title: Variations in mouthguard thickness according to fabrication method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine differences in mouthguard thickness according to the method used to form the mouthguard sheet in a combination vacuum-pressure former.
  
  
  METHODS
  The material used in this study was a mouthguard sheet of 3.8-mm ethylene vinyl acetate. Three forming methods were used: vacuum-forming, vacuum-pressure-forming, and pressure-forming. The sheets were formed when heating causing them to displace 15 mm from baseline. We measured mouthguard thickness at the labial surface of the central incisor, the buccal surface of the first molar, and the occlusal surface of the first molar. Differences in thickness in different regions of mouthguards formed under different conditions were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance and the Bonferroni method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that mouthguard thickness differed in different regions of the central incisors and the first molars (P < 0.01). The incisal (cusp) region was thinner than the cervical region. There were significant differences in the thicknesses of vacuum-formed mouthguards and vacuum-pressure-formed mouthguards (P < 0.05), with the vacuum-forming method resulting in thinner guards than the vacuum-pressure-forming method. Mouthguard thickness at the first molar did not differ according to the forming method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that mouthguard thickness at the anterior teeth varies with different forming methods. This information is important when selecting a mouthguard-forming method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Removable Prosthodontics, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mizuhashi
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koide
authors.forename: Mutsumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D009064:Mouth Protectors; D011312:Pressure; D019876:Sports Equipment; D014618:Vacuum; D014753:Vinyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014753:Vinyl Compounds; C011566:vinyl acetate
keywords: fabrication method; mouthguard; thickness; vacuum-pressure former