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Nasrollahzadeh N, Pioletti DP, Broome M. Design of Customized Mouthguards with Superior Protection Using Digital-Based Technologies and Impact Tests. SPORTS MEDICINE - OPEN 2024; 10:64. [PMID: 38816564 PMCID: PMC11139839 DOI: 10.1186/s40798-024-00728-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In contact sports, an impact on the jaw can generate destructive stress on the tooth-bone system. Mouthguards can be beneficial in reducing the injury risk by changing the dynamics of the trauma. The material properties of mouthguards and their geometrical/structural attributes influence their protective performance. Custom-made mouthguards are the gold standard, and different configurations have been proposed to improve their protection and comfort. However, the effects of different design variables on the performance of customized mouthguards are not well understood. RESULTS Herein, we developed a reliable finite element model to analyze contributing factors to the design of custom-made mouthguards. Accordingly, we evaluated the isolated and combined effect of layers' stiffness, thickness, and space inclusion on the protective capability of customized mouthguards. Our simulations revealed that a harder frontal region could distribute load and absorb impact energy through bending if optimally combined with a space inclusion. Moreover, a softer layer could enlarge the time of impact and absorb its energy by compression. We also showed that mouthguards present similar protection with either permanently bonded or mechanically interlocked components. We 3D-printed different mouthguards with commercial resins and performed impact tests to experimentally validate our simulation findings. The impact tests on the fabricated mouthguards used in this work revealed that significantly higher dental protection could be achieved with 3D-printed configurations than conventionally fabricated customized mouthguards. In particular, the strain on the impacted incisor was attenuated around 50% more with a 3D-printed mouthguard incorporating a hard insert and space in the frontal region than a conventional Playsafe® Heavypro mouthguard. CONCLUSIONS The protective performance of a mouthguard could be maximized by optimizing its structural and material properties to reduce the risk of sport-related dental injuries. Combining finite element simulations, additive manufacturing, and impact tests provides an efficient workflow for developing functional mouthguards with higher protectiveness and athlete comfort. We envision the future with 3d-printed custom-mouthguards presenting distinct attributes in different regions that are personalized by the user based on the sport and associated harshness of the impact incidences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naser Nasrollahzadeh
- Division of Oral & Maxillofacial surgery, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and Lausanne University, Rue du Bugnon 44, Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Biomechanical Orthopedics, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dominique P Pioletti
- Laboratory of Biomechanical Orthopedics, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Martin Broome
- Division of Oral & Maxillofacial surgery, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and Lausanne University, Rue du Bugnon 44, Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland.
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Togo S, Sakaue T, Tsutsui A, Matsuda Y, Nakajima K, Takeda T, Fukuda K, Vallittu P, Lassila L. Effect of Vinyl Acetate, Glass Fibers Contents, and Buffer Space on EVA's Mechanical Property and Shock Absorption Ability. Eur J Dent 2024. [PMID: 38744336 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1779427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to evaluate the mechanical properties and impact absorption capacity of prototype materials comprising ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) of different hardness reinforced using different amounts of glass fibers (GFs), considering a buffer space. MATERIALS AND METHODS Six prototype materials were made by adding E-GFs (5 and 10 wt%) to EVA with vinyl acetate (VA) contents of 9.4 wt% ("hard" or HA) and 27.5 wt% ("soft" or SO). Durometer hardness and tensile strength tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of the materials. Moreover, an impact test was conducted using a customized pendulum impact tester to assess the impact absorption capacity (with or without a buffer space) of the specimens. RESULTS The mechanical properties of the prototypes, namely, durometer hardness, Young's modulus, and tensile strength, were significantly higher in the HA group than in the SO group, regardless of the presence or added amount of GFs. The addition of GFs, particularly in a large amount (10 wt%), significantly increased these values. In terms of the impact absorption capacity, the original hardness of the EVA material, that is, its VA content, had a more substantial effect than the presence or absence of GFs and the added amount of GFs. Interestingly, the HA specimens with the buffer space exhibited significantly higher impact absorption capacities than the SO specimens. Meanwhile, the SO specimens without the buffer space exhibited significantly higher impact absorption capacities than the HA specimens. Moreover, regardless of the sample material and impact distance, the buffer space significantly improved impact absorption. In particular, with the buffer space, the impact absorption capacity increased with the added amount of GFs. CONCLUSION The basic mechanical properties, including durometer hardness, Young's modulus, and tensile strength, of the EVA prototype were significantly increased by reducing the amount of VA regardless of the presence or added amount of GFs. Adding GFs, particularly in large amounts, significantly increased the values of aforementioned mechanical properties. Impact absorption was significantly affected by the hardness of the original EVA material and enhanced by the addition of the buffer space. The HA specimen had a high shock absorption capacity with the buffer space, and the SO specimen had a high shock absorption capacity without the buffer space. With the buffer space, impact absorption improved with the amount of added GFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Togo
- Division of Sports, Department of Oral Health and Clinical Science, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Sakaue
- Division of Sports, Department of Oral Health and Clinical Science, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Arata Tsutsui
- Division of Sports, Department of Oral Health and Clinical Science, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Matsuda
- Division of Sports, Department of Oral Health and Clinical Science, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunori Nakajima
- Division of Sports, Department of Oral Health and Clinical Science, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomotaka Takeda
- Division of Sports, Department of Oral Health and Clinical Science, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenichi Fukuda
- Division of Special Needs Dentistry and Orofacial Pain, Department of Oral Health and Clinical Science, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Pekka Vallittu
- Department of Biomaterials Science and TCBC, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Lippo Lassila
- Department of Biomaterials Science and TCBC, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Mańka-Malara K, Szerszeń M, Górski B, Tanabe G, Ueno T, Mierzwińska-Nastalska E. Disinfection and Isotonic Drinks' Influence on Hardness and Color Stability of Ethylene-Vinyl-Acetate Copolymer Mouthguards Used in Martial Arts: An In Vitro Study. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15081822. [PMID: 37111969 PMCID: PMC10146693 DOI: 10.3390/polym15081822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the hardness and color change of an ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymer (EVA) material for mouthguards after exposition to different cleaning agent solutions and isotonic drinks. Four hundred samples were prepared and divided into four equinumerous groups (n = 100), in which there were 25 samples from each color of EVA (red, green, blue and white). The hardness, using the digital durometer, and the color coordinates (CIE L*a*b*), using the digital colorimeter, were measured before the first exposition and after 3 months of exposition to spray disinfection and incubation in the oral cavity temperature, or immersion in isotonic drinks. The values of Shore A hardness (HA) and color change (ΔE-calculated by Euclidean distance) were statistically analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, multiple comparison ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis and appropriate post-hoc tests. Statistically significant changes in color and hardness between the tested groups were demonstrated after the use of agents predestined for disinfecting the surface of mouthguards on the tested samples. There were no statistically significant differences in color and hardness between the groups immersed in isotonic sport drinks potentially consumed by competitors practicing combat sports using mouthguards. Despite the changes in color and hardness after the use of disinfectants, the deviations were minor and limited to specific colors of the EVA plates. The intake of isotonic drinks practically did not change either the color or the hardness of the samples, regardless of the tested color of the EVA plates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcin Szerszeń
- Department of Prosthodontics, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartłomiej Górski
- Department of Periodontal and Oral Mucosa Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Gen Tanabe
- Department of Sports Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 113-8510, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Ueno
- Department of Sports Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 113-8510, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Sports Dentistry, Meikai University School of Dentistry, 350-0248, Saitama, Japan
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Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of 3D-Printed Polymeric Materials for Possible Application in Mouthguards. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15040898. [PMID: 36850182 PMCID: PMC9964375 DOI: 10.3390/polym15040898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Custom mouthguards are used in various sports disciplines as a protection for teeth, temporomandibular joints, and soft tissues of the oral cavity from impact forces. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the mechanical properties of flexible polymeric 3D-printable materials and to select a material with the most favourable physical properties for making intraoral protectors. Four 3D-printable polymeric materials were selected for the evaluation: IMPRIMO LC IBT (Scheu-Dental, Iserlohn, Germany), Keyortho IBT (EnvisionTEC, Gladbeck, Germany), IBT (Formlabs, Somerville, MA, USA), and Ortho IBT (NextDent, Utrecht, Netherlands). A total of 176 samples (44 from each material) was 3D-printed using the stereolitography (SLA) technique. Tensile strength, flexural strength, notch-toughness, Shore hardness, sorption, and solubility tests were conducted. The materials were compared using a series of analyses of variance (one-way ANOVA) with Bonferroni post hoc tests. Statistical analyses were performed with the use of IBM SPSS Statistics 28.0.0 software (IBM, New York, NY, USA). Each material was assigned a score from 1 to 4 depending on the individual test results, and tests were given indexes according to the significance of the parameter in the mouthguard protective function. The number of points obtained by each material in each test was then multiplied by the test index, and the results were tabulated. The material with the highest result among the ones studied-most suitable for the application in mouthguard fabrication-was Keyortho IBT from EnvisionTEC.
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Unkovskiy A, Huettig F, Kraemer-Fernandez P, Spintzyk S. Multi-Material 3D Printing of a Customized Sports Mouth Guard: Proof-of-Concept Clinical Case. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312762. [PMID: 34886486 PMCID: PMC8657614 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
A multilayer mouth guard is known to have the best protective performance. However, its manufacturing in a digital workflow may be challenging with regards to virtual design and materialization. The present case demonstrates a pathway to fabricate a multilayer individualized mouth guard in a fully digital workflow, which starts with intraoral scanning. A free-form CAD software was used for the virtual design. Two various CAM techniques were used, including Polyjet 3D printing of rubber-like soft material and silicone printing using Drop-on-Demand technique. For both methods the outer layer was manufactured from more rigid materials to facilitate its protective function; the inner layer was printed from a softer material to aid a better adaptation to mucosa and teeth. Both 3D printed multilayer mouth guards showed a clinically acceptable fit and were met with patient appraisal. Their protective capacities must be evaluated in further clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Unkovskiy
- Department of Prosthodontics, Geriatric Dentistry and Craniomandibular Disorders, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt—Universität zu Berlin, 14197 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Prosthodontics, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence:
| | - Fabian Huettig
- Department of Prosthodontics at the Centre of Dentistry, Oral Medicine, and Maxillofacial Surgery with Dental School, Tuebingen University Hospital, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (F.H.); (P.K.-F.)
| | - Pablo Kraemer-Fernandez
- Department of Prosthodontics at the Centre of Dentistry, Oral Medicine, and Maxillofacial Surgery with Dental School, Tuebingen University Hospital, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (F.H.); (P.K.-F.)
| | - Sebastian Spintzyk
- Section Medical Materials Science and Technology, Tuebingen University Hospital, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany;
- ADMiRE Lab—Additive Manufacturing, Intelligent Robotics, Sensors and Engineering, School of Engineering and IT, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, 9800 Villach, Austria
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Aung TK, Churei H, Tanabe G, Kinjo R, Togawa K, Li C, Tsuchida Y, Tun PS, Hlaing S, Takahashi H, Ueno T. Air Permeability, Shock Absorption Ability, and Flexural Strength of 3D-Printed Perforated ABS Polymer Sheets with 3D-Knitted Fabric Cushioning for Sports Face Guard Applications. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13111879. [PMID: 34198902 PMCID: PMC8201100 DOI: 10.3390/polym13111879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Sports face guards (FGs) are devices that protect athletes from maxillofacial injury or ensure rapid return to play following orofacial damage. Conventional FGs are uncomfortable to wear owing to stuffiness caused by poor ventilation and often slip off due to increase in weight due to absorption of moisture from perspiration, lowering players’ performance. Herein, combinations of 3D-printed perforated acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer sheets and 3D-knitted fabrics with honeycomb structures as cushioning materials were investigated to balance better wearing feel and mechanical properties. The flexural strength, weight, and shock absorption ability of, and air flow rate through, the ABS sheets with five different perforation patterns were evaluated and compared with those of conventional FG materials comprising a combination of polycaprolactone sheets for the medical splint and polychloroprene rubber for the cushioning material. The ABS sheets having 10% open area and 2.52 mm round holes, combined with knitted fabric cushioning, exhibited the requisite shock absorbing, higher air permeability, and lower weight properties than the conventional materials. Our results suggest that FGs fabricated using combinations of 3D-printed perforated ABS polymer sheets and 3D-knitted fabrics with honeycomb structures may impart enhanced wearing comfort for athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thet Khaing Aung
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
| | - Hiroshi Churei
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
| | - Gen Tanabe
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
- Department of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan
| | - Rio Kinjo
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
| | - Kaito Togawa
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
| | - Chenyuan Li
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
| | - Yumi Tsuchida
- Department of Oral Biomaterials Engineering, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (Y.T.); (H.T.)
| | - Phyu Sin Tun
- Moe Myitta Dental Clinic, No.117, Corner of 26th x 76th Street, Chaayetharsan Township, Mandalay 05024, Myanmar;
| | - Shwe Hlaing
- Department of Prosthodontics, The University of Dental Medicine, Mandalay, 62nd Street, Chan Mya Thazi Township, Mandalay 05041, Myanmar;
| | - Hidekazu Takahashi
- Department of Oral Biomaterials Engineering, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (Y.T.); (H.T.)
| | - Toshiaki Ueno
- Department of Sports Medicine/Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; (T.K.A.); (H.C.); (G.T.); (R.K.); (K.T.); (C.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-03-5803-5867
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