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Forming temperature of ethylene vinyl acetate sheets for fabrication of vacuum formed mouthguards.

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The appropriate heating temperature for the fabrication of mouthguards using ethylene vinyl acetate sheets is reported to be 80-120°C. However, the measurement side of the heating temperature has not been determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the measurement side of the heating temperature when fabricating mouthguards.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Mouthguard sheets of 3.8 mm ethylene vinyl acetate were vacuum formed on working models until the sheet was heated to 120°C. The sheet temperature was measured at the upper side and the lower side. The thickness of the mouthguard was measured at the labial surface of the central incisor, and the buccal and occlusal surfaces of the first molar. The fit of the mouthguard was examined at the central incisor and the first molar by measuring the distance between the mouthguard and the cervical margin of the working model. Differences in the thickness and fit of the mouthguards were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance.


RESULTS
Mouthguard thickness varied among the measured regions of the central incisors and first molars (P < .01). The thicknesses at the labial surface of the central incisor and buccal surface of the first molar were larger when the sheet temperature measured at the lower side was 120°C compared to when the sheet temperature measured at the upper side was 120°C (P < .01). The fit of the mouthguard became better when the sheet temperature measured at the lower side was 120°C (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The sheet temperature should be measured at the lower side of the sheet and it should be 120°C for fabricating mouthguards.