Effect of Hard Labial Reinforcement of a Mouthguard on the Degree of Satisfaction Among Rugby Players

This study assesses the effect of incorporating a hard labial layer to the front zone of a custom-made mouthguard on the degree of satisfaction of rugby players. Twenty-four rugby players will wear a custom-made Bioplast Xtreme conventional mouthguard (Bioplast Xtreme 4 × 125 + Bioplast 2 x 125; Scheu-Dental Company) and a custom-made Bioplast Xtreme Pro mouthguard (Bioplast Xtreme 4mm × 125 + Duran Layer 0.75mm; Bioplast 2mm x 125), two weeks per mouthguard. They will wear it during training sessions and competitions. The sequence will be randomized for one-half of the participants to start wearing the Bioplast Xtreme conventional and the other half the Bioplast Xtreme Pro mouthguard the first week. The participants will rate the degree of interference with oral functions or discomfort in reference to speeking, breathing, swallowing, gag reflex, tight or loose fitting, aesthetics and athletic performance, in a 10-point scale, considering 0 no discomfort/interference and 10 maximum discomfort/interference. After each session, players will also rate the perception of the protection, the degree of improvement on athletic performance and the degree of satisfaction in a 10-point scale, considering 0 no protection/satisfaction and 10 maximum protection/satisfaction.