New 3D printed polymers in orthodontics: a scoping review

Aim The aim of this scoping review is to assess the application of new 3D printed polymeric materials in orthodontics, including polyamide-12 (PA-12) and Shape Memory Polymers (SMPs).Methods A search for articles published until January 2023 was carried out using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, Lilacs, Opengrey, Embase and Cochrane Library databases and by applying the search terms (orthodontic* OR paediatric* OR paedodontic*) AND ("3D printed" OR "three-dimensional printed") AND (polymer* OR material* OR resin* OR technopolymer*). Additional records were also screened through hand or electronic search. No restriction in terms of language or publication period was applied.Results The initial search identified 281 records. After removing duplicates, 196 studies were screened based on title and abstract, and 103 full texts were assessed for eligibility. Nine articles were included in qualitative synthesis.Conclusions Due to their mechanical, aesthetic and biocompatibility characteristics, PA12 and SMPs can be used in orthodontic practice. However, additional studies should be performed to evaluate the clinical efficiency of these recent materials.