Cost-effective dental protection during rigid endoscopy.

Area of Science:

• Dental materials science
• Biomaterials engineering
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Traditional dental guards are often soft, limiting their ability to effectively distribute occlusal forces.
• Existing fabrication methods can be time-consuming and require specialized equipment or multiple patient appointments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a straightforward, cost-effective method for fabricating a reusable and customizable dental guard.
• To develop a rigid dental guard capable of superior force distribution compared to soft alternatives.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing readily available materials for guard construction.
• Implementing a fabrication process that minimizes additional patient chair time and operative procedures.

Main Results:

• Successful creation of a rigid dental guard with customizable features.
• Demonstrated ability of the rigid guard to distribute force effectively over adjacent teeth.

Conclusions:

• The described method offers a practical and efficient approach to dental guard fabrication.
• The developed rigid dental guard provides enhanced force distribution, potentially improving therapeutic outcomes and patient comfort.