Thickness and UV Curing: How Safe Are 3D-Printed Teeth Aligners?

Ever wondered how those custom-made teeth aligners are made and if they're safe? A recent study looked into the safety of 3D-printed aligners made from a material called Tera Harz TA-28. These aligners can have different thicknesses, which might affect how long they need to be cured under UV light to ensure they're safe for your mouth. Scientists printed aligners of different thicknesses and cured them for 20, 30, and 60 minutes. They then checked how well cells from the gums survived when exposed to these aligners. What they found was interesting. The longer the curing time, the better the cells did. When the aligners were cured for the standard 20 minutes, the thicker ones were harder on the cells. But even the worst case was only a 30% drop in cell survival, which is still within safe limits. So, the good news is that the standard 20-minute UV curing time keeps these aligners safe for your mouth, no matter the thickness. But why does thickness matter? Thicker aligners might not get fully cured in the standard time, affecting how well they work and how safe they are. But don't worry, the study shows that the way these aligners are made now is just fine.