A protocol for customization of protective mouth guards for athletes undergoing strenuous exercise

Aim: to develop a protocol for customization of protective mouth guards for athletes undergoing strenuous exercise and to provide substantiation for the protocol being developed. Materials and methods. We analyzed clinical data and findings obtained from a dynamic follow-up of 50 light heavyweight (74-87 kg) males (age range 25-44). The participants were divided into 2 groups based on the method used for fabricating protective mouth guards. In the first group, the protective mouth guard was fabricated using a vacuum-forming technique with the mandible being in the centric occlusion. In the second group, a custom vacuum formed protective mouth guard was used and the bioelectrical activity of the masticatory muscles and the position of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) were evaluated. Results. We evaluated the efficacy of protective mouth guards in athletes of the first group and found a reduction in the bioelectrical activity of masticatory muscles with insignificant variations. In the athletes of the second group, the function of the masticatory and temporal muscles was balanced, the muscle electrical activity was stabilized and muscular synchrony was achieved after mouth guard wear. Conclusion. A protocol for customization of protective mouth guards for athletes undergoing strenuous exercise was developed. Our findings show that wearing custom-made mouth guards during strenuous exercise plays a role in regulating bioelectrical activity and maintaining the synchrony of masticatory muscles which is confirmed by electromyography (EMG) of masticatory and temporal muscles and computed tomography of the TMJ.