Comparing comfort and wearability between Type III single-layered and double-layered EVA mouthguards

Area of Science:

• Sports Dentistry
• Biomaterials Science
• Materials Engineering

Background:

• Athletic mouthguards protect against oral injuries during sports.
• Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is a common material for mouthguards.
• Comparing different EVA mouthguard fabrication methods is crucial for optimizing performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the wearability, comfort, fit, and patient preference of two types of Type III ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) mouthguards.
• To evaluate custom-fabricated single-layered vacuum-formed EVA mouthguards against double-layered heat- and pressure-laminated EVA mouthguards.
• To determine athlete preference between the two EVA mouthguard types.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-two athletes participated in the study.
• Each athlete used two custom-fabricated athletic mouthguards (single-layered vacuum-formed EVA and double-layered heat- and pressure-laminated EVA) for two weeks each while playing basketball.
• Athletes completed questionnaires evaluating 17 characteristics of each mouthguard type.
• Data were analyzed using the binomial test.

Main Results:

• The double-layered heat- and pressure-laminated EVA mouthguard performed equally well or better than the single-layered vacuum-formed type in 14 out of 17 evaluated categories.
• A statistically significant patient preference was observed for the double-layered heat- and pressure-laminated mouthguard.
• No significant differences in specific performance metrics were detailed, but overall preference favored the double-layered type.

Conclusions:

• Double-layered heat- and pressure-laminated EVA mouthguards are a preferred option for athletes compared to single-layered vacuum-formed types.
• The fabrication method significantly impacts the perceived quality and preference of athletic mouthguards.
• Further research could explore objective performance measures beyond subjective patient feedback.