ABSTRACT
Purpose: this study was to evaluate the fitness of adjustable dental impression trays on the Koreans : the trays used in the previous study by Kim et al. as part of the dental adjustable tray development project were improved and modified. Material and method: The patterns of tray were made through CAD-CAM process, and a simple silicone-base molds were made from them. The trial products were reproduced by pouring polyurethane into these molds. 30 male students(Wonkwang University, Dental College) and 30 female students (Wonkwang Health Science College, Department of Dental Hygiene) were selected and Reversible hydrocolloid impression materials were used for this study. The fitness of the trays was evaluated by measuring the width and length of impression materials of each measurement sites. Results and conclusion: 1. In adapting the trays inside the mouth, a uniform width of impression material(3.6mm) was obtained in most sites due to the tooth stops and the inclined planes accommodating the width of the tray. 2. The thickness of impression material in the central part of the palate was a mean 9.8 mm, which turned out to be somewhat thick. 3. In the mandible, the thickness of the impression material in the lingual side inferior to the contact point of the 1st and 2nd molars was 2.7mm, and the thickness of the material in the lingual side of the rearmost margin was 2.5 mm. The thickness of the impression material of these areas was relatively thin.