The effect of Invisalign® use on mouth alcohol retention

* The opinions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Los Angeles Police Department.

ABSTRACT

Three Invisalign®-wearing, alcohol-free subjects were tested for mouth alcohol retention with an Alco-Sensor® IV breath alcohol analyzer (Intoximeters, Inc.). The subjects were given a tolerable amount of beer, wine, or a distilled spirit to swish in their mouths, without swallowing for one minute. The subjects were tested with and without their Invisalign® device in place. In most cases the concentration of alcohol in the mouth was zero 15 minutes post-expectoration in both the controlled and experimental sessions with small to trace amounts of mouth alcohol (≤ 0.016 g/210 L) in several sessions. Based on these findings, Invisalign® use does not significantly affect breath alcohol concentration when a pretest alcohol deprivation period of 15 minutes is performed.

RÉSUMÉ

Trois sujets sobres portant un appareil Invisalign® ont été soumis à des tests de rétention buccale de l'alcool à l'aide d'un ivressomètre Alco-Sensor® IV (Intoximeters, Inc.). Les sujets se sont rincés la bouche avec une quantité raisonnable de bière, de vin ou d'un spiritueux pendant une minute. Le test a été effectué avec et sans l'appareil Invisalign® en place. Dans la plupart des sessions expérimentales et contrôlées, la concentration buccale d'alcool était de zéro 15 minutes après l'expectoration. Dans plusieurs cas, de petites quantités ou des traces d'alcool buccal ont été mesurées (≤ 0.016 g/210 L). Ces résultats indiquent donc que l'Invisalign® n'a pas d'impact significatif sur les résultats de l'ivressomètre lorsqu'une période de 15 minutes d'abstinence avant le test est respectée.

KEYWORDS:

• Breath alcohol
• mouth alcohol
• Invisalign®
• forensic toxicology

MOTS-CLÉS:

• l'alcool dans l'haleine
• l'alcool buccal
• Invisalign®
• toxicologie judiciaire

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank the Scientific Investigations Division for allowing her to conduct this study. She would like to thank her co-workers and fellow colleagues for giving her guidance regarding the study format as well as peer reviewing this technical note. Lastly the author would like to give thanks to the three subjects who gave their time (and breath) for this important study.

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00085030.2015.1121605.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

* The opinions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Los Angeles Police Department.