by Sponsored: Awestruck Dental
The JawDropper Multi-Functioning Dental Device from Awestruck Dental
“Open wider, please!” Dentists and dental hygienists probably say that to their patients dozens of times a day. Every practitioner, and every patient, knows that holding the mouth open throughout a 45-minute appointment is uncomfortable, stressful, and for many, difficult to maintain even with a few short breaks. It can be especially painful for patients with temporomandibular disorders. The jaw muscles are some of the strongest in the body and they naturally want to bring the teeth and lower jaw back into occlusion. Numerous bite-block, mouthprop, and isolation devices have been developed to aid in keeping the mouth open, but they do not address the predilection of the jaw joint and muscles to resist being open for long periods, the associated muscle and joint fatigue, or the anxiety a patient may be struggling with just to keep the mouth open.
The JawDropper was invented by, Dr. Dick Fulton, a retired interventional radiologist and prolific inventor with numerous medical device creations. Dr. Fulton was experiencing difficulty keeping his own mouth open wide enough during a procedure at his dentist’s office.
As his jaw became fatigued, which resulted in reduced opening over the course of an appointment, it occurred to him to hook his index finger over his mandibular teeth and pull his lower jaw down. He found that he experienced greater comfort while helping to create a wider mouth opening.
This led Dr. Fulton to develop a tooth-engaging, plastic, wand-type of device that is shaped with a hook at one end to secure the lower teeth and a loop on the other end for the patient to grasp with an index finger or thumb. The patient can rest that arm on his or her chest and support it gently with the other arm during treatment. The original JawDropper attaches to slow speed suction, which enables the patient to control fluid evacuation as needed. The new 1.5 version, which can be preordered now, features an additional fluid evacuation attachment made of soft, pliable plastic that extends to the molar area, making it ideal for use during ultrasonic cleaning.
The benefits of patient control
The JawDropper offers an added benefit – the patient is in control of the device and more engaged in the procedure. This has been found in several studies and beta testing to reduce some of the pain and anxiety patients experience during their appointments. Participating in their comfort level gives them a sense of control that they are otherwise lacking in the dental chair. It feels less invasive and results in fewer breaks to relax the jaw. It also provides the dentist and hygienist with the “third hand” they really need and enables them to focus more on their tasks with better access and efficiency.
In terms of patient acceptance, using the disposable, multifunctional JawDropper during hygiene and appropriate dental procedures shows patients that the dental practice is taking forward measures to improve the practice and their customers’ experiences. It stands to reason that when patients are comfortable and have a more relaxed, positive experience, they are more likely to be receptive to future recommended treatments. Introducing patients to the JawDrop per during hygiene visits may increase case acceptance as well as patient retention.
