EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS USED FOR THE FABRICATION OF ORTHODONTIC ALIGNERS

Oksana Moskovets; Anastasia Ivanova; Semen Ignatyev; Samvel Apresyan; Alexander Stepanov; Evgeny Statnik; Artem Dun; Karina Apresyan

doi:10.18481/2077-7566-2026-22-3-192-201

VAK Russia 3.1.7 UDC 616.31

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EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS USED FOR THE FABRICATION OF ORTHODONTIC ALIGNERS

Published in Actual problems in dentistry · Volume 22, Issue 3, 2026 · Pages 192–201 · Rubric: PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, PROPHYLAXIS AND ORTHODONTICS. ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPERS

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18481/2077-7566-2026-22-3-192-201

Received: 11.09.2026 Accepted: 23.09.2026 Published: 23.09.2026 Language of publication: RUS

Authors

Oksana Moskovets

Anastasia Ivanova

Semen Ignatyev

ORCID Scopus ResearcherID Scholar SPIN

Samvel Apresyan

et al.

Alexander Stepanov

Evgeny Statnik

Artem Dun

Karina Apresyan

Oksana Moskovets

Academic degree: candidate of medical sciences

Peoples' Friendship University of Russia Associate Professor at the Institute · Institute of Digital Dentistry at the Medical Institute · Russian Federation · Moscow

Anastasia Ivanova

Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba Institute of Digital Dentistry at the Medical Institute · Russian Federation · Moscow

Semen Ignatyev

Academic degree: candidate of physical and mathematical sciences

F.F. Erisman FSCH of Rospotrebnadzor Senior research associate · Department of Genetic Toxicology · Russian Federation · Mytishchi

ORCID Scopus ResearcherID Scholar SPIN

Samvel Apresyan

Academic degree: doctor of medical sciences

Science rang: professor

Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba Director · Institute of Digital Dentistry · Russian Federation · Moscow

Alexander Stepanov

Academic degree: doctor of medical sciences

Science rang: docent

Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba Professor at the Institute · Institute of Digital Dentistry, Medical Institute · Russian Federation · Moscow

Evgeny Statnik

Academic degree: PhD of technical sciences

Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology Senior Researcher · Russian Federation · Moscow

Artem Dun

Moscow Aviation Institute Engineer · Russian Federation · Moscow

Karina Apresyan

Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba Russian Federation · Moscow

ABSTRACT

Relevance. The clinical effectiveness of orthodontic aligners is largely determined by the mechanical properties of the polymer material, which influence aligner stiffness, deformation behavior, and the magnitude of forces transmitted to the teeth. The use of averaged material properties in finite element modeling may reduce the accuracy of calculations, since commercially available polymers differ in their composition, layered structure, and thermomechanical behavior. Objective. To determine and compare the mechanical properties of materials used for the fabrication of orthodontic aligners and to establish an experimental database for subsequent finite element analysis. Materials and Methods. A comparative study was performed on 60 specimens of six materials: Ustom, Avantis, Aligners, 3A Medes, single-layer StarSmile, and three-layer StarSmile, with 10 specimens in each group. Following vacuum thermoforming, uniaxial tensile testing was carried out using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 2 mm/min and a preload of approximately 10 N. Local strains were assessed using digital image correlation, with data processed in Ncorr software. Statistical analysis included one-way analysis of variance, Levene’s test, and the Games–Howell post hoc test. Results. The highest Young’s modulus and ultimate tensile strength were recorded for Ustom, at 1,177.73 MPa and 35.98 MPa, respectively. The lowest Young’s modulus was observed for three-layer StarSmile at 261.87 MPa. This material also demonstrated the highest strain at ultimate tensile strength, reaching 10.72 %. The lowest strength values were recorded for three-layer StarSmile and Avantis. Material type had a statistically significant effect on both Young’s modulus and ultimate tensile strength (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Material composition and multilayer structure substantially influence the mechanical response of orthodontic aligner materials. The obtained values should be used as material-specific input parameters when developing a finite element model of the “aligner–tooth–periodontal ligament–alveolar bone” system.

KEYWORDS

orthodontic aligners, polymeric materials, Young’s modulus, ultimate tensile strength, Poisson’s ratio, digital image correlation, finite element method, mathematical modeling

Funding

This article was prepared as part of the state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (FSSF-2026-0012).

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GOST

Moskovets O. O., Ivanova A. V., Ignatyev S. D., Apresyan S. S., Stepanov A. G., Statnik E. S., Dun A., Apresyan K. S. EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS USED FOR THE FABRICATION OF ORTHODONTIC ALIGNERS // Actual problems in dentistry. 2026. no. 3. pp. 192-201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18481/2077-7566-2026-22-3-192-201. (Date of access 25.09.2026).

MLA

Oksana Moskovets, Ivanova A. V., Ignatyev S. D., Apresyan S. S., Stepanov A. G., Statnik E. S., Dun A., Apresyan K. S.. "EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS USED FOR THE FABRICATION OF ORTHODONTIC ALIGNERS." Actual problems in dentistry 22.3 (2026): 192-201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18481/2077-7566-2026-22-3-192-201.

APA

Moskovets O. O., Ivanova A. V., Ignatyev S. D., Apresyan S. S., Stepanov A. G., Statnik E. S., Dun A., Apresyan K. S. (2026). EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS USED FOR THE FABRICATION OF ORTHODONTIC ALIGNERS. Actual problems in dentistry, 22(3), 192-201. https://doi.org/10.18481/2077-7566-2026-22-3-192-201

Chicago

Oksana Moskovets, Ivanova A. V., Ignatyev S. D., Apresyan S. S., Stepanov A. G., Statnik E. S., Dun A., Apresyan K. S.. "EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS USED FOR THE FABRICATION OF ORTHODONTIC ALIGNERS." Actual problems in dentistry 22, no. 3 (2026): 192-201. https://doi.org/10.18481/2077-7566-2026-22-3-192-201.

WIKI

{{cite journal | author = Moskovets O. O., Ivanova A. V., Ignatyev S. D., Apresyan S. S., Stepanov A. G., Statnik E. S., Dun A., Apresyan K. S. | title = EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS USED FOR THE FABRICATION OF ORTHODONTIC ALIGNERS | journal = Actual problems in dentistry | year = 2026 | volume = 22 | issue = 3 | pages = 192-201 | doi = 10.18481/2077-7566-2026-22-3-192-201 }}

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EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS USED FOR THE FABRICATION OF ORTHODONTIC ALIGNERS

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