An acrylic dental protector in peroral endoscopy

Area of Science:

• Dental prosthetics
• Gastroenterology
• Medical devices

Background:

• Peroral endoscopy carries a risk of dental injury, particularly for patients with specific dental conditions.
• Existing protective measures may not be suitable for all at-risk individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a simple acrylic dental prosthesis for protecting upper dentition during peroral endoscopy.
• To identify patient subgroups who would benefit most from this protective device.

Main Methods:

• Development and application of a custom-molded acrylic dental prosthesis.
• Pre-operative preparation of the prosthesis for selected endoscopy patients.

Main Results:

• The acrylic prosthesis demonstrated successful dental protection in at-risk patients.
• Approximately 10% of endoscopy patients received this custom prosthesis, while 25% used commercial guards.

Conclusions:

• A simple acrylic dental prosthesis offers a viable solution for dental protection during peroral endoscopy.
• This custom prosthesis is particularly warranted for patients with prominent incisors, loose teeth, or extensive restorative work.