Effects of Mouthguards on Skin Damage In Vitro Study

Abstract

Objective Mouthguards can prevent and reduce orofacial sports traumas, which occur to the players themselves. However, the effect of mouthguards on skin damage has not been clarified. The present study's purpose was to examine whether the mouthguard can reduce or prevent skin damage caused by teeth (including the difference in mouthguard thickness). Materials and Methods Pigskins, artificial teeth, and Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) mouthguard blanks with 1.5- and 3.0-mm thickness were employed. Each of the two type mouthguards was produced in 10 replicates. Mouthguard incisal thickness and collision touch angle were measured on a PC using imaging software. A pendulum-type machine was used to apply impact. Strain gauges attached to the tooth and impacted plate were used to measure mouthguards' effect on impact stress. Also, a microscope was used to observe the after impacted skin condition, and the extent of damage was assessed as a score. Results The pigskin was ruptured in without mouthguard (NOMG) with presenting the highest damage score, whereas the complete rupture was not seen in the 1.5 mm MG, but the damage of the skin (defeat) was observed. No tissue change was found with the 3 mmMG. In both the flat plate and impact tooth strain, no significant difference was observed between NOMG and 1.5 mmMG. However, 3 mmMG had a significantly smaller value than the other two conditions. These results are likely to be strongly influenced by the mouthguard incisal thicknesses and collision touch angles differences. Conclusion The present study results clarified that two different thickness mouthguards reduced the skin damage, and the thicker mouthguard showed more effectiveness. Therefore, mouthguards may prevent the wearer's stomatognathic system's trauma and avoid damage to the skin of other athletes they are playing with. This effect seems to be an essential basis for explaining the necessity of using mouthguards for others besides full-contact sports.

Biomechanical effects of a hard insert and air space in mouthguards on the shock absorption and protection against fractures of direct resin composite veneers from trauma

“…This study confirmed that the performance of the MTGs is material dependent 11,18,22–25 . The EVA copolymer used in this study demonstrated the ability to produce significant shock absorption as demonstrated in previous recent studies 3,46,47 . The elasticity of the material determines its energy absorption 32 .…”

“…11,18,[22][23][24][25] The EVA copolymer used in this study demonstrated the ability to produce significant shock absorption as demonstrated in previous recent studies. 3,46,47 The elasticity of the material determines its energy absorption. 32 If a material is too soft, the MTGs lose their protection qualities.…”

Head injuries caused by contact with teeth during sports and exercise activities in Japanese schools during the period 2012–2018

“…28 Athletes who did not wear mouthguards were found to have more injuries. 33 Recently, Saito et al 48 reported experimentally that the use of mouthguards contributes to the prevention and reduction of skin damage. Mouthguards seem to protect the wearer's teeth and prevent and reduce HICBT effectively.…”

“…51 More oral injuries were found to occur in individuals without mouthguards than appropriate custom-made mouthguard users according to a large-scale survey in Japan. 48 The absence of using appropriate mouthguards may be a contributing factor. Another major factor is the complete lack of mouthguards in school physical education classes (i.e., the regular school curriculum).…”

“…Furthermore, it is noteworthy that mouthguards are not uniform 51 . More oral injuries were found to occur in individuals without mouthguards than appropriate custom‐made mouthguard users according to a large‐scale survey in Japan 48 . The absence of using appropriate mouthguards may be a contributing factor.…”