Characterization of mouthguard materials: physical and mechanical properties of commercialized products.
OBJECTIVE
Contemporary mouthguard materials need to perform consistently over a wide range of possible temperatures (-20 to 40 degrees C). Therefore the specific aim of this study was to characterize commercialized mouthguard materials' properties and investigate the effect of temperature on these properties.


METHODS
Five commercially representative thermoplastic mouthguard materials (Essix Resin, Erkoflex, Proform-regular, Proform-laminate, and Polyshok) were tested. The durometer hardness, water absorption, tear strength, and impact attenuation of the mouthguard materials were measured according to ASTM D2240-05, D570-98 (2005), D624-00, and ASTM D6110-06f (modified) guidelines. Tests were conducted on five separate specimens at both room 23+/-2 degrees C and intra-oral 37+/-2 degrees C temperatures. Independent t-tests (alpha=0.05) were used to test for differences between room and intra-oral temperatures.


RESULTS
Material hardness decreased (p<0.05) from room to intra-oral temperatures for all mouthguard materials. Water absorption increased (p<0.05) from room to intra-oral temperatures for all mouthguard materials. Tear strength decreased (p<0.05) from room to intra-oral temperatures for all mouthguard materials. Impact attenuation between room and intra-oral temperatures was different (p<0.05) for the Erkoflex, Proform-laminate, and Polyshok material respectfully. However, there was no difference between temperatures for the Essix Resin (p=.058) or Proform-regular (p=.275) materials.


CONCLUSIONS
Temperature measureably affects the physical and mechanical properties of mouthguard materials. It is particularly noteworthy that none of the commercialized products met current ANSI and SAI standards for impact attenuation.
Gould
Trenton E
TE
School of Human Performance, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA. Trent.Gould@usm.edu
Piland
Scott G
SG
Shin
Junghwan
J
Hoyle
Charles E
CE
Nazarenko
Sergei
S
D000042:Absorption; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D006244:Hardness; D008422:Materials Testing; D009064:Mouth Protectors / Q000145:classification / Q000592:standards; D011145:Polyvinyls; D012015:Reference Standards; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014867:Water
D011145:Polyvinyls; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D014867:Water; C016438:ethylenevinylacetate copolymer