A dental splint for use during peroral endoscopy.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Dental Medicine
• Medical Device Innovation

Background:

• Peroral endoscopy is a common diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.
• Dental damage is a recognized, albeit infrequent, complication of peroral endoscopy.
• Existing preventative measures for dental trauma during endoscopy are limited.

Observation:

• A specific case highlighted potentially fatal complications arising from dental damage during peroral endoscopy.
• This critical event underscored the need for improved methods to protect teeth during the procedure.
• The severity of the observed complications prompted innovation in protective dental devices.

Findings:

• A novel dental splint was designed and developed specifically to mitigate the risk of tooth damage during peroral endoscopy.
• The splint is described in detail, outlining its design features and mechanism of action.
• Evidence supports the beneficial outcomes of using this dental splint in preventing endoscopic dental trauma.

Implications:

• The developed dental splint offers a promising solution for preventing a known complication of peroral endoscopy.
• Wider adoption of this device could reduce the incidence of dental injury and associated severe complications.
• This innovation highlights the potential for targeted device development to enhance patient safety in endoscopic procedures.