Short-term morphological changes of vacuum-formed retainers with different gingival margin designs: a randomized clinical trial
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the morphological and dimensional changes in vacuum-formed retainers (VFRs) after intraoral aging of 3 months and 6 months and to compare changes between VFRs with conventional and modified gingival margin design. Materials and Methods: Forty-one patients were randomly assigned to two groups: conventional design (CD) and modified design (MD). Preuse and postuse digital models of each VFR were imported to Geomagic Control software to assess the morphological and dimensional changes. Results: In vivo, VFRs underwent significant changes over time. After 3 months, slight expansion of the VFRs was detected, while after 6 months, slight contraction was observed, despite not all parameters resulting in statistically significant differences. No statistically significant differences were found between the CD and MD groups. Conclusions: Intraoral aging affects the dimensional stability of VFRs. The gingival margin design did not impact the morphological and dimensional stability of VFRs over the observed period.
Source: The Angle Orthodontist
DOI: 10.2319/032425-239.1
Institutions: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, University of L'Aquila
Language: English
Subfield: Orthodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7127584808
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