Fabrication of Mouthguard Using Digital Technology

Abstract

Background: Frequent re-fabrication of sports Mouthguards (MGs) due to breakage, loss, etc., causes reimpression taking and model storage problems. Problems with reproduction accuracy also occur because of thickness differences resulting from a variety of effects during fabrication. Therefore, we suspected that an MG with a high level of reproduction accuracy can be fabricated through digital technology to solve these problems. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether high elastic rubber MG can be manufactured using a 3D printer and its accuracy. Materials and Methods: In this study, the same ready-made plaster model was used as the master model. We used a dental scanner to scan a plaster model, and obtained an STL data of the plaster model. Then, we used software to design an MG which has 2.5 mm thickness onto the STL data, and fabricated high-elastic silicone rubber MGs (Digital-MGs) using a 3D printer. We made Conventional Mouthguards (CMGs) which were made from 4 mm thickness EVA sheet as controls. We measured the thickness of the left and right medial-tooth labial side and occlusal surface, first molar buccal side, and occlusal surface, totaling eight places. Each thickness was expressed as mean ± standard deviation (mean ± SD) and statistical analysis carried out in each group. Results: The result of measurement was 2.49 ± 0.22 mm in CMGs group, 2.51 ± 0.04 mm in Digital-MG group. We found area-specific significant differences in the CMGs group, but there was no difference in the Digital-MG group. Digital-MGs were shaped as designed. Discussion and Conclusion: Due to the problem of model storage and re-impression, application of digital technology such as optical impression and 3D printer to MG fabrication is considered to be useful, and it seems that there is no problem with fabrication accuracy. We believe this will enable the fabrication of MGs with high reproducibility and lead to greater accuracy in MG research.