A new technique for making occlusal devices

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Prosthodontics
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Occlusal devices require durable materials to withstand occlusal forces.
• Patient comfort and ease of device seating are critical for compliance.
• Current materials may present trade-offs between hardness and comfort.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel fabrication procedure for occlusal devices.
• To combine the benefits of hard and soft acrylic resins in a single device.
• To improve the clinical performance and patient experience of occlusal devices.

Main Methods:

• A novel procedure utilizing a combination of hard and soft acrylic resin was developed.
• The outer shell is fabricated from hard resin to resist occlusal forces.
• A thin, controlled inner lining of soft resin is incorporated for enhanced comfort and seating.

Main Results:

• The fabricated devices demonstrate resilience against opposing occlusion due to the hard outer shell.
• The soft resin lining significantly improves seating ease and wearer comfort.
• The thinness of the soft lining ensures the device functions as if made entirely of hard acrylic resin.

Conclusions:

• This novel dual-resin technique offers a superior approach to fabricating occlusal devices.
• The procedure allows for error-free fabrication of comfortable, durable, and well-fitting occlusal devices.
• The method is applicable to all types of occlusal devices, enhancing their clinical utility.