The effect of the simulated aging by thermocycling on the elastic modulus of ethylene-vinyl acetate brands and stress/strain development during an impact: An in vitro and 3D-FEA analysis.

Background/aim: Mouthguards are used to prevent dental trauma and orofacial injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) aging by thermocycling on elastic modulus, stress, strain and shock absorption ability of different ethylene-vinyl acetate brands used for mouthguards.

Methods: Thirty EVA samples with a dimension of 70 × 10 × 3 mm were obtained from four commercial brands (Bioart®, Erkodent®, Polyshok® and Proform®).