Um modelo experimental de arco dentário, moldado em epóxi, foi utilizado para estudar o comportamento mecânico do copolímero de etileno e acetato de vinila (EVA), na forma de placa plana e protetor bucal. O modelo experimental foi investigado, usando-se um sistema configurado em duas formas diferentes: suporte + arco + placa plana e suporte + arco + protetor bucal. O comportamento mecânico do copolímero de etileno e acetato de vinila foi estudado em função de três variáveis: espessura, temperatura e na ausência e presença de saliva artificial. A avaliação do comportamento mecânico do EVA, na forma de placa e protetor, foi feita usando-se dois planejamentos estatísticos fatoriais, 3x2x2 e 23, respectivamente, numa máquina universal de tração. As propriedades mecânicas do EVA, ao esforço compressivo, avaliadas nas duas configurações (suporte + arco + placa e suporte + arco + protetor) foram: energia aparente absorvida (J.mm-1), tensão máxima (N.mm-1), deslocamento máximo (mm) e força máxima (N). Os efeitos das variáveis, espessura, temperatura e presença ou ausência da saliva artificial foram modelados, matematicamente, usando-se as propriedades mecânicas do EVA ao esforço compressivo, como parâmetros de resposta. Os polinômios ortogonais foram ajustados em função das variáveis e de suas interações significantes, fixando-se o nível de significância igual ou menor de 0,05 ou 5%. Um mecanismo de oclusão do modelo experimental, para explicar a resposta mecânica do EVA, no sistema suporte + arco + placa e suporte + arco + protetor, consistiu em três eventos acoplados: 1) deformação compressiva longitudinal; 2) escorregamento entre os arcos e 3) travamento mecânico ao atingir a máxima oclusão. As variáveis, espessura da placa ou do protetor, temperatura (ambiente e bucal) e saliva (ausência ou presença), bem como algumas interações significantes entre elas, modificaram as propriedades mecânicas do EVA, no sentido de aumentar ou reduzir a resistência oferecida, por este material, ao esforço compressivo, dependendo de como os níveis das respectivas variáveis eram combinados. A resposta mecânica do EVA no sistema suporte + arco + protetor diferiu do sistema suporte + arco + placa, pois os intervalos de espessuras médias dos protetores e das placas foram significativamente diferentes. O mecanismo de oclusão do modelo experimental proposto justifica as diferenças de comportamento mecânico observadas para as duas configurações estudadas. Para placas ou protetores mais finos, da ordem de 2mm, o escorregamento acoplado ao travamento mecânico foram dois eventos determinantes. Para as placas mais espessas, da ordem de 4 mm, o comportamento mecânico pode ser explicado por três eventos acoplados: deformação compressiva longitudinal, escorregamento entre os arcos e travamento mecânico, ao atingir a máxima oclusão. / An experimental model of dental arch, moulded in epoxy, was used to study the mechanic behaviour of a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA), in the form of a flat plaque or mouth protector in function of three variables: thickness, temperature and the absence or presence of artificial saliva. The evaluation of the mechanical behaviour of EVA, as a plaque or as a mouth protector, was made with the use of two factorial statistical projection, 3x2x2 and 23, respectively, in a universal test machine. The mechanic properties of EVA, at compressive effort, evaluated in two configurations (support + arch + plaque and support + arch + mouth protector) were: maximum absorbed energy (J.mm-1), maximum strain (N.mm-1), maximum displacement (mm) and maximum force (N). The effect of the variables (thickness, temperature and absence or presence of artficial saliva) were shaped, mathematically, by using the mechanical properties of EVA to compressive effort as a reply parameter. The orthogonal polynomials were adjusted in function of the variables and their significant interactions, fixing the level of significancy as 0,05 (5%) or less. A mechanism of occlusion of the experimental model, to explain the mechanic answer of EVA in the system support + arch + plaque and support + arch + protector, consisted of three connected events: 1) longitudinal compressive deformation; 2) sliding between the arches and 3) mechanic lockage on maximum occlusion. The variables, thickness of the plaque or mouth protector, temperature (local or mouth) e saliva (presence or absence), as well as some significant interactions between them, modified the mechanic properties of EVA, in the sense of increasing or reducing the resistence of this material to the compressive effort, depending on the way these variables were combined. The mechanic answer of EVA in the system support + arch + mouth protector differed from the system support + arch + plaque, as the intervals of average thickness of the mouth protectors and of the plaque were significantly distinct. The mechanism of occlusion of the experimental model proposed justifies the differences of mechanical behaviour observed in both configurations studied. In thinner plaques or mouth protectors, approximately of 2 mm, the sliding connected to the mechanic lockage were two determinant events. For thicker plaques, approximately of 4 mm, the mechanical behaviour can be explained by three linked events: longitudinal compressive deformation, sliding between the arches and mechanic locakge, on the maximum occlusion.

Various silicone elastomers have been evaluated for use in the prosthetic reconstruction of facial defects. Their strength, texture, flexibility, hardness, ease of preparation, pigment receptivity and retention, and their resistance to cleaning were compared and the data consulted when an elastomer was chosen to restore defects, improve aesthetics and reestablish the confidence of a selection of patients. Detailed case reports are provided, together with information on the adhesives or mechanical methods available for retaining the facial prosetheses. Cyanoacrylate adhesives for use on skin surfaces and as tissue adhesives have been studied in detail. A novel n-butyl 413 cyanoacrylate has been developed with a viscosity, haemostatic property and stability to make it particularly suitable for use in skin grafting and tissue repair. It has already been used with good results on patients with severe burns. An improved formulation, containing a fluorescent dye, can be precisely applied through a specially constructed foot-controlled dispenser illuminated by a fibre-optic supplying UV-light. Cyanoacrylates are already being used as tissue adhesives in place of the conventional but potentially disfiguring suture. The availability of improved, imperceptible adhesives and a precision applicator, which can be used in a modern operating theatre, will extend their effectiveness and satisfy some of the needs of Plastic, and Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgeons. Portable applicators have potential use in battlefield and in veterinary surgery and overcome the imprecision characteristic of earlier methods. / Loctite UK