Effect of Model Height and Model Position on Forming Table on Mouthguard Thickness in Thermoforming Using Circular Frame

Abstract

Effectiveness and safety of mouthguards are greatly affected by its thickness. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of model height and model position on the forming table on the mouthguard thickness in thermoforming using a circular frame. Mouthguards were thermoformed using 4.0-mm-thick ethylene-vinyl-acetate sheets and a vacuum forming machine. The sheet was sandwiched between circular frames and fixed to the clamp of the forming machine. Working models were two types of hard gypsum models trimmed so that the height of the anterior part was 25 mm (Model A) and 30 mm (Model B). The model was placed with its anterior rim positioned 40 mm (P40), 30 mm (P30), 20 mm (P20), or 10 mm (P10) from the front of the forming table. Differences in the reduction rate of the thickness due to the model height and model positions were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test. Differences depending on the model height were observed at P40 at the incisal edge and P30, P20, and P10 on the labial surface, and the reduction rate of the thickness was significantly smaller in Model A (P < 0.01). As the distance from the model anterior rim to the front of the forming table was smaller, the rate of the thickness of the incisal edge and the labial surface decreases became larger. The rate of decrease in the thickness of the cusp and buccal surface was the smallest at P20. This study indicated that the difference in the thickness of the single-layer mouthguard depending on the model position on the forming table is affected by the model height. However, that is only the anterior part of the mouthguard, and the difference in thickness reduction rate is less than 5%. Additionally, in order to perform stable forming, it is useful to increase the distance from the model to the frame, and it is important to position the part whose thickness is desired to be maintained in the center of the forming table.