CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
The Dental Thermocycling Machine is a testing machine in which a material,
such as, enamel, dentine, acrylic resin or other dental materials will be immersed
into two different temperatures in a certain amount of time. The machine is further
discussed further in this chapter.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The mouth is subjected to different scenarios every day. Scenarios that can
be determined through factors such as the food composition, temperature and
other teeth degradation factors. Teeth, when not taken cared of properly, does not
stand the test of time as dental carries and other dental problems occur. By the
use of dental materials, dental problems are treated.
Dental material sciences is a science that involves the study of composition
and properties of the dental material, and the way in which they interact in the
environment they are placed in and see how the material behaves in the
surrounding environment. These wide array of materials are used to situate in a
human mouth, such as a denture, metal wires for braced-teeth patients, or even a
dental filling for damaged tooth.
As technology evolved, demand for durable and highly aesthetic dental
materials increased. The advancement of dental materials continues as to this day.
Branched under the science of dentistry, the study of prosthodontics deals with all
thing related to dental prostheses. Dental materials, dental restorations, denture
production are all studied with a prosthodontics specialization. An understanding
of the properties of dental materials, such as physical, chemical, and biological
properties, as well as their handling is critical to the selection of dental materials in
the field of dentistry (Omar, 2016).
One stress to which the dental materials undergoes is the thermal stress.
The dental materials are subjected to thermal stresses due to the varying
temperatures of the food intake of a patient. A laboratory method under
prosthodontics branch of dentistry is thermocycling. Thermocycling is an in vitro
laboratory procedure used to test dental materials and to simulate artificial aging
by means of cyclical temperature changes. The thermocycling procedure can be
done with or without a thermocycling machine. By this, Nordic Institute of Dental
Materials (NIOM) has released an apparatus called Dental Thermocycling
Machine (DTM) 20 years ago.
Several studies on the range of intraoral temperatures obtained upon
ingestion of food or liquid suggested that the thermocycling regimens in the in vitro
studies are excessive (Longman & Pearson 1987; Michailesco et al. 1995;
Youngson & Barclay 2000). Others showed that the temperature produced intra-
orally during hot water consumption may reach 67 deg C (Palmer et al. 1992) and
even 77 deg C (Barclay et al. 2005). For cold foods like Regular ice cream
is typically served at –12 °C, while soft-serve ice cream is served at –6 °C. (Rohrig,
2014)
A DTM is a testing machine that mimics the temperature of the oral
environment where the material tested is subjected to two different temperatures
through a hot and cold bath. The material is then cycled between baths through
the use of a robotic arm for a given period of time.
The machine is not available for purchase in the Philippines and it would be
too costly to buy from abroad. With regards to this matter, the College of Dentistry
(CoD) of University of the East – Manila Campus has requested the College of
Engineering (CoE) to design, fabricate, and test a Dental Thermocycling Machine.
The proponents, whom are from Mechanical Engineering Department alongside
with the Computer Engineering Department, joined together to be able to produce
the DTM with specified specifications provided by the Dean of College of Dentistry
as shown in Table 1.1.
 Table 1.1: Dental Thermocyling Machine Required Specifications
PARAMETER SPECIFICATION
Maximum Hot System Temperature (°C) 70
Minimum Cold System Temperature (°C) 5
Maximum Operating Time (days) 3
Display Digital
Bath Size (W x L x H) 200 mm x 275 mm x 225mm
(8 in x 11 in x 9in)
Cold and Hot Bath Basin *Shall be removable
Heating and Cooling Coils *Shall not be in one region with
testing specimen
Arm Transfer Time Long Cycle (seconds) 5
Arm Transfer Time Short Cycle (seconds) 3

To support the maximum and minimum temperatures of the heating and

cooling system, according to the International Standardization Organization (ISO),
it is said that the micro leakage test temperature should be preceded by the
samples thermocycling in water bath temperatures at 5°C and 55°C to simulate
the thermal changes occurred in the oral environment. The idea of the study was
fueled by the desire to improve the college’s service to the students, in line with its
dedication for quality education.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The proponents conducted research to the construction of the Dental
Thermocycling Machine.
1. Cost and Availability
The College of Dentistry of the University does not own the DTM
machine and a conventional DTM is not available in the Philippine Market.
Buying abroad would cost from half a million or more and is deemed too
costly. The proponents should be able to find materials that will cut the cost
of fabrication, but still would be of high quality. DTM is to be made available
 for the graduate and undergraduate students of the College of Dentistry and
as well as for dental researchers of the country. The machine will be funded
by the University.
2. Specification and Functionality
The fabricated DTM machine shall be able function as a conventional
one and to meet the specification needed provided by the Dean of the College
of Dentistry. The specification is shown in Table 1.1.
3. Design and Equipment
The DTM shall have 3 major parts, the robotic arm that cycles the
specimen, the hot bath, and the cold bath. The proponents from the ME
Department are in charge of the hot and cold bath and shall be able to design
and compute heating and cooling system of the machine and the major
structure of it. The proponents shall be able to compute the required
equipment specifications based on existing theories. As for the equipment,
the proponents shall be able to find an existing equipment that meets the
computation.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The study aims to fabricate, design, and test a Dental Thermocycling
Machine and be made available for the graduate and undergraduate students in
the College of Dentistry and will serve as an impeccable research instrument for
dental researchers. Specifically:
1. Design and develop a cost-effective DTM that is capable of testing
mechanical properties of dental materials.
2. To design and fabricate a DTM table to accommodate the equipment to
be installed such as the heating and cooling system from the ME
Department and the robotic arm from the CPE Department.
3. To design and select the suitable equipment for the heating and cooling
system while meeting the specifications needed.
4. To provide an operations manual for the new DTM.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The fabricated DTM primarily focuses on scholastic purposes and has
notable benefits across engineering fields like Heating, Ventilation and Air
Conditioning (HVAC), and across the dentistry fields like in the prosthodontics.
1. College of Engineering Students
The study would is an assistance on the Engineering Department
by making a joint venture of ME proponents and their CpE counterpart
which can help the both sides on cooperation for their thesis.
2. Dentistry Students
The students will be able to have better understanding with the lessons
and concepts about thermal stress on dental materials.
3. Dentistry Professors
With the DTM, it will be easier for the professors to explain the concepts
thermal stress and the effect of the thermal stress on dental materials.
4. Filipino Dental Researchers
Having made the DTM available in the country at lower-cost could
potentially promote dental researchers to pursue the cause of thermal stress
on dental materials.
5. Academe
It could increase the enrolment on the dentistry department by using the
DTM as a way to promote the qualities of the university. This would also be
an approach to improve the quality of education in the university.

1.5 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The design, fabrication and testing of a Dental Thermocycling Machine would
create a way to provide a DTM with the same standards with a conventional DTM.
The machine would be used as a testing machine for dentistry students, as well as
other dental researchers for their respective researches in pursuit for the further
advancement of the dentistry field in the Philippines. In a way, the study would be
a help to the university as it would furthermore enhance its capability to be self-
sufficient.
1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
Each study possesses its own scopes and limits. The extents and
constraints are vital part of the study which guides the researchers to accomplish
the study. In addition, providing the limitations of the studies will assist them in
determining the possible errors that may occur.
The College of Dentistry of the University of the East – Manila will fund the
production of the machine in collaboration with the College of Engineering. The
College of Engineering shall be in charge of the design, fabrication and testing of
the machine.

1.4.1 Scope
The project shall be divided in three major parts; heating system, cooling
system, and the robotic arm. The proponents, whom are from the ME Department,
are in charge of the cooling system, heating system and the overall physical
structure of the machine.
1. The fabrication of the table.
2. The fabrication of the baths.
3. Removable baths.
4. The heating system, its equipment and components.
5. The cooling system, its equipment and components.
6. Heating and cooling coil not being in one region with the specimen.

1.4.2 Limitations
By the Scope given above, the ME department shall be in charge of the
following specs needed.
1. The table having space for the CpE proponents’ robotic arm.
2. Bath size of 8” x 11” x 9”.
3. Digital display for both the heating and cooling system.
4. At least of a maximum hot bath temperature of 70°C.
5. At least of a minimum cold bath temperature of 5°C.
6. At least of maximum three operating days.
 The amount provided by the university would set a limit as to what the quality
of the fabricated DTM would be.