Ecoflex is a commercial designation for elastomers developed based on the principles of environmental sustainability and flexibility. Various manufacturers offer different types of Ecoflex products with distinct compositions and functions. Among these, the platinum-catalyzed silicone rubber Ecoflex series has demonstrated considerable applicability in various fields of oral medicine due to its excellent flexibility, biocompatibility, stability across a wide temperature range, and tunable mechanical properties. In tissue engineering, it can simulate the mechanical behavior of oral mucosa, and is used in cleft lip surgical training models and preoperative evaluation for temporal bone defect reconstruction. In the field of wearable devices, leveraging its encapsulation protection and flexible characteristics, highly sensitive sensors constructed from Ecoflex can monitor signals such as oral bite force and masticatory muscle activity, thereby aiding in the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorders and postoperative evaluation of cleft lip and palate. Moreover, when combined with bio-waste materials, it promotes the functionalization and sustainability of oral wearable devices.In drug delivery systems, its conformability and controlled-release capability address challenges in localized oral drug administration. Designs such as flexible microneedles and temperature-responsive composite systems provide precise solutions for treating periodontitis and oral ulcers. In minimally invasive surgical instruments, its softness enables the development of soft robots and magnetically controlled microfluidic valves, enhancing surgical safety and precision. In the field of oral rehabilitation, Ecoflex soft liner materials, inspired by the suction cup structure of octopus tentacles, improve denture retention. Their low modulus reduces mucosal irritation, ensuring both comfort and durability. Although Ecoflex shows great potential in biomedical applications, it still faces certain challenges, particularly regarding long-term stability after implantation, mechanical fatigue resistance, and microbial colonization, which require further investigation. In the future, with advancements in 3D printing technology, Ecoflex is expected to achieve more precise clinical translation across multiple fields and drive innovation in intelligent biomaterials.
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Open Access
Review Article
Issue
Open Access
Clinical Study
Issue
To investigate the effect of treatment dentures on changes in denture space in edentulous patients and to evaluate its clinical effect.
Twenty patients with treatment dentures were investigated with a questionnaire and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) before and after treatment. The denture space, denture tissue surface, occlusal points, Gothic arch images, mucosal condition, lateral occlusal condition, bite force, retention and stability, patient mastication ability, denture satisfaction, and OHIP-14 score were collected for statistical analysis.
After wearing treatment dentures, the denture space significantly improved, the tissue conditioners on the treatment denture gradually began to be distributed, and the occlusal points gradually became symmetrical. The gothic arch images showed that the joints, nerves, and muscles gradually stabilized. The mucosal condition changed to a healthy state. The lateral occlusal conditions were improved. There were also significant differences in the bite force, retention and stability, subjective and objective chewing ability, satisfaction with the denture and OHIP-14 score before and after treatment (P < 0.05). The objective chewing ability was positively correlated with the retention stability of the denture, the subjective chewing ability and the satisfaction of the denture, and it was negatively correlated with OHIP-14.
Treatment dentures could help to restore denture space to an ideal condition and improve the oral health of patients. This treatment could also improve the retention and stability of the denture and the chewing ability to improve patient satisfaction. This treatment has clinical application value and promotion potential.
Open Access
Clinical Study
Issue
To study smile exposure in 20- to 30-year-olds with convex facial profiles and to explore the correlation between smile exposure and other aesthetic indicators, as well as psychological factors.
This study obtained ethical approval from the hospital. After they gave informed consent and portrait authorization, 80 young subjects aged 20-30 with convex facial profiles had their dynamic postural smile and spontaneous laughter recorded. The videos were imported into Photoshop CC software, key frames were selected, and the smile exposure was measured. The three-dimensional information of the subject's face in a resting state was obtained, the relevant aesthetic indicators were measured, and the satisfaction degree of their smile and laughter were evaluated. Correlation analysis was conducted for smile exposure and the relevant aesthetic indicators and subjective psychological evaluation.
There were statistically significant differences in smile exposure, smile patterns, relevant aesthetic indicators and subjective psychological evaluation between males and females aged 20 to 30 (P< 0.05). There was a large gap between males and females in the average opening degree when laughing, males having 5 times that of females, while the average gingival exposure height of the maxillary central incisor in males was approximately 1/2 of that in females. The average nasolabial angle of males (99.80°± 7.96°) was larger than that of females (96.26° ± 7.31°) (P< 0.05), while the average ratio of upper lip length to the length of the lower 1/3 of the face of males (33.73%±2.35%) was less than that of females (38.57%±2.76%) (P< 0.05). The average psychological score of males (57.75±13.46) was higher than that of females (53.69±17.95) (P< 0.05). The ratios of maxillary teeth and gingival exposure to oral fissure in the postural smile were positively correlated with the nasolabial angle. The oral fissure width in spontaneous laughter was negatively correlated with psychological score.
Convex-faced males and females aged 20 to 30 have different smile exposures and smile patterns. Males tend to smile more openly with a larger opening and less gingival exposure, while females tend to grin with a small opening and more gingival exposure. Smile exposure is positively correlated with nasolabial angle and negatively correlated with smile satisfaction.
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