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dela Cruz GG, Knapik JJ et al. Dent Traumatol 2008; 24: 86–90

In a US Army training camp, mouthguards were required for one type of activity (pugil stick) up to March 2001, and subsequently for 3 additional activities (unarmed combat, rifle and bayonet training, and obstacle course). Injury rates were compared for the 15 month period leading up to the change, the 6 months after, and the next 9 months.

In the 1st period, 82 orofacial injuries were sustained over 244,762 person-months, and an injury rate of 3.35 cases per 10,000 person-months was calculated. For the 2nd period, respective scores were 14 over 73,932 person-months and 1.89, and for the 3rd, 17 over 89,226, and 1.91. The relative risks of injury in the 1st period when compared with the 2nd and 3rd periods were 1.77 and 1.76 (both P < 0.05). The authors note the crucial role of drill sergeants in ensuring that mouthguards were worn when required!