Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39460510›Full record

ArticleDental traumatology : official publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology2025

Impact Absorption Power of Polyolefin Fused Filament Fabrication 3D-Printed Sports Mouthguards: In Vitro Study.

Leonardo Mohamad Nassani, Samuel Storts, Irina Novopoltseva, Lauren Ann Place, Matthew Fogarty, Pete Schupska

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Dental traumatology : official publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Comparison of Shock Absorption Capacities of 3D-Printed Custom-Made Mouthguards: A Comparative In Vitro Study.Dental traumatology : official publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology · 2026
    Article
  2. Optimization of 3D Printing Parameters for the Production of Mouthguards.Dental traumatology : official publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology · 2026
    Article
  3. New Frontiers in Dental Traumatology: Innovation, Prevention, and Clinical Practice.Dental traumatology : official publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology · 2026
    Article
  4. Biomechanical Analysis of 3D Printed and Thermoformed EVA Custom-Made Mouthguard: Experimental and Finite Element Analyses.Dental traumatology : official publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology · 2026
    Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Leonardo Mohamad NassaniDivision of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, Ohio, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0908-6096
Samuel StortsCenter for Design and Manufacturing Excellence, The Ohio State University College of Engineering, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Irina NovopoltsevaDivision of Dental Hygiene, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Lauren Ann PlaceDivision of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Matthew FogartyDivision of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Pete SchupskaCenter for Design and Manufacturing Excellence, The Ohio State University College of Engineering, Columbus, Ohio, USA.ORCID 0009-0003-7329-3318

Funding

Academy for Sports Dentistry
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

aimThis study aims to evaluate and compare the impact absorption capacities of thermoformed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) mouthguards and 3D-printed polyolefin mouthguards used in sports dentistry applications. The objective is to determine whether 3D-printed polyolefin mouthguards offer superior impact toughness compared to traditional EVA mouthguards commonly used in sports settings. MATERIALS AND

methodsSix material samples were assessed: five pressure-formed EVA mouthguards (PolyShok, Buffalo Dental, Erkoflex, Proform, and Drufosoft) and one 3D-printed synthetic polymer (polyolefin). The materials were evaluated using a modified American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D256 Test Method A for Izod pendulum impact resistance of plastics. Polyolefin samples were 3D-printed using fused filament fabrication (FFF) technology. Notably, the FFF process included samples printed with notches placed either parallel or perpendicular to the build direction. This orientation served as a study factor, allowing for comparison of material behavior under different printing conditions. Impact testing was conducted using an Izod impact tester to assess the materials' performance under controlled impact conditions.

resultsThe study achieved a high power (1.0) in power analysis, indicating strong sensitivity to detect significant differences. Among molded materials, PolyShok showed significantly lower impact toughness compared to others (p = 0.06). The mean impact absorption of EVA materials was 5.4 ± 0.3 kJ/m

conclusions3D-printed polyolefin mouthguards exhibited significantly higher impact toughness than thermoformed EVA mouthguards. While EVA materials demonstrated structural robustness, their lower impact resistance and observed tearing in other test specimens suggest the need for alternative testing standards to better reflect real-world conditions. 3D-printed mouthguards fabricated with build orientations perpendicular to the direction of impact demonstrate significantly enhanced impact absorption. Further research into manufacturing methods and testing protocols is recommended to optimize mouthguard performance under impact scenarios.

Indexed as

Mouth ProtectorsPolyenesPolyvinylsPrinting, Three-DimensionalSports EquipmentEquipment DesignHumansIn Vitro TechniquesMaterials Testingethylenevinylacetate copolymerPL 732PolyenesPolyvinylsadditive manufacturingathlete safetyimpact absorptionmouthguardorofacial injuriespolyolefin

Identifiers

PMID39460510
PMCPMC11907222

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.