Appliance to protect maxillary teeth and palate during endoscopy

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Medical Devices
• Endoscopy

Background:

• Endoscopic procedures pose a risk of trauma to maxillary teeth and oral mucosa.
• Existing protective appliances are often inadequate, leading to poor acceptance and potential patient injury.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel, easily fabricated dental appliance for protecting teeth and oral structures during endoscopy.

Main Methods:

• The protective appliance was created using conventional dental technology.
• Its design focuses on adequate strength, retentiveness, and unobtrusiveness for endoscopists.
• An initial trial involved approximately 25 patients undergoing endoscopic procedures.

Main Results:

• The appliance demonstrated adequate strength to prevent tooth fracture and displacement.
• It was found to be retentive, unobstructive, reusable, and cost-effective.
• No injuries to teeth or oral mucosa were reported in the initial patient group.
• The device received positive acceptance from otolaryngology and anesthesia staff.

Conclusions:

• The developed dental appliance offers effective protection during endoscopy.
• It addresses limitations of previous devices, showing high patient and staff acceptance.
• Further prospective studies are planned to confirm its clinical utility.