An interventional study of Fixed orthodontic appliance and Clear aligners in Dental Crowding, Alveolar Bone Loss and Malocclusion, sponsored by Future University in Egypt. Completed at 1 site in Egypt. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 25 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-21.
Sponsored by Future University in Egypt · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study compares two common ways of straightening teeth in adults who have mild-to-moderate crowding of the lower front teeth and do not need any teeth removed: clear aligners and traditional fixed braces.
The main aim is to find out whether the two methods differ in how they affect the bone that surrounds the teeth. Using three-dimensional X-ray scans (cone-beam CT) and digital models of the teeth taken before and during treatment, the researchers measure the level and thickness of the bone around the lower front teeth, the tilt (inclination) of the lower front teeth, and how quickly the crowding is corrected.
Adults are randomly assigned to receive either clear aligners or fixed braces, and the same measurements are compared between the two groups over about six months.
88 studies on the registry are indexed under Crowding; 22 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 20 is below the median of 36 across 74 interventional studies indexed under Crowding.
Browse Crowding studies →Future University in Egypt is the lead sponsor of 104 studies on the registry; 31 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Conventional pre-adjusted edgewise fixed appliance (0.022-inch slot, MBT prescription) bonded from first molar to first molar; levelling and alignment with a sequence of nickel-titanium and stainless-steel archwires over approximately six months.
Device: Fixed orthodontic appliance
Three-dimensionally printed, thermoformed clear aligners with bonded attachments and interproximal reduction as indicated; worn \~22 hours/day and changed per the digital staging, with clinical review every four weeks over approximately six months
Device: Clear aligners
Brackets bonded first-molar-to-first-molar; alignment sequence 0.014" NiTi → 0.016" NiTi → 0.016 × 0.022" NiTi → 0.017 × 0.025" stainless steel. Interproximal reduction performed on assigned contacts where indicated.
Also known as: Conventional labial brackets, pre-adjusted edgewise appliance (0.022 MBT)
Digital intraoral scan and staging (3Shape Ortho Analyzer); 3D-printed models thermoformed into aligners; attachments bonded where planned; sequential aligners worn \~22 h/day. Interproximal reduction per contact from canine-to-canine is done.
Also known as: sequential clear aligners, Thermoformed removable aligners
Change in alveolar bone level
Change (mm) in the distance from the cemento-enamel junction to the alveolar crest on the labial and lingual aspects of the mandibular central incisors, lateral incisors and canines, measured on CBCT (OnDemand software), calculated as the difference between baseline and end-of-alignment values.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and end of alignment phase (T3)) (approximately 6 months)
Change in alveolar bone thickness
Change (mm) in labial and lingual alveolar bone thickness measured at 3 mm and 6 mm from the CEJ and at the root apex of the mandibular central incisors, lateral incisors and canines on CBCT (OnDemand software), from baseline to end of alignment.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and end of alignment phase (≈ 6 months)
Change in mandibular incisor inclination (torque)
Change (degrees) in the inner angle between the long axis of each mandibular central incisors, lateral incisors and canines and the mandibular plane, measured on the sagittal view of CBCT (Invivo/Anatomage software), from baseline to end of alignment.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and end of alignment phase (≈ 6 months)
Rate of alignment (Little's Irregularity Index)
Reduction in mandibular anterior crowding quantified by Little's Irregularity Index (mm) - the sum of the displaced anatomic contact points from canine to canine - measured on serial digital models; the change across time points and the percentage improvement from baseline describe the rate of alignment.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), 8 weeks (T1), 16 weeks (T2) and end of alignment (T3, ≈ 24 weeks / 6 months)
PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Plan to share: Undecided
Ran from Aug 2024 to primary completion in Jul 2025, 11 months.
Of 50 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Crowding, half reached primary completion within 17 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 28. This study's 11 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 52 studies reached it within 17 months; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 28.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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