Comparing the Effectiveness of Clear Aligners with Other Orthodontic Methods-A Systematic Review

Orthodontic treatment has seen advancements with the introduction of clear aligner therapy, offering an alternative to traditional methods such as braces. However, the comparative effectiveness of clear aligners versus other orthodontic methods remains a topic of interest. This systematic review aims to assess and compare the effectiveness of clear aligners with conventional orthodontic treatments. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant studies comparing the efficacy of clear aligners with other orthodontic methods. We systematically and comprehensively reviewed all studies of clear aligners from PubMed and Google Scholar. Studies were selected based on predetermined inclusion criteria, and data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers. Quality assessment of the included studies was conducted using appropriate tools. The search yielded a total of (10) studies meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies encompassed various orthodontic interventions, including clear aligners, traditional braces and other orthodontic appliances. Key outcome measures such as treatment duration, occlusal outcomes, patient satisfaction and adverse effects were analysed and compared between the different treatment modalities. Based on the synthesised evidence, clear aligners demonstrate comparable effectiveness to traditional orthodontic methods in terms of treatment outcomes, patient satisfaction and adverse effects. However, variations in treatment duration and specific clinical outcomes may exist between different orthodontic modalities. Further research with standardised protocols and long-term follow-up is warranted to provide more conclusive evidence on the comparative effectiveness of clear aligners versus traditional orthodontic treatments.