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Present Status in Polymeric Mouthguards. A Future Area for Additive Manufacturing?
Ana M Sousa1, Ana C Pinho1, Ana Messias2
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, CEMMPRE, 3030-788 Coimbra Portugal.
Polymers
|July 9, 2020
Summary
Protective polymeric mouthguards help prevent orofacial injuries in contact sports. However, the ideal mouthguard material and fabrication standards are still needed for optimal athlete protection and comfort.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
Background:
- Contact sport athletes face high risks of orofacial injuries due to physical impacts.
- Polymeric mouthguards are effective in mitigating these injuries by absorbing impact energy.
- Current mouthguards vary in protection and cost, but none are considered ideal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing mouthguard types, their properties, and characteristics.
- To detail common polymers used in mouthguard fabrication.
- To discuss manufacturing techniques for polymeric mouthguards.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific publications on mouthguards and polymeric materials.
- Analysis of mouthguard properties, including shock absorption and energy dissipation.
- Examination of polymer selection and fabrication processes.
Main Results:
- Various polymeric mouthguards exist, offering different levels of protection and comfort.
- Key polymers and manufacturing methods are identified for mouthguard production.
- Lack of standardized parameters for material characterization and fabrication is noted.
Conclusions:
- While polymeric mouthguards offer protection, the ideal material and standardized fabrication are yet to be established.
- Further research is needed to define optimal materials and manufacturing processes for enhanced athlete safety and performance.
