Development of a technical aid for occlusal adjustment during dental treatment under general anesthesia

Background General anesthesia can increase the volume of the tongue. A large tongue between the upper and lower teeth may be a serious obstacle, especially for tapping during occlusal adjustments in prosthetic treatment. We developed a tongue retractor to eliminate interference by the tongue. This study assesses the effect of the tongue retractor on occlusal adjustment time and describes two patients in which the tongue retractor was used. Methods The study involved five patients and two dentists. Measurements were performed during occlusal adjustment of the molars. The time from when the dentist took hold of the articulating paper to the first tap was compared in situations with and without the tongue retractor. Results The mean occlusal adjustment time was significantly shorter (p <0.05) than without the tongue retractor for both dentist A and B in all patients. Conclusion Use of the tongue retractor considerably shortened occlusal adjustment times under general anesthesia. Clinical reports We have been using the tongue retractor in clinical practice for 7 years. Two individual patients are described. One was a 34-year-old woman with cerebral palsy who underwent full mouth reconstruction, consisting of prosthetic appliances (full cast crown and resin facing crown) for 26 teeth. The second was a 29-year-old man with Down’s syndrome who underwent adjustment of mandibular position by prosthetic treatment of molars.