• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.20-23
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• 2010

Mouthguards were used to protect boxers from lip lacerations and other soft tissue injuries in the late 19th century. Now they are used various parts of dental treatment, which are sports protective aid, bleaching tray, orthodontic retainer, implant insertion guide tray, splint and so on. Repeated dislodgement of Class V restoration due to habitual clenching stress should be restored with stress control. Mouthguard can be used as stress relief device. This case describes methods that can relieve occlusal force to teeth by using mouthguard. Satisfactory results can be obtained by using mouthguard for retention of repeated dislodgement Class V restorations. If patients suffered from repeated restorations of Class V due to clenching, mouthguard can be used additional device to relieve the occlusal stress in conservative dentistry.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.602-609
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• 2015

The aim of this document is to evaluate the effect of bite balance on physical fitness and motor capacity to determine the importance of the occlusal stability as a possible action mechanism of occlusal appliance including mouthguards on physical performances. We all remember that day when the prominent athlete was in the news wearing a mouthguard to improve human athletic performance. I once had investigated the determinants of athletic performance in all sorts of sports. Most of the studies had overinterpretation of results and lack of evidence to support the information. However, I discovered great expectations for new possibility in this field and settled for a more academic approach to this intriguing subject. The followings are some examples of the subject 1. Archers who wore occlusal appliances to increase the vertical dimension of occlusion by 2~3mm increased their ability to focus and to maintain good sense of balance. Their accuracy rate has been improved. The appliance was made of acrylic resin (a type of plastic). 2. Canoe players who wore occlusal appliances to increase the vertical dimension of occlusion by 5mm surpassed longtime competitor and won the race with 10 seconds gap. 3. A cycle rider who wore an occlusal appliance to treat his malocclusion surpassed his old record from 10.8 seconds to 10.3 seconds. His muscle reflexes (anaerobic exercise) and endurance (aerobic exercise) has been enhanced. 4. Occlusal appliances had a good effect on athletic performance in most sports such as swimming, diving, and weightlifting. As for the clenching on dentition, people clench their teeth when they push their physical and mental limits during sports activities. Clenching can be induced by physical exertion when maximum muscle strength is retained and this is similarly found in different types of exercises. In addition, restraint of respiratory function is observed. Therefore, creating a occlusal balance with occlusal appliance or mouthguard promoted a favorable influence when an athlete clenches.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2023

Background: Dental evaluation and protection are important for preventing traumatic dental injuries when patients are under general anesthesia. The objective of the present study was to develop a questionnaire based on dentition-related risk factors that could serve as a valuable tool for dental evaluation and documentation. Methods: We developed a questionnaire for dental evaluation before administration of general anesthesia, investigated the association between patient-and-dentist responses and mouthguard fabrication, and assessed response agreement between 100 patients. Results: Protective mouthguards were fabricated for 27 patients who were identified as having a high risk of dental injury. There was a strong association between dentists' responses and mouthguard fabrication, depending on the general oral health status, use of ceramic prosthesis, presence of masticatory pain related to periodontal diseases, gingival edema, and implants (P < 0.05). Response agreement between patients and dentists for items related to dental pain, loss of dental pulp vitality, root canal therapy, dental trauma, aesthetic prosthesis, tooth mobility, and implant prosthesis was high (Cohen's kappa coefficient κ ≥ 0.6). Conclusions: A high agreement was observed between patient-dentist responses and a strong association with mouthguard fabrication for items pertaining to ceramic prosthesis, masticatory pain, and dental implants. Patients with a "yes" response to these items are recommended to undergo a dental evaluation and use a dental protective device while under general anesthesia.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2018

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is a rare X-linked recessive genetic disorder. During purine metabolism, the hypoxanthine guanine phosphribosyl transferase (HGPRT) enzyme is deficient causing phosphoribosyl transferase to accumulate and resulting in excessive uric acid. Clinical symptoms include hypercalcemia, choreoathetosis, spasticity, mental retardation, and self-injury to lips, tongue or fingers. This results not only in pain caused by the self-injury but also secondary infection of the wound site and the esthetic damage of the soft tissue defect. Dental treatments include conservative methods using intraoral appliances such as soft mouthguards, fixed lip bumpers, and occlusal guards, and invasive methods such as extraction of all teeth or forming an artificial anterior open bite. We report two cases of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome patients with self-mutilation behavior; one was treated with a preservative method using a soft mouthguard, and the other was treated with extraction of all teeth.