Satisfaction With the Custom-Fitted Mouthguards Among Basketball Players

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the satisfaction level of basketball players on the custom-fitted mouthguards made of two different materials.

Methods: A total of 30 basketball players (average age 24,2) participated in this 12 month period study and were divided into two groups. In the first group of players who used a methyl-methacrylate (acrylic) mouthguard for 6 months and second group were ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) mouthguard for the same period. For the remaining 6 month of the study, first group used EVA and second group were used acrylic mouth guards. Using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) questionnaire factors such as comfort, ability to talk and to breathe, nausea, stability, oral dryness and bulkiness were evaluated. Data of first week and sixth month were recorded. One-way ANOVA, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U-Test were performed for statistical analyses.

Results: There was no significant difference in the level of satisfaction on comfort, ability to talk and to breathe, nausea, oral dryness and bulkiness between EVA and acrylic mouthguards regardless of the time factor (p>0,05). Acrylic mouthguards were significantly more stable than the EVA mouthguards (p<0,01). For both materials, no significant difference was observed between the first week and sixth month in terms of stability and ability to talk (p>0,05). Comfort, ability to breathe, nausea, oral dryness and bulkiness demonstrated better satisfaction levels in the sixth month (p<0,05).

Conclusions: Both acrylic and EVA mouthguards displayed similar satisfaction overall but stability might be a motive to prefer acrylic mouthguards.