Figure 8-36. - Fabricating mouthguards.
Vacuum-formed templates are made using clear splint material (.020-inch), a vacuum-forming machine, and a cast. If the teeth that the dentist intends to prepare have large cavities, fill in the defects with dental cement and carve the cement to the proper shape. If the temporary prosthesis is for a proposed FPD site, also adapt spare resin denture teeth to the edentulous space as shown in figure 8-37. Sticky wax them in place and if needed, adjust the occlusion.
Place the cast on the vacuum-forming machine and mount the plastic sheet below the heating element.
Heat the material until it sags about 1 1/2 to 2 inches,and vacuum-form the clear splint material over the cast. At first, the material appears cloudy and then will become clearer. You know the material is overheatedwhen you begin seeing small bubbles appear.
Splint material is not pliable like mouthguard material, making it difficult to remove from the gross soft tissue undercuts that may be present on the cast. Use a heated Bard-Parker knife to cut away the excess material in the sulcus areas and around the base of the cast. You should now be able to pry the arch form
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