Efficacy of an experimental gaseous ozone-based sterilization method for clear aligners

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Clear aligners can accumulate potentially pathogenic microorganisms.
• Sterilization is crucial for orthodontic device safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an experimental sterilization method using an ozone (O3/O2) gas mixture.
• To assess the effectiveness of direct gas exposure inside clear aligner packaging.

Main Methods:

• Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G) aligner samples were artificially contaminated.
• Samples were exposed to O3/O2 gas for varying durations, with positive (chlorhexidine) and negative controls.
• Microbial load was assessed by measuring optical densities (OD) of cultures.

Main Results:

• Ozone gas exposure for 72 hours demonstrated statistically significant microbicidal effects.
• The 72-hour ozone treatment showed comparable efficacy to the chlorhexidine positive control.
• Significant differences were observed between ozone-treated groups (48 and 72 hours) and the negative control.

Conclusions:

• Direct gaseous ozone exposure within packaging exhibits significant microbicidal capacity for clear aligners.
• This sterilization technique, effective at 72 hours, is comparable to chlorhexidine immersion.
• The method presents a viable option for integrating into clear aligner manufacturing to enhance microbial safety.