Methods: Several infantry units in the Israel Defense Forces distributed maxillary boil-and-bite mouthguards to their recruits. Target companies from these battalions and from similar battalions (comparison group - mouthguards not supplied), were selected. Soldiers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Of the 630 male participants, 272 received a mouthguard and 358 served as the comparison group.
Results: No differences were found between groups regarding demographic parameters or overall trauma cases. When compliance to a free-of-charge distributed boil-and-bite mouthguard was assessed, 93 (34.2%) participants reported using the mouthguard during sport activities. Compliance was high for martial arts, but low for other sports. Although the number of self-reported sport-related oral/dental trauma cases was similar between mouthguard users and non-users, the users group showed less severe injuries but a higher incidence of peri-oral soft tissue lacerations.
Conclusion: Users of the free-of-charge distributed boil-and-bite mouthguard had less severe dental trauma. However, this free distribution to young amateur sportsmen does not affect oral and dental trauma unless accompanied by education and motivation.