Clear aligner therapy among orthodontists in Turkey: practice patterns and comparison with previously reported Iranian findings

Borzabadi-Farahani, Ali ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3729-2348, Olkun, Hatice Kübra and Behnaz, Mohammad 2026. Clear aligner therapy among orthodontists in Turkey: practice patterns and comparison with previously reported Iranian findings. Frontiers in Dental Medicine 7 , 1896311. 10.3389/fdmed.2026.1896311

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Abstract

Objective: The aim of this paper is to investigate clear aligner therapy (CAT) practice patterns among Turkish orthodontists and compare them with Iranian specialist orthodontists. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey of Turkish specialist orthodontists assessed CAT use, adjuncts, training, case selection by malocclusion and age, monitoring and retention protocols, and perceived advantages/disadvantages. Findings were compared with a previously published survey of 142 Iranian orthodontists. Results: A total of 178 Turkish orthodontists participated (7.5% response rate; 71 males, 107 females). Most were aged 30–39 years (53.9%), had 11–20 years of experience (42.1%), and worked in private practice (62.9%). CAT use was reported by 96.1% of Turkish orthodontists versus 69.0% of Iranian orthodontists. More Turkish orthodontists initiated >50 new CAT cases annually (33.1% vs. 7.7%), while fewer reported <10 cases/year (18.0% vs. 35.9%). CAT use was significantly higher in Turkey across all age groups (P < 0.001). Preferences were similar for mild crowding, spacing, and anterior cross-bite. Turkish orthodontists more frequently used CAT for complex cases, including mild/moderate open bite and severe crowding (P < 0.05). CAT was preferred more for limited extraction and space-opening cases than orthognathic surgery cases. Iranian orthodontists more commonly used local manufacturers (49.3% vs. 15.7%) and in-office aligner production (19% vs. 9%). Perceptions regarding CAT advantages and limitations were largely similar between groups. Conclusion: Among respondents, CAT was more widely integrated into orthodontic practice in Turkey, with broader self-reported clinical indications and more positive clinician perceptions than in Iran. Iranian orthodontists relied more on locally manufactured and in-office aligners.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Dentistry
Publisher:	Frontiers Media
ISSN:	2673-4915
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	12 August 2026
Date of Acceptance:	10 August 2026
Last Modified:	11 Oct 2026 21:49
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/188914

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