Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Measuring Maxillary Posterior Tooth Movement: A Model Assessment using Palatal and Dental Superimposition
Published on: February 23, 2024
DENTAL PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES IN CLEAR ALIGNER THERAPY: A SCOPING REVIEW
Junbo Wang1, Rami Boulakroune1, Shiqi Gu1
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Orthodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Objective:
To systematically map the existing literature regarding dental patient-reported outcomes (dPROs) in clear aligner therapy (CAT) and to identify current knowledge gaps for guiding future research.
Methods:
Guided by JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR, a comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science for relevant literature published up to September 2025. Studies investigating dPROs among orthodontic patients receiving CAT were selected for analysis. Data were charted and synthesized.
Results:
The literature search yielded 1116 citations, with 55 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies represented a total of 2757 patients undergoing CAT, yielding 48 dPRO items relevant to patients with CAT. Among 55 included studies, these items were subsequently categorized into seven domains: oral health-related quality of life (94.5%, 52/55), satisfaction (29.1%, 16/55), oral symptom (20.0%, 11/55), general well-being (12.7%, 7/55), oral hygiene (9.1%, 5/55), convenience (3.6%, 2/55) and adherence (3.6%, 2/55).
Conclusion:
Although CAT offers distinct patient-centered advantages such as improved aesthetics and comfort, the evidence is limited by the absence of standardized, CAT-specific instruments. Future research should prioritize the development of a core outcome set and validated instruments specific to CAT to enhance the consistency and comparability of clinical evidence.