Comparison Physiological Tooth Mobility and Retention Success in Patients Using Different Retainers

August 30, 2026 updated by: gulden karabiber, Marmara University
The purpose of this prospective clinical study is to comparatively evaluate the long-term stability of teeth, physiological tooth mobility, and effects on periodontal tissues of three different fixed lingual retainer materials used to prevent relapse following orthodontic treatment. A total of 80 participants whose orthodontic treatment is completed will be randomly and equally distributed into four groups as one control (n=20) and three study groups (n=20 each): Group 1 will receive CAD/CAM-fabricated 0.016-inch Nitinol wire; Group 2 will receive manually bent multi- strand 0.0215-inch stainless steel wire; and Group 3 will receive 0.030-inch stainless steel chain retainers. Control group will be 20 samples. Clinical and radiographic measurements will be performed at the day of debonding (T0) and at a 6-month follow-up (T1). Physiological tooth mobility will be measured objectively using a Periotest device. Relapse amounts will be assessed by superimposing intraoral digital scans via Nemocast software using Little's Irregularity Index, and the 6-month failure/breakage rates of the retainers will be recorded. The null hypothesis states that there is no statistically significant difference among the different retainer materials regarding tooth stability, relapse, and physiological mobility.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
80

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy volunteers whose orthodontic treatment finalized and who waited for taking off braces.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients who have undergone fixed orthodontic treatment at the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Marmara University, and whose treatment is nearing completion
  2. Patients whose treatment duration is between 2 and 3 years
  3. Patients with healthy periodontal tissue (plaque index and gingival index <1; bleeding on probing <10 per cent; no clinical attachment loss)
  4. Patients aged between 18 and 35
  5. Systemically healthy individuals
  6. Patients with deep bite for whom Nitinol wire retainers, manufactured using CAD/CAM technology and capable of being fitted without occlusal contact due to their adaptability to the occlusion, have been applied
  7. Patients for whom impressions cannot be taken to fabricate a retainer
  8. Patients without deep bite or a gag reflex who have had a standard retainer fitted

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients who have undergone orthodontic treatment at another clinic
  2. Patients whose treatment lasted longer than 3 years or less than 2 years
  3. Patients with a cleft lip and palate or a related syndrome
  4. Patients with caries or dental prostheses on the teeth where the retainer is to be bonded
  5. Smokers
  6. Individuals with missing anterior teeth
  7. Individuals taking systemic medication that affects the immune system or may affect periodontal health (e.g. steroids)
  8. Pregnant or breastfeeding women

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
1. Control
healthy gingiva, no smoking, non-pregnant, age:18-35, patients did not receive any orthodontic treatment and don't have bruxism and syndrome
Diagnostic test: Mobility measurement with Periotest device
T0 Mobility measurement with Periotest device after orthodontic treatment finished; before retainer simantation and after simantation. T1 Mobility measurement with Periotest device 6 months later; with retainer and without retainer.
Diagnostic test: Digital intraoral impression
T0 digital dental models will be taken with 3D scanner after orthodontic treatment finished; after retainer simantation. T1 digital dental models will be taken 6 months later with retainer. And Little irregularity index, arch length measurement will be performed.
2. CAD-CAM Nitinol wire (Memotain)
Just finished orthodontic treatment, healthy gingiva, no smoking, non-pregnant, age:18-35, patients don't have bruxism and syndrome
Diagnostic test: Mobility measurement with Periotest device
T0 Mobility measurement with Periotest device after orthodontic treatment finished; before retainer simantation and after simantation. T1 Mobility measurement with Periotest device 6 months later; with retainer and without retainer.
Diagnostic test: Digital intraoral impression
T0 digital dental models will be taken with 3D scanner after orthodontic treatment finished; after retainer simantation. T1 digital dental models will be taken 6 months later with retainer. And Little irregularity index, arch length measurement will be performed.
3. Manually bent 6 multi- strand 0.0215-inch stainless steel wire
Just finished orthodontic treatment, healthy gingiva, no smoking, non-pregnant, age:18-35, patients don't have bruxism and syndrome
Diagnostic test: Mobility measurement with Periotest device
T0 Mobility measurement with Periotest device after orthodontic treatment finished; before retainer simantation and after simantation. T1 Mobility measurement with Periotest device 6 months later; with retainer and without retainer.
Diagnostic test: Digital intraoral impression
T0 digital dental models will be taken with 3D scanner after orthodontic treatment finished; after retainer simantation. T1 digital dental models will be taken 6 months later with retainer. And Little irregularity index, arch length measurement will be performed.
4. 0.030-inch stainless steel chain
Just finished orthodontic treatment, healthy gingiva, no smoking, non-pregnant, age:18-35, patients don't have bruxism and syndrome
Diagnostic test: Mobility measurement with Periotest device
T0 Mobility measurement with Periotest device after orthodontic treatment finished; before retainer simantation and after simantation. T1 Mobility measurement with Periotest device 6 months later; with retainer and without retainer.
Diagnostic test: Digital intraoral impression
T0 digital dental models will be taken with 3D scanner after orthodontic treatment finished; after retainer simantation. T1 digital dental models will be taken 6 months later with retainer. And Little irregularity index, arch length measurement will be performed.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Tooth mobility
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 months
Tooth mobility will be assessed using the Periotest device. The device will be applied to the buccal surface of the tooth, and the Periotest value (PTV) will be recorded according to the manufacturer's instructions. Higher PTV values indicate greater tooth mobility. Measurements will be recorded as Periotest values (PTV).
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Little irregularity
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 months
Anterior dental irregularity will be assessed using Little's Irregularity Index, measured as the sum of the five linear displacements between the anatomic contact points of the mandibular anterior teeth, in millimeters (mm). This assessment will be performed on digital intraoral models by using Orthomodel (Orthomodel, İstanbul, Türkiye) software.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 months
Arch length
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 months
Dental arch length will be assessed by measuring the linear distance from the midpoint between the central incisors to a line connecting the distal surfaces of the first permanent molars, in millimeters (mm). This assessment will be performed on digital intraoral models by using Orthomodel (Orthomodel, İstanbul, Türkiye) software.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Marmara University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 19, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 30, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 30, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • GKAY-ret

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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