A full-field DIC analysis of the mechanical-deformation behavior of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G) aligners

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the full-field mechanical-deformation behavior of clear aligners made by polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G) subjected to cyclic compression tests. Methods: Digital Image Correlation (DIC) (Chu et al., 1985; Schreier et al., 2009), a contactless full-field measurement technique, and Optical Microscope (OM) analysis were applied to study two PET-G aligners thermoformed from discs of a thickness of 0.75 mm and 0.88 mm. The clear aligners were placed on dental shape resin casts and were subjected to cyclic compression up to 13000 load cycles from 0 to 50 N at room temperature. The chosen number of load cycles simulates the average load history to which an aligner is subjected for one week. Local displacements and strains were measured for each test at 2, 6, 10, 20, 1000, 5000 and 13000 loading cycles. Results: Both aligners showed greater displacements in the early stages of loading, more pronounced for the 0.88 mm one. Local displacement and strain maps are derived both along the load direction and to the transverse one (never done from other researchers). Load-displacement cyclic curves allowed to evaluate the evolution of the stored energy and the stiffness during the test. The OM analyses showed significant morphological variations on the aligners’ surface, such as wear and tear, high depressions and cracks, especially for the 0.75 mm specimen. Significance: Full-field analysis allowed to understand the mechanical behavior of device with complex geometry and complex load distribution, like invisible aligners. The knowledge of the stiffness and the direction of the total displacement helps the orthodontist to implement the best strategy to improve the patient's comfort and the treatment time.