of those properties in an IO treatment.
Project funded by the Comunity of Madrid (Spain) regional government (IND2022/IND-23679) in IMDEA materials in collaboration with Secre Aligner S.L.