All‐In‐One Iontronic Sensing Aligner for High‐Precision 3D Orthodontic Force Monitoring
Jiahao Guo, Qin Niu, Jilei Xu, Liyan Wang, Xiangyang Wang, Jiangdong Gong et al. · 2025 · 4 citationsRead the paper
Abstract Clear aligners offer aesthetic and comfort advantages in orthodontics, yet their ability to deliver effective forces relies heavily on empirical judgment or large‐scale optical scanning, lacking real‐time quantitative evaluation. Integrating pressure sensors into aligners is a promising solution, but challenges in miniaturization, multi‐dimensional sensing, measurement accuracy, and biocompatibility hinder clinical application. Here, an all‐in‐one Orthodontic Force Acquisition System (OFAS) is presented that enables real‐time, 3D force monitoring using a cross‐shaped iontronic sensing array and an origami‐inspired, wireless battery‐free readout circuit miniaturized for single‐tooth placement. The system employs a cross‐linked polyelectrolyte with low creep and high repeatability, achieving 1.14% measurement accuracy. A 15‐day in vivo study demonstrates that OFAS accurately captured dynamic force profiles with strong correlation to tooth displacement (R 2 > 0.99), confirming its feasibility for real‐time, quantitative orthodontic force measurement and enabling timely treatment adjustments.
What the full text shows
Working prototype- Measurement accuracy of the sensing system. — 1.14% error (Cross-linked polyelectrolyte sensing array)
- Correlation between recorded force profiles and actual tooth displacement. — R^2 > 0.99 (15-day in vivo study)
- Circuit footprint reduction via origami-inspired design. — from 35 mm x 25 mm to 8 mm x 8 mm (NFC-based wireless readout circuit)
- Stable power supply voltage at a specific testing distance. — 3 to 3.1 V at 5 mm distance (NFC antenna (7 mm x 7 mm, 6 turns))
- Creep behavior under constant tensile load. — strain stabilized at ≈6.1% over 20,000 s (100 kPa load on PEE material)
- Force level at the end of the treatment cycle. — below 0.2 N by day 14 (15-day in vivo study)
- Setup
- Single-tooth placement on a volunteer (tooth #21) and Typodont simulation jaw frame; NFC reader and smartphone for data acquisition.
- How
- Developed an Orthodontic Force Acquisition System (OFAS) using a cross-shaped iontronic sensing array and an origami-inspired wireless NFC circuit. Validated the system through in vitro Typodont simulations and a 15-day in vivo human trial with 3D intraoral scans.
- Limitations
- Data collection was limited to once daily within a fixed time window (12:00-14:00). · In vivo study conducted with a single volunteer.
Summarized by Gemma 4 from the open-access full text · 8 Oct 2026. Read it