Mouthstick prostheses and other gadgets

Patients who are physically disabled often face immense problems coping with the simple tasks of everyday life. These problems are particularly acute in those patients who have lost the use of their hands or have only restricted hand use. Their ability to work, study or to participate in leisure activities may be severely impaired. This article describes how the dentist may be able to mitigate the effects of restricted hand use by constructing a variety of tools and gadgets designed to help some of these patients lead a more normal life and reduce their reliance on others.