title: Easy fabrication of a new type of mouthguard incorporating a hard insert and space and offering improved shock absorption ability.
abstract: The positive effects of wearing a mouthguard have been indicated in various epidemiological surveys and experiments, and their usage appears to be increasing in many sports. However, many preventable sports-related dental injuries still occur even with the use of a conventional mouthguard. We have developed a mouthguard (the Hard & Space mouthguard) with sufficient injury prevention ability (more than 95% shock absorption ability against impact with a steel ball carrying 15.2 kg m(2) S(-2) potential energy) and ease of clinical application. This mouthguard consists of an outer and an inner EVA layer and a middle layer of acrylic resin (hard insert), with a space to prevent contact between the inner surface of the mouthguard and the buccal surfaces of the maxillary front teeth or teeth already weakened through prior damage or treatment. The purpose of this article is to describe the method by which the Hard & Space mouthguard may easily be fabricated. We believe that this new type of mouthguard has the potential to reduce sports-related dental injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Dentistry, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan. ttakeda@tdc.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tomotaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishigami
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mishima
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karasawa
authors.forename: Katsuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
authors.forename: Takaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kajima
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D001641:Bicuspid; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003767:Dental Occlusion, Balanced; D004867:Equipment Design; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D008437:Maxilla; D009064:Mouth Protectors / Q000145:classification*; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011145:Polyvinyls; C477722:polyethylene-polyvinylacetate copolymer