Evolving Trends and Emerging Frontiers in Clear Aligner Therapy: A Bibliometric and Social Impact Analysis (2015-2024)

Introduction and aims: Clear aligner therapy (CAT) serves as an innovative alternative to traditional fixed appliances, gaining rapid clinical adoption in recent years due to its superior aesthetics, treatment efficiency, patient comfort, and ease of use, which has driven explosive growth in related research. This bibliometric analysis aims to reveal research focuses and development trends in the CAT field. Methods: Articles related to CAT from 2015 to 2024 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database using a specific topic query, yielding 999 records, with 973 high-quality articles and reviews included after screening. Bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software, including collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and extraction of data on publication years, authors, institutions, countries, journals, keywords, and citations. Results: From 2015 to 2024, a total of 973 publications in the CAT field were identified, showing exponential growth overall. The American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics ranked first with 90 articles. The study by Rossini G (2015, Angle Orthod) emerged as the most influential with the highest total citations (421) and annual citations (38.27). The 3 articles with high societal impact were those by Weir, Ke, and Azaripour. The keyword ''Invisalign'' (n = 232) appeared most frequently. China led in publication volume (n = 221, 22.7%), with the closest collaborations among China, the United States, and Italy. Sichuan University had the highest publication count (n = 109), Weir Tony was the most productive author (n = 26), and Castroflorio Tommaso had the highest total citations (TC = 1045) and local citations (LC = 677). Conclusion: This analysis offers a comprehensive overview and in-depth examination of future development trends and potential research directions in CAT, which can inspire both clinical and scientific researchers. Clinical relevance: CAT demonstrates advantages in treatment efficacy, patient comfort, and oral health-related quality of life. The integration of digital workflows, including AI-assisted planning and 3D printing, enhances treatment precision and monitoring. Addressing challenges such as patient compliance and public perception is essential for optimising individualised treatment plans and expanding clinical adoption.