Biomechanical Behavior Evaluation of a Novel Hybrid Occlusal Splint-mouthguard for Contact Sports: 3D-FEA

Abstract

Orofacial injuries are common occurrences during contact sports activities; however, there is an absence of data regarding the performance of hybrid occlusal splint mouthguards, especially during compressive loading. To evaluate the total deformation and stress concentration, a skull model was selected and duplicated to receive two different designs of mouthguard devices: one model received a conventional custom-made mouthguard (MG) with 4-mm thickness and the other received a novel hybrid occlusal splint-mouthguard (HMG) with the same thickness. Both models were subdivided into finite elements. The frictionless contacts were used, and a nonlinear analysis was performed simulating the compressive loading in occlusion. The results were presented in von-Mises stress maps (MPa) and Total Deformation (mm). A higher stress concentration in teeth was observed for the model with the conventional MG, while the HMG design displayed a promising mechanical response with lower stress magnitude. The HMG de-sign displayed a higher magnitude of stress on its occlusal portion than the MG design. The hybrid mouthguard (HMG) reduced (1) jaw displacement during chewing and (2) the generated stresses in maxil-lary and mandibular teeth.