kitkat
Super Moderator
Staff member
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2006
- Messages
- 1,568
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- United States
Hi everyone!
Just recently my dentist tried a new technique with me to help keep my lip from shaking uncontrollably as it usually does (a lot) at the start of treatment. She explained that sometimes by biting down on something, it can relax your whole mouth almost instantly so she suggested we try a mouth-prop or bite-block. Basically, it's a small piece of rubber which you bite on (on the side that's not being worked on) and it props the mouth open for treatment without you having to actively hold your jaw open. Having control issues, I was unsure of not having the option to close my mouth but surprisingly (with a designated and trusted stop signal), it worked really well for me! Although I admit it took a few minutes to adjust to it has thus far been the only method which relaxes my mouth enough that my lips do not tremble uncontrollably. In turn, it actually relaxes my whole mouth and jaw making any procedure generally, more comfortable and tolerable. The great thing about being able to fully relax my mouth is that it, in a way, has an effect on the rest of me and I find that I generally relax and calm down much quicker than usual after treatment begins. It sits pretty far forward in the mouth so gagging usually isn't an issue but I've read that some people absolutely cannot tolerate this device for longer than a few seconds without it inducing panic. With that said, I just wanted to see what others thought about it.
Kitkat
Just recently my dentist tried a new technique with me to help keep my lip from shaking uncontrollably as it usually does (a lot) at the start of treatment. She explained that sometimes by biting down on something, it can relax your whole mouth almost instantly so she suggested we try a mouth-prop or bite-block. Basically, it's a small piece of rubber which you bite on (on the side that's not being worked on) and it props the mouth open for treatment without you having to actively hold your jaw open. Having control issues, I was unsure of not having the option to close my mouth but surprisingly (with a designated and trusted stop signal), it worked really well for me! Although I admit it took a few minutes to adjust to it has thus far been the only method which relaxes my mouth enough that my lips do not tremble uncontrollably. In turn, it actually relaxes my whole mouth and jaw making any procedure generally, more comfortable and tolerable. The great thing about being able to fully relax my mouth is that it, in a way, has an effect on the rest of me and I find that I generally relax and calm down much quicker than usual after treatment begins. It sits pretty far forward in the mouth so gagging usually isn't an issue but I've read that some people absolutely cannot tolerate this device for longer than a few seconds without it inducing panic. With that said, I just wanted to see what others thought about it.
Kitkat