April 09, 2004

By: Rachel Zelmer
Website: http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com

Dental Mouth Prop – Making Dental Work More Comfortable

An innovative dental mouth prop from Specialized Care Company is helping dental professionals to more effectively perform everyday oral hygiene procedures. The company’s Open Wide Wraparound Mouth Prop, a modern concept in helping dentists features a wedge-shaped design made from Santoprene thermoplastic vulcanizate.

The mouth prop is especially useful when working with children and patients who have difficulty keeping their mouths open wide and steady during a procedure. The part of the mouth prop that is placed in between the patient’s teeth is made with an FDA-approved, 80 Shore A durometer of Santoprene TPV from Advanced Elastomer Systems, affiliate of ExxonMobil Chemical.

This soft, rubber-like material offers enhanced comfort for the patient compared with rigid mouth props. In addition, the component is molded with ridges that provide a stable resting area for the patient’s teeth. It also features a built-in saliva ejector holder to keep the instrument in place without additional assistance. They are available in small, medium and large sizes.

The Santoprene TPV is injection molded over a tough, rigid polypropylene core that enables the component to withstand clenching of the teeth. The Open Wide Wraparound Mouth Prop was developed and patented as a safe, effective and patient-friendly instrument to improve oral healthcare procedures, said Carolyn Fetter, President, Specialized Care.

The instrument’s patented, innovative design and Santoprene TPV/PP construction provides professionals with a high-quality, reusable dental product that facilitates the delivery of oral health services.

Another innovative feature of the mouth prop is a patented PP handle that curves away from the mouth. The handle enables the clinician to secure placement of the mouth prop while maintaining unobstructed access to the mouth; provides more stability than a mouth prop with no handle; and according to the company is more patient-friendly than a ratchet-type mouth prop. There are no metal parts in the instrument to get crushed or to interfere with radiology.

BurBak Companies, a custom injection molder and moldmaker in Wilton, N.H., manufactures the product for Specialized Care. BurBak specified Santoprene TPV due to the material’s ease of processing and colorability, as well as its ability to meet the strict application requirements. Santoprene TPV is an FDA-approved material, it is autoclavable (it can be heat sterilized), and it possesses the compression set standards required for this application.

Specialized Care also offers the Open Wide Tab Mouth Prop, made from the same materials and construction as the Wraparound, but with a small tab rather than the full handle. This alternative configuration is appropriate for sealant applications, for use with rubber dams, or to provide comfort for long-duration dental procedures.

Author Notes:

Rachel Zelmer contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com.  Everything you need to know to get a whiter, brighter smile!