Mouth Gags: Advantages and Disadvantages

Mouth gags have been in use since 1220 as a solution to the cumbersome limitations encountered when visibility and access to the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx are needed. The instruments being used today range from the simple but effective design of the bite block to the sophisticated and intricate design of the Feyh-Kastenbauer. This article highlights the most frequently used well-designed mouth gags and the applications for which they provide the most benefit. Disadvantages and risks of their use are explored, especially those that clinicians should be aware of for patient and operator safety.