Abstract
Purpose: We focused on the application possibility of silicone rubber and acrylic resin, which aren't subject to thermal deformation compared to mouthguard material. The purpose of this study was to compare the transmitted impact force through supplied mouthguard material, silicone rubber material and acrylic resin material.
Methods: Six materials were selected, which were two mouthguard materials MG1, MG2, two silicone rubber materials SL1, SL2, and two acrylic resin materials RE1, RE2. The impact force was produced by a free-falling steel ball (13.8 gf, 15 mm diameter) from a height of 600 mm. The first peak intensity (P1) and the time to P1 from the onset of the transmitted force (P1-t) were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Scheffe's multiple comparison test (p < 0.05).
Results: There were significant differences, which were RE1 ≈ RE2 > SL1 > MG1 ≈ MG2 > SL2 on comparison of P1, and RE1 ≈ RE2 < SL1 ≈ MG2 ≈ MG1 < SL2 on comparison of P1-t.
Conclusion: In comparison with supplied mouthguard materials, the shock absorption ability of SL1 might be slightly low, and that of SL2 might be high. Moreover, those of the acrylic resin materials were poor, which indicates that it is problematic to use them alone as a mouthguard material.
