Difference in thickness of vacuum‐formed mouthguards using ethylene vinyl acetate and polyolefin sheets

BACKGROUND/AIM: Polyolefin sheets are fabricated in the same manner as ethylene vinyl acetate sheets. The aim of this study was to examine the difference of vacuum-formed mouthguard thickness according to each heating condition using ethylene vinyl acetate and polyolefin sheets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mouthguard sheets of 3.0 mm ethylene vinyl acetate and polyolefin were vacuum-formed on working models at three heating temperatures: 85, 95, and 105°C. The thickness of the mouthguard was measured at the labial surface of the central incisor, the buccal surface of the first molar, and occlusal surface of the first molar. Differences in the thickness of the mouthguards according to the sheet materials and the heating conditions were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: Mouthguard thickness varied between the ethylene vinyl acetate and the polyolefin sheets (p < .01), and the thickness of the ethylene vinyl acetate sheet was greater than that of the polyolefin sheet at all heating conditions. The thicknesses of mouthguards fabricated using the ethylene vinyl acetate and the polyolefin sheets were not different for the three heating conditions in this study. CONCLUSIONS: The thickness was greater for mouthguards fabricated using ethylene vinyl acetate sheet than when polyolefin sheet was used. The thickness of the mouthguards was not different for the three heating temperatures for both the ethylene vinyl acetate and the polyolefin sheets.