Mouth

protctor

George

far an dmtwfous

J. Barankovich,

patient

D.D.S.*

School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.

M

outh protectors are usually fabricated for patients with natural teeth. However, this article describes a technique of making a mouth protector for an edentulous patient. The prosthesis adequately prevents injuries that could cause fractures of the jaws or a concussion to the brain.

TECHNMUE

Preliminary

procedures.

( 1) Prepare the maxillae and mandible ventional dentures. (2) Construct maxillary and mandibular

surgically dentures

for the fabrication in the customary

of con-

manner.

Fabrication of the vinyl bases. (1) Make upper and lower impressions using an irreversible hydrocolloid. (2) Pour artificial stone casts into the impressions. (3) Adapt soft vinyl resin bases? to the stone casts, and trim the bases to the border outline of the casts. (4) Adapt wax occlusion rims to the soft vinyl resin bases. (5) Establish the correct vertical dimension of ocdusion, and record centric relation. (6) Mount the casts on an adjustable articulator using a face-bow transfer and the centric relation record (Fig. 1) (7) Remove the wax rims from the vinyl resin bases, and replace them with vinyl rims.

Making the vinyl rims.f (1) Soften the vinyl resin rims in boiling water. (2) Mold the softened vinyl resin rim to the form of a \vax occlusion rim. (3) Heat the vinyl rim with an alcohol torch. The alcohol torch minimizes carbon collection and its adherence to the rim and resin. (4) Use xylenei as a solvent to contour and attach the vinyl resin rims to the *Associate

Professor and Clinical

Director,

fomnidental Corp., Chicago, Ill. SFisher Scientific, Chemical Division,

588

Department

Fairlawn,

pi. J.

of Prosthodontics.

goper ”

“5’

Fig. 1. Upper adapted. Fig. 2. Vinyl

Mouth

and lower

casts are mounted

resin occlusion

protector

for

on the articulator,

rims have been attached

Fig. 3. The vinyl

Fig. 4. The mouth occlusion.

protector

an edentulous

and soft vinyl

patient

589

resin bases are

to the resin bases.

resin bases are trimmed

is in place in the mouth

and polished.

at the established

vertical

relation

of

590

J. l’rosthet. Dent. Nowmbel, 1975

Barankouich

vinyl bases. The vinyl rims give the necessary rigidity to the otherwise unstable bases (Fig. 2). (5) Cut away lyz inches of the vinyl rims in the region of the maxillary incisors to form the necessary airway. (6) Remove all sharp edges on the bases and rims with the alcohol torch and solvent. (7) Polish the bases and rims with a flannel wheel and pumice (Fig. 3) . SUMMARY Upper and lower bases and occlusion rims are made of a soft vinyl plastic to form a mouth protector for an edentulous patient. In practical use, the patient can breathe more comfortably with the protectors in place (Fig. 4) than with dentures in the mouth. In addition, the prosthesis is an aid in the prevention of injury to the jaws and head. 715 S. AIKEN

AVE.

PITTSBURGH,

PA. 15232

ARTICLES TO APPEAR IN FUTURE ISSUES A study

of posterior

H. Nikoukari,

Prosthetic

D.D.S.,

palatal

impiiccltions

of Eagle’s

James D. Phillips,

D.M.D.,

Cranial

problems

Harold

implant

seals with

varying

palutal

syndrome

and A. H. Shawkat,

B.D.S., D.M.D.,

Adhesion

Accurate

of polycarboxylate

location

W. D. Schwarz,

cements

and relocation

B.D.S., M.D.Sc.,

to dental

cnsting

alloys

D.D.Sc.,

Hisafumi

Node,

of custs on articulators

and V. D. A. Gear

Cast arch bars used in orthognathic

surgery

S. Scott, D.D.S., and Athol L. FEW, D.D.S., M.D.

Application problems. WiIliam

M.Sc.

Sabin, D.D.S.

Chikaaki Saito, D.D.S., D.D.Sc., Yoshihiro Sakai, D.D.S., D.D.S., D.D.Sc., and Takao Fusayama, D.D.S., D.M.Sc.

Andrew

forms

M.Sc.(Lond.)

of “Cusp Part I and

R. Scott: D.D.S.

Writer” Part II

findings

to practical

ond theoretical

occlusal