EVA, silicone and PC: how the mouthguard materials differ
Compare the material, layer construction, dimensions and supporting reports for your chosen mouthguard. Ask for the specification and fitting instructions of the exact reference before requesting samples or printing packaging.
What changes the answer. The exact construction, controlled fitting instructions, proposed intended use and market.
The four materials, side by side
| Material | Where it is used | Moulds to the teeth | Feel | Ask for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) | Boil-and-bite trays for night guards, sports guards, anti-snoring trays, whitening trays | Follow the controlled fitting instructions for the exact reference | Soft to medium; thickness sets the bite feel | The heating instructions and supporting reports for the finished construction |
| Silicone | Guards worn as supplied, soft night guards, some whitening trays | No; the shape is fixed at moulding | Hardness and flexibility of the selected reference | Request the intended users and supporting assessment for the exact construction |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | Frames and adjustment components where the reference specifies PC | No; rigid | Hard, thin, holds a setting | Component materials and the permitted handling in the model-specific instructions |
| Dual-layer EVA | Night guards and sports guards where the reference specifies this construction | Yes; the inner layer moulds, the outer stays firm | Soft against the teeth, firm to bite on | The layer construction and its own fitting instructions |
Thickness bands
Ask for the thickness and measurement locations for each reference, then compare the sample with that specification. A thickness label is not a measure of suitability for a particular wearer. The thickness guide sets out the specification questions.
Hardness and durability
Ask which hardness scale and test method apply to the selected material, and request the measured value and acceptance range. Have durability reports assessed for the actual finished construction; a self-wear trial is not a substitute.
Odour, taste and colour
Request the material and colourant declarations, and record any odour or appearance question for the selected sample. Agree the acceptance criteria and supporting assessments before production. Tray colours in the range are stated per reference.
What a buyer asks for, per material
| Ask for | On | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Material declaration naming the polymer and the colourant | every reference | The first line of any material question from a retailer or a marketplace. |
| Biological evaluation and scoped biocompatibility testing | trays, frames and guards that sit against the mucosa | Have a qualified assessor set the assessment scope for the final finished article, processing and intended contact. |
| Extractables for EVA, or a food-contact-style declaration | EVA trays | Retailers in Europe and North America ask for it by habit, whether or not the product is a food-contact item. |
| Lead, phthalates and heavy metals | youth guards and cases | Children's-product rules in the United States and restricted-substance lists in retail. |
| A statement on restricted substances | every reference | Retailer and marketplace onboarding forms ask a single yes-or-no question and want the paper behind it. |
If new testing is needed, agree the scope, laboratory, report holder and cost before booking. The samples and testing page lists them, and the documents page sets out which documents to request and which business responsibilities apply.
Which material for which product
- Night guard: EVA on most references, silicone on XMD-NGD-004; ask for the material, thickness, size and controlled fitting instructions of the reference.
- Sports guard: boil-and-bite EVA, as on XMD-SPT-001; ask for the construction and supporting reports for the proposed protection claim.
- Anti-snoring mouthpiece, adjustable: rigid frame with EVA trays; ask for the exact frame polymer and fitting instructions.
- Anti-snoring mouthpiece, fixed: a one-piece EVA tray with a set lower-jaw position.
- Whitening tray: thin EVA, moulded so the gel stays on the teeth; silicone where a one-size tray is wanted.
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Or write to sales@xinmeidaoralcare.com.
Notes
Test reports. For any requested test report, confirm whether an existing report covers the exact material, scope and holder, and whether it may be shared or relied on.