A vacuum technique to increase anterior thickness of athletic mouthguards to achieve a full-balanced occlusion.
A full-balanced occlusion is essential for mouthguards. It has been reported that a balanced occlusion for upper and lower anterior teeth is essential for prevention of injuries occurring to the maxillary anterior teeth and alveolar bone caused by horizontal direct impact. The support of the mandibular teeth through the mouthguard is critical to prevent maxillary front tooth injury from a direct impact force. However, some vacuum mouthguard designs may not achieve a full-balanced occlusion. For example, when a player has a malocclusion, an elongated molar or premolar tooth, an open bite, a large over jet or a maxillary protrusion. An improved vacuum fabrication method is necessary to obtain full balanced occlusion in these cases as opposed to conventional vacuum type single-layer mouthguard technique.
Nakajima
Kazunori
K
Department of Sports Dentistry, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan. knakaji@tdc.ac.jp
Takeda
Tomotaka
T
Kawamura
Shintaro
S
Shibusawa
Mami
M
Nara
Kazuhiko
K
Kaoru
Naito
N
Ishigami
Keiichi
K
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D003767:Dental Occlusion, Balanced; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000293:injuries; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000473:pathology; D008437:Maxilla / Q000293:injuries; D003765:Models, Dental; D009064:Mouth Protectors; D024343:Open Bite / Q000473:pathology; D019876:Sports Equipment; D013499:Surface Properties; D014618:Vacuum