FAQ (frequently asked questions)  
  Playsafe
  Silensor
  Thermoforming
  Thermoforming materials ...
 
  in general
  Erkocryl
  Erkodur
  Erkodur-C
  Erkoflex
  Erkoflex-95
  Erkolen
  Erkoloc
  Erkoloc-pro
 
  Waxes
 
   
  Playsafe
  Why is a Playsafe superior to a boil and bite mouthguard?
  If the patient uses a boil and bite mouthguard, the fit between teeth and mouthguard is not of the quality as with the custom-made Playsafe sports mouthguard. Because of the tight fit teeth are much more protected with the the Playsafe. In extreme situations the patient can loose the boil + bite mouthguard. This can not happen with a Playsafe mouthguard made by a certified and professional expert. In addition the Playsafe mouthguard is much more comfortable to use.
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  What colors are available for the Playsafe mouthguard?
  A Playsafe sports mouthguard can be produced according to the wishes of the patient. A big variety of colors is available. Thus, usually a Playsafe can be produced according to the patient´s team colors.
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  How is it ensured that teammates do not mix up their Playsafe mouthguards?
  Due to Playsafe being a custom-made sports mouthguard, it would be highly surprising if a Playsafe would fit to 2 different sportsmen´s teeth. However, teammates can easily identify their Playsafes by checking the name label. There is no need to check it out by fixing the Playsafe on the teeth. You obtain the name labels from ERKODENT, our worldwide partners or you can produce them yourselves (use paper or plastic).
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  Is it possible fully to breath through the mouth with a Playsafe?
  Yes. Playsafe sports mouthguards do not hinder breathing through the mouth.
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  Is it possible to communicate with a teammate with a Playsafe put on?
  In contrast to boil + bite products the Playsafe custom-made sports mouthguards hinder in speaking to a much smaller extent. After a period of getting used to the Playsafe it is possbile to speak quite normally.
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  Which kind of Playsafe mouthguard is to be produced for a patient?
  To find out which kind of Playsafe sports mouthguard is suitable to a patient´s sport or needs please check here above.
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  What is the way to learn how to produce a Playsafe mouthguard?
  We invite you to join a class at ERKODENT or at our worldwide partners. After intensive training you will receive a certificate documenting that mouthguards produced by you according to the Playsafe guidelines can be called custom-made Playsafe sports mouthguards.
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  I do not succeed in laminating two Erkoflex-plates. What can be the reason?
  Please use our degreasing agent. The agent will remove isolating particles. Furthermore please put our cover templates on the granules before using the degreasing agent.
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  Silensor
  Is the Silensor applicable to patients who suffer from sleep apnea?
  If the patient suffers from sleep apnea (respiratory arrest during sleep), the patient should be initiated to have a measurement of his apnea-index by an expert.
The apnea-index classifies the significance of the disease. Up to 5 is regarded as normal, 6-10 as light, 11-20 as medium, 21 and higher as severe sleep-apnea. You can take use of the Silensor when light or medium apneas are observed. However, the effectiveness of the Silensor should be rated by an expert.
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  The patient complains about a feeling of tension after the Silensor is fixed.
  A feeling of tension is absolutely normal. Usually this dissappears in a few moments.
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  The patient in the morning has the feeling that upper and lower jaw do not fit together anymore.
  The feeling in the morning, that upper and lower jaw do not fit together anymore does last only for a short period of time. It can be based on a muscular re-orientation. Also it can be based on lymph flowing into the jaw joint because of the lower jaw´s adjusted position. Both phenomena usually disappear in a few minutes.
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  What limits the effectiveness of the Silensor?
  Major obesity and major alcohol intake limit the effectiveness of the Silensor.
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  Is it possible that the patient breathes through the mouth with the Silensor?
  Yes. Even if your patient suffers from polyps or has catched a cold and thus breathing through the nose is limited or blocked, the use of the Silensor is in no way precluded.
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  Thermoforming
  What are the basic steps working with the Erkopress Tp-ci unit?
  Please, check this video for the basic working steps ...
   
  What is the best way to remove the isolating foil?
  Please, check this video ...
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  What is better, an unit working with vacuum or compressed air technique?
  High-quality thermoforming results you can realize with vacuum and compressed air technique.
If you wish to perform thermoforming and imprinting the opposing bite in one go, we recommend to order the combination of vacuum unit ERKOFORM-3d and the integrated occludator OCCLUFORM-3. Most of our customers prefer this solution. With this combination you have the advantage that you do not need any compressed air supply.
But if your target is to produce plates according to SCHWARZ, expansion plates in the orthodontic area or if you usually fabricate copings, then we recommend to order our ERKOPRESS-ES 200 E unit working with compressed air technique.
If you are a thermoforming profi, with respect to the low capital expenditure we recommend to install 2 working places, one with a vacuum unit and the other with a compressed air technique unit. You will have the biggest benefit from that.
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  Is it possible to order an integrated occludator for the Erkopress-ES 200 E unit?
  Sorry, no. Due to construction reasons an integrated occludator is only available for our vacuum units (Erkoform-3d and Erkoform-3) . With the combination of these units and the Occluform-3 you can realize high-quality thermoforming results and you will have the imprint of the opposing bite in the same go.
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  What are the advantages of the ERKOPRESS-ES 200 E unit working with compressed air technique?
  Plates according to SCHWARZ or expansion plates in the orthodontic field need pressure load when they are thermoformed. This only can be realized by our ERKOPRESS-ES 200 E unit. Furthermore, with respect to some special applications, it is possible to reach a slightly higher reproduction of details with the ES 200 E unit. Copings can be produced without any add-ons.
In addition you can use the ES 200 E unit (with attachment) as a flask.
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  What is the difference between vacuum- and compressed air technique in general?
  Using a vacuum the thermoforming material is drawn onto the model. Using compressed air technique the thermoforming material is pressed on the model.
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  I have heard that vacuum units would not produce good thermoforming results.
  That is proved to be wrong. What really is important in thermoforming is, that a rapid forming is realized. This is ensured by the reserve vacuum of the ERKOFORM-3 and -3d unit. With the reserve vacuum, the vacuum already exists before the thermoforming phase and thus takes a sudden effect. If the temperatur of the thermoforming material is appropriate, then the differences of thermofomring results between vacuum units and compressed air technique units are indeed negligible. Handling advantages can be stated for our vacuum units (Erkoform-3 / -3d).
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  Is there a need for special thermoforming material when using vacuum- or compressed air technique units?
  No. Our thermoforming materials can be used with both kinds of units.
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  What are the advantages of an ERKOFORM-3d vacuum unit?
  First, you do not need any compressed air supply, thus you do not have any trouble with installation. If you choose an ERKOFORM-3d unit, you buy an unit which is universally employable. In addition it is easier to handle and the price is lower than for the ES-200 E unit. The ERKOFORM-3 has a touchless temperature control (sensor) and a touchpanel, which leads you through the whole thermoforming process. If you also buy the Occluform-3 device, you can thermoform and imprint the opposing bite directly in one go.
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  What are the costs of these units?
  All of our worldwide partners are sovereign in calculating the prices according to their specific needs. Please contact our partners for detailed price information.
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  The thermoforming results obtained with the Erkoform-RVE unit are not fully satisfying. How can I improve that?
  Please, let the pre-heating time run to its end. Not until then turn the foil frame under the heating element. In case generally check the functions of the unit.
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  The thermoforming results obtained with the Erkopress ES-200 E unit are not fully satisfying. How can I improve that?
  Please, let the pre-heating time run to its end. Push the flask under the heating element as far as it will go, otherwise the heating time does not start. After heating time has passed, put the flask as far as it will go to the right and as far as it will go to the back, otherwise the flask is not in an axial position to the cylinder. In case, generally check the functions of the unit.
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  Is it possible to apply the heating times of the program-driven units to the other units?
  No. The other units have open heating systems, which are influenced by room temperature, draft et cetera. As a result the heating time can vary.
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  Thermoforming materials - in general
  Which foil for which application?
  see here ...
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  Which foil is suitable for building up an adjustment?
  Erkodur, Erkoloc, Erkoloc-pro und Erkocryl.
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  When heating up the foil shows bubbles?
  Foil was stored in a too humid place. Please pre-dry.
(see pre-heating times at the special foil type further down)
 
   
  Tiefziehmaterial - Erkocryl
  After heating up, the foil shows bubbles.
  Foil was stored in a too humid place.
Please pre-dry in the heating cabinet, or in an oven at 80-90° C:
- 1.5 mm: approximal 3 h pre-heating time
- 2.0 mm: 4-5 h pre-heating time
- 2.5 mm: 6-7 h pre-heating time
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  Thermoforming materials - Erkodur
  After heating up, the foil shows bubbles.
  Foil was stored in a too humid place.
Please pre-dry in the heating cabinet, or in an oven at max. 60° C:
- 0.5 - 2.0 mm: approximal 5 h pre-heating time
- 3.0 - 5.0 mm: approximal 8 h pre-heating time
Only for not program-driven units:
Please do not heat up the foil too long. The foil should not be deformed (hang down) too much.
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  I observe cracks when building up with autopolymerizing acrylic resin (Resilit).
  Before building up, first take the splint off the model. Fill the target area with some material. A basic layer is established. After that, the splint can be built up as usual.
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  Plies appear.
  Please choose the right heating time.
Only for not program-driven units:
Please do not heat up the foil too long. The foil should not be deformed (hang down) too much.
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  Plies appear between the dies when copings are thermoformed.
  The reason can be oblique positioned dies with undercut preparations. Please try to position the preparation vertically. Put an ERKOPOR foam rubber disc on the die model disc. Pass the pins of the dies through the ERKOPOR disc and fix the dies in the silicone mass. This ensures that no air cushions appear between die model disc and thermoforming foil. Some pin- and model systems do not fit into the holes (silicon mass) of the die model disc. Such dies are put directly into the fine granule.
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  Thermoforming materials - Erkodur-C
  Foil shows bubbles after heating up.
  Foil was stored in a too humid place.
Please pre-dry in the heating cabinet, or in an oven at 70-80° C:
- 0.5 / 0.6 mm: approximal 40 min. pre-heating time
- 0.8 mm: approximal 50 min. pre-heating time
- 1.0 mm: approximal 60 min. pre-heating time
Check out whether you can use Erkodur.
Erkodur also bonds to acrylics (RESILIT) and has the advantage that there is no need for pre-drying.
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  Thermoforming materials - Erkoflex
  The splint is milky after thermoforming.
  Reason: Hot foil takes in plaster particles. Please isolate the plaster against the foil by using our Isolac or thermoform Erkoflex together with our universal UZF (spacer foil). Put the spacer foil towards the model.
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  Is it possible to polish Erkoflex using a flame?
  No. Using a flame leads to overheating or to heating up a too wide area. In addition soot is resulting. Recommendation: After pre-polishing with our Lisko-S, polish Erkoflex using heat. To avoid blackening/sooting please use our hot-air-burner which works without flame.
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  Bonding of two Erkoflex plates does not work using heat.
  Please use our degreasing agent in order to remove isolating particles. Furthermore please put our cover templates on the granules before using the degreasing agent.
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  Thermoforming materials - Erkoflex-95
  How can I polish Erkoflex 95?
  After pre-polishing with our Lisko-S, please polish Erkoflex 95 using heat. To avoid blackening/sooting please use our hot-air-burner which works without flame.
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  Thermoforming materials - Erkolen
  Thermoforming result does not satisfy.
  There can be different reasons for that, e.g.
- model has a sharpe edge (a hole in the foil is resulting)
- heating unit is too weak (too old)
- thermoforming unit is damaged.
With not program-driven units: overheated foil or heated up too shortly.
Higher models should be embedded into the granules. Compress the granules. With not program-driven units: Foil has to run through the following different phases: It raises, it lowers, it becomes wavy, it becomes transparent, it smoothes itself out - time to thermoform.
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  Plies appear between the dies when copings are thermoformed.
  The reason can be oblique positioned dies with undercut preparations. Please try to position the preparation vertically. Put an Erkopor foam rubber disc on the die model disc. Pass the pins of the dies through the Erkopor disc and fix the dies in the silicone mass. This ensures that no air cushions appear between die model disc and thermoforming foil. Some pin- and model systems do not fit into the holes (silicon mass) of the die model disc. Such dies are put directly into the fine granule.
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  Moulded copings are springy after thermoforming.
  Please use UZF (spacer foil). To avoid air cushions perforate the UZF.
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  Thermoforming materials - Erkoloc
  The splint is milky after thermoforming.
  Reason: Hot foil takes in plaster particles. Please isolate the plaster against the foil by using our ISOLAC or thermoform ERKOFLEX together with our universal UZF (spacer foil). Put the spacer foil towards the model.
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  After a short time of usage the splint breaks.
  In general Erkoloc is a material for short-time usage. The different elasticity modules cause a separation of layers when the splint is intensively stressed. Then, the hard part breaks. Recommendation: Use Erkoloc-pro for long-time therapies. Erkoloc-pro is better suited for a long time intensive usage.
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  Splint does not combine with acrylics.
  Monomer dissolves the hard layer of the Erkoloc foil. Therefore, please do not further work on the built up splint until at least 2 h have passed.
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  Thermoforming materials - Erkoloc-pro
  When heating up the foil shows bubbles?
  Foil was stored in a too humid place.
Please pre-dry in the heating cabinet, or in an oven at max. 60° C:
- 2.0 - 5.0 mm: approximal 48 h pre-heating time
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  Waxes
  What is the difference between wax bite rims and wax bite rims opaque?
  By adding 1% titanoxide the opaque color could be realized. The legibility of the bite is highly improved by changing this feature.
 
   
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