Clear aligner therapy for minimally invasive dentistry: A scoping review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a scoping review on the current applications of clear aligner therapy (CAT) in minimally invasive restorative and esthetic dentistry, and to explore available software for pre-restorative and esthetic CAT treatments. DATA AND SOURCES: A systematic electronic literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus, alongside grey literature up to May 2024. Studies on CAT were included based on independent evaluation by two reviewers. Available CAT-related software was assessed up to May 2024. STUDY SELECTION AND RESULTS: Out of 1,847 articles, 21 studies were selected for review. Eleven focused on pre-restorative treatment, while 10 addressed esthetic outcomes. Ten aligner software programs were identified for short-term CAT use. CAT was particularly prominent in the preoperative phase for digital restorative planning, prosthetic and implant placement, and esthetic treatments. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review mapped the current literature on short-term clear aligner systems for potential use in minimally invasive dentistry, by focusing on tooth alignment before restorative and esthetic interventions. The existing evidence is largely case-based and limited in quality, underscoring the need for further large-scale, methodologically rigorous studies to validate current findings and support the development of standardized clinical protocols. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Short-term CAT is increasingly being adopted as a preoperative stage in restorative and esthetic dentistry, providing rapid and effective results while maintaining a minimally invasive treatment strategy.