title: Characterization of mouthguards: Impact performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is difficult to characterize the impact behavior of mouthguards on the basis of their components. Impact behavior tests should be performed on mouthguard formed to simulate their intra-oral performance. The aim of this study was to compare the impact behavior of six models of mouthguards using a standardized experimental protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four commercially available mouth-formed mouthguards (SDI™, Gel Nano™, Opro Shield Gold™ and Kipsta R300™), one mouth-formed mouthguard prototype and one custom-made mouthguard were tested. The procedures recommended by the manufacturers (injecting procedure for custom-made mouthguard and "boil-and-bite" procedures for mouth-formed mouthguards) were used to adapt five samples per model on steel jaws. Impact performances were assessed according to labial aspect thickness and maximum contact load (FMax) during impact using a drop tower.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SDI™ and Opro Shield Gold™ had the thinnest labial aspect thickness (P<.01), followed by the Gel Nano™ and the Kipsta R300™ (P<.01) with a thickness of about 3 mm. The prototype and custom-made mouthguard were thicker (almost 4 mm). The custom-made mouthguard, the Kipsta R300™ and the prototype had the best impact performances, but the labial aspect thickness of the Kipsta R300™ was significantly lower than that of the custom-made mouthguard and the prototype. Analysis of force curves and position of the mouthguard on the impacted zone showed that the Kipsta R300™ was less well adapted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thickness and impact performance are not sufficient criteria to characterize performance of mouthguards.
authors.affiliation: I2M-DuMAS UMR 5295 CNRS, Arts et Métiers ParisTech, Talence, France.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guérard
authors.affiliation: I2M-DuMAS UMR 5295 CNRS, Arts et Métiers ParisTech, Talence, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Barou
authors.affiliation: EA 4136 Handicap, Activity, Cognition, Health, University of Bordeaux, Talence Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.affiliation: EA 4136 Handicap, Activity, Cognition, Health, University of Bordeaux, Talence Cedex, France.|Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Xavier Arnozan Hospital, CHU of Bordeaux, Pessac Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7674-3789
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poisson
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D009064:Mouth Protectors
keywords: impact behavior; polymer structure; polyvinylacetate polyethylene copolymers; standardization