Comparison of Mechanical, Surface, and Chemical Properties of Different Thermoplastic Retainer Materials before and after Thermoforming: Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analyses

Polyethylene terephthalate glycol copolyester-based materials with high surface homogeneity, such as Atmos and Duran, may be recommended for clinical use due to their superior surface stability and chemical resilience. By contrast, the surface irregularities observed in Taglus and Lumex-G may compromise their long-term clinical performance.