Characterization of Mouthguard Materials: Thermal Properties of Commercialized Products
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2009
Department
Human Performance and Recreation
Abstract
Objectives. Several mechanisms have been purported to describe how mouthguards protect the orofacial complex against injury. As the properties needed for these mechanisms to be effective are temperature and frequency dependent, the specific aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive thermal characterization of commercial mouthguard materials. Methods. Five commercially representative thermoplastic mouthguard materials (Essix(TM) Resin, Erkoflex(TM), Proform(TM)-regular, Proform(TM)-laminate, and Polyshok(TM)) were tested. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) techniques were implemented to measure thermal transitions and mechanical properties. Measurements were conducted three times per sample. One-way ANOVA and one-sample t-tests were used to test for differences between commercial products on selected mean thermal property values. Results. The DSC measurements indicated no differences between commercial materials for mean glass transition (p = 0.053), onset melt (p = 0.973), or peak melt (p = 0.436) temperatures. Likewise, DMA measurements revealed no differences between commercial materials for the mean glass transition (p = 0.093), storage modulus (p = 0.257), or loss modulus (p = 0.172) properties, respectively. The one-sample t-tests revealed that glass transition temperatures were different from intra-oral temperature (p < 0.005) for all materials. Significance. Commercialized mouthguard materials are sensitive to repetitive heating and cooling cycles, prolonged thermal treatment, and have glass transitions well below their end-use intra-oral temperature. As such, these materials are functioning as elastomers and not optimal mechanical damping materials. Dental clinicians, healthcare practitioners, or end-users should be aware that these materials are at best problematic with respect to this protective mechanism. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Academy of Dental Materials.
Publication Title
Dental Materials
Volume
25
Issue
12
First Page
1593
Last Page
1602
Recommended Citation
Gould, T. E.,
Piland, S. G.,
Shin, J.,
McNair, O.,
Hoyle, C. E.,
Nazarenko, S.
(2009). Characterization of Mouthguard Materials: Thermal Properties of Commercialized Products. Dental Materials, 25(12), 1593-1602.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/1375