What question did this study set out to answer?

To compare the dietary changes in patients using clear aligners and fixed orthodontic appliances during initial treatment stages.

March 28, 2026Open Access

Dietary changes in patients with clear aligners compared with fixed orthodontic appliances during the early stages of orthodontic treatment: A systematic review

Key Points

To compare the dietary changes in patients using clear aligners and fixed orthodontic appliances during initial treatment stages.
Conducted a systematic review
Compared dietary impacts of clear aligners and fixed appliances
Assessed evidence quality related to diet changes over 6 months
Fixed orthodontic appliances negatively impacted diet more than clear aligners in the first 6 months
Differences in pain did not explain the dietary changes observed
Evidence quality was low-to-moderate, necessitating careful interpretation of results

Abstract

During the first 6 months, multibracket appliances may affect diet more negatively than clear aligners and this pattern does not seem to be explained by differences in pain. Given the low-to-moderate certainty of evidence and indirect diet assessment using items from broader oral health-related quality of life instruments, these results should be interpreted with caution.

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