title: Comparing comfort and wearability between Type III single-layered and double-layered EVA mouthguards.
abstract: This study compared two Type III ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) mouthguards for wearability, comfort, fit, and patient preference. Twenty-two athletes each received two custom-fabricated athletic mouthguards, a single-layered vacuum-formed EVA mouthguard and a double-layered heat- and pressure-laminated EVA type. Athletes wore each type of mouthguard for a two-week period while playing basketball. At the end of each two-week period, the athletes completed questionnaires that evaluated 17 characteristics of each mouthguard type. Data were analyzed using the binomial test for small numbers. The double-layered heat- and pressure-laminated EVA mouthguard performed as well as or better than the single-layered vacuum-formed type in 14 of the 17 categories. There was a statistically significant patient preference for the double-layered heat- and pressure-laminated mouthguard.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kenyon
authors.forename: Larry G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Loos
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001490:Basketball; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D009064:Mouth Protectors; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019876:Sports Equipment; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*