An Experimental Study on Design and Fabrication of Sports Laminate Mouthguard for Protection Against Intraoral Injuries

Background/aim: Sports mouthguard should be designed and fabricated adequately. The purpose was to propose a criterion for fabricating sports laminate mouthguard with adequate thickness for protect orofacial structures.

Materials and methods: Ethylene vinyl acetate sheet (Sports Mouthguard) was fabricated using a pressure former. Sports laminate mouthguard was designed as the first layer covered the labial, buccal, and occlusal sides, and the second layer covered the first layer. Four conditions were investigated; the combination of the sheets forming the first and second layers was 2 mm and 3 mm sheets (2 mm + 3 mm), 3 mm and 2 mm sheets (3 mm + 2 mm), 2 mm and 4 mm sheets (2 mm + 4 mm), and 4 mm and 2 mm sheets (4 mm + 2 mm). Laminate mouthguard thickness was measured at the labial, buccal, and occlusal sides. Statistical analyses were performed by two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni method for the measurement areas and laminate conditions.

Results: Laminate mouthguard thickness was significantly differed among the measurement areas (p < 0.01). The average thickness at the labial side was 2.83 mm (2 mm + 3 mm), 2.89 mm (3 mm + 2 mm), 3.51 mm (2 mm + 4 mm), and 3.53 mm (4 mm + 2 mm). Mouthguard thickness on the conditions of 2 mm + 4 mm and 4 mm + 2 mm became significantly larger compared to 2 mm + 3 mm and 3 mm + 2 mm at the labial, buccal, and occlusal sides (p < 0.01). Adequate thickness could be obtained on the conditions of 2 mm + 4 mm and 4 mm + 2 mm.

Conclusions: Sports laminate mouthguard fabricated using 2 mm sheet with 4 mm sheet could offer adequate thickness at the labial, buccal, and occlusal sides. This finding would be one of the criteria for fabricating sports laminate mouthguard.