ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the fitness of adjustable dental impression trays on the Caucasian and African American. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The size and shape of these trays were designed from the results of the dental arch size of Korean adults. Tray samples were made by CAD-CAM working. Sixty Caucasian (male: 30, female: 30) and sixty African American (male: 30, female: 30) were selected for taking irreversible hydrocolloid impression using these trays. The author measured the width and length of impression material on the several measuring points. RESULTS: 1. Uniform impression material width was achieved by controling the width of the tray using stops and beveled guides. 2. In the maxillary tray on the Caucasian, the impression material thickness was measured to be rather great showing thickness of the midpalatal part 13.0 mm. 3. In the maxillary tray on the African American, the impression material thickness was measured to be rather great showing thickness of the midpalatal part 12.0 mm, posterior palatal part 11.0 mm and the labial frenum width was 11.0 mm. 4. In the maxillary tray on the African American, the impression material width of posterior border (0.8 mm) was measured to be small. 5. In the mandibular tray on the Caucasian, the impression material width was measured (2.7-6.7 mm) and posterior border width (2.1 mm) was measured small. The impression material length was measured (2.8-6.7 mm). 6. In the mandibular tray on the African American, the impression material width was measured to be rather great showing width of the labial frenum 9.2 mm and the width of posterior border was measured too small (0.3 mm). CONCLUSION: This adjustable dental tray shows good accuracy to Korean because it was designed by the analysis of the dental arch size of Korean adult model. With this result, it can be applied to Caucasian and African American, we can take more easy and accurate dental impressions.