ZAGREB, Croatia: As 3D-printed aligners gain traction, many patients and clinicians continue to apply cleaning routines that were originally developed for thermoformed appliances. However, this may be compromising aligner performance. A recent study by researchers at the University of Zagreb has investigated how common cleaning methods affect the physical and aesthetic properties of 3D-printed, polyurethane-based aligners. According to the authors, the findings underscore the importance of developing cleaning protocols that are specifically tailored to the unique properties of 3D-printed materials.