• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2021

Objective: To assess the effects of thermoforming on aligner thickness and gap width in six aligner systems with the same nominal thickness. Methods: Six passive upper aligners of different brands were adapted to a single printed cast. Each sample was evaluated with high-resolution micro-computed tomography. To investigate aligner thickness and gap width, two-dimensional (2D) analysis was conducted assessing the effects of the following variables: tooth type (central incisor, canine, and first molar), 2D reference points, and aligner type. Data were analyzed and compared using analysis of variance and Tukey's post-hoc tests (p < 0.05). Results: Tooth type, dental region, and aligner type affected both the gap width and aligner thickness. The aligner thickness remained moderately stable across the arch only in the F22. Conclusions: All thermoformed samples displayed smaller aligner thickness and gap width at anterior teeth and both gingival and coronal centers than at posterior teeth and occlusal surfaces.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.389-400
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• 2007

Statement of problem. Use of the conventional dental impression procedure is problematic in patients who have difficulty opening their mouth, difficulty breathing through their nose or tendency to gag. Purpose. It is necessary to make individual trays more comfortable for patients during impression taking procedure. It was reported at the KAP Annual Meeting 2001 Seoul that an improved impression technique was suitable for this purpose. In this study, the accuracy of the improved dental impression method for implant was compared with the conventional dental impression method. Material and methods. An oral simulator was made from clear acrylic resin block which had similar form of edentulous ridge. For setting up the standard, five fixtures were installed on it. Study casts were made using two kinds of impression techniques. One was the conventional method that was taken using silicone impression material and an individual resin tray under connection of inter-fixture relation. The other was the improved method in which was the connection of the impression coping and the thermoformed polymethyl methacrylate tray. In addition, two different study casts were made from the improved impression body. The coordinates of the fixture on the study model were measured by three-dimensional coordinate measuring equipment. Then the distances between each fixture were calculated and compared with that of oral simulator. Accuracy of the each impression method was also assessed. Results. The differences of inter-fixture dimension between study casts and simulator in the improved impression technique showed $0.014{\pm}0.016mm$ and $0.017{\pm}0.022mm$, respectively and that of the conventional method was $0.017{\pm}0.014mm$. There was no significant difference between the improved impression technique and conventional method. Conclusion. The improved impression technique is useful for multiple support implants.