In a new study, orthodontics researchers at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine recently discovered how synthetic polymers, including clear aligners, retainers and sleep devices, may affect the immune system. Thikriat Al-Jewair, DDS, L.B. Badgero Endowed Chair and associate professor, and Stephen Warunek, DDS, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Orthodontics, collaborated with medical researchers at the University of Pittsburgh’s Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute to explore how plastic orthodontic devices could affect the oral cavity and the overall health of users.
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Orthodontics researchers evaluate microplastics' effect on immune system
March 31, 2026
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