What do systematic reviews say?

5 questions · 6 findings · 1 reviews · related questions CL0289

Sort:Best matchNewest Highest certainty Download CSV

No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 3 · 50%Very low 1 · 16.7%Low 2 · 33.3%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Clear aligners (Invisalign / thermoformed aligners) vs Fixed appliances

Lactobacilli presence (CFU > 10^5) · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment

Aligners probably lower the risk of high lactobacilli counts versus fixed appliances in adults at 3 months (RR 0.09, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.47; low certainty).

2 findings from 1 review

Impact of Aligners and Fixed Appliances on Oral Health during Orthodontic Treatment: A Systematic Review and… 2021 All outcomes
3 months · Adults
RR 0.09 [0.02, 0.47]
2 studies · 140 participants
Low
Impact of Aligners and Fixed Appliances on Oral Health during Orthodontic Treatment: A Systematic Review and… 2021 All outcomes
6 months · Adults
RR 0.19 [0.08, 0.45]
2 studies · 140 participants
Low

Clear aligners (Invisalign / thermoformed aligners) vs Fixed appliances

Average fluorescence loss (dF%) · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment

A single study reported lower average fluorescence (mineral) loss with aligners versus fixed appliances in adults at 3 months (MD -1.40, 95% CI -2.15 to -0.65; ungraded).

1 finding from 1 review

Impact of Aligners and Fixed Appliances on Oral Health during Orthodontic Treatment: A Systematic Review and… 2021 All outcomes
3 months · Adults
MD -1.40 [-2.15, -0.65]
1 study
GRADE not reported

Clear aligners (Invisalign / thermoformed aligners) vs Fixed appliances

Plaque · Adolescents/teenagers undergoing orthodontic treatment

A single study reported a lower full-mouth plaque score with aligners versus fixed appliances in adolescents at 12 months (MD -43.48, 95% CI -47.65 to -39.31; ungraded).

1 finding from 1 review

Impact of Aligners and Fixed Appliances on Oral Health during Orthodontic Treatment: A Systematic Review and… 2021 All outcomes
12 months · Adolescents
MD -43.48 [-47.65, -39.31]
1 study
GRADE not reported

Clear aligners (Invisalign / thermoformed aligners) vs Fixed appliances

Probing pocket depth (PPD/PD) · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment

Aligners may reduce pocket depth compared with fixed appliances in adults at 6-12 weeks (MD -0.42 mm, 95% CI -0.71 to -0.12; very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Impact of Aligners and Fixed Appliances on Oral Health during Orthodontic Treatment: A Systematic Review and… 2021 All outcomes
6 to 12 weeks · Adults
MD -0.42 [-0.71, -0.12]
2 studies · 62 participants
Very low

Clear aligners (Invisalign / thermoformed aligners) vs Fixed appliances

Lesion area (decalcification area, pixels) · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment

A single study reported a larger decalcification lesion area with aligners versus fixed appliances in adults at 3 months (MD 80.50 pixels, 95% CI 60.52 to 100.48; ungraded).

1 finding from 1 review

Impact of Aligners and Fixed Appliances on Oral Health during Orthodontic Treatment: A Systematic Review and… 2021 All outcomes
3 months · Adults
MD 80.50 [60.52, 100.48]
1 study
GRADE not reported