Abstract
The use of thermoplastic aligners has a vast history in the orthodontic field. These appliances have several indications regarding mild malocclusions, tooth replacement, retainers after active treatment, etc. The manufacturing protocol is simple and easy to apply. Several tooth movements are harder to obtain ( torque, intrusion, correction of rotations). The aligners must be well fitted and provide enough stiffness in order to maintain the desired orthodontic effect and minimize the unwanted dental movements or anchorage loss. We evaluated a manufacturing protocol for such appliances and analyzed how thermoplastic thickness material, due to the manufacturing process , can influence orthodontic treatment. Several foils were sectioned and measured before and after the manufacturing protocol(0.5mm;0.8mm;1 mm). Although some differences were observed due to foil types and thickness, the appliances are rigid and capable of assuring orthodontic success. Keywords: orthodontic aligners, thermoplastic materials, foil thickness reduction