Heat-cured silicone bimaxillary mouthguard

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Dental Technology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Custom mouthguards are crucial for protecting athletes during contact sports.
• Conventional thermoformed mouthguards present challenges in achieving precise fit and can pose injury risks.
• Improvements in material science and fabrication techniques are needed for enhanced athletic protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel laboratory procedure for constructing heat-cured, silicone, custom-made bimaxillary mouthguards.
• To evaluate the advantages of this method over conventional thermoformed mouthguards.
• To highlight improvements in control over oral appliance parameters and safety.

Main Methods:

• Development of a laboratory protocol for heat-cured silicone fabrication of bimaxillary mouthguards.
• Focus on achieving precise control over contours and vertical dimension during the construction process.
• Incorporation of safety features to prevent inter-arch trauma.

Main Results:

• The described procedure allows for superior control of contours and vertical dimension compared to traditional thermoformed mouthguards.
• The heat-cured silicone material ensures a stable and well-fitting custom appliance.
• Elimination of the risk of injury from contact between maxillary and mandibular components during use.

Conclusions:

• The heat-cured, silicone, custom-made bimaxillary mouthguard offers a significant advancement in athletic oral protection.
• This method provides enhanced control and improved safety features over conventional alternatives.
• The technique is suitable for laboratory-based fabrication of high-performance sports mouthguards.