Automated and digital trimming systems are increasingly available, particularly for high-volume aligner production, but manual trimming remains common in practices and laboratories. Scissors, HSS drills, carbide burs and dedicated finishing…
FAQ Tag: aligner
What thickness should clear aligner material be?
Clear aligner sheets are commonly used in the approximate 0.6 to 1.0 mm range, depending on material properties and the treatment protocol. Erkodur-al is available in several aligner-oriented thicknesses. Increasing…
What properties should an aligner material have?
Important properties include transparency, predictable force delivery, elastic recovery, sufficient flexibility for insertion and removal, resistance to cracking, dimensional stability and suitable biocompatibility. Stress relaxation is also important because the…
How does material stiffness affect orthodontic force?
For the same geometry and thickness, a stiffer material generally produces a higher initial force. However, actual force delivery also depends on sheet thickness, tooth movement programmed into each stage,…
How does thermoforming change aligner thickness?
The heated sheet stretches over the printed model, so the finished aligner becomes thinner than the original sheet, especially over high or prominent areas. The degree of thinning depends on…
Does thermoforming affect aligner force?
Yes. Thermoforming changes the geometry and local thickness of the material and can also affect its mechanical behaviour. Because stiffness is related to both material properties and thickness, the finished…
What thickness should I use for a clear aligner?
Clear aligners commonly use material in the approximate 0.6 to 1.0 mm range, depending on material properties and the orthodontic protocol. Erkodur-al is available in several aligner-oriented thicknesses. Thickness affects…