Effectiveness of dental guards in reducing incisor injuries during direct laryngoscopy: A retrospective comparative clinical study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of dental guards in preventing incisor injuries during direct laryngoscopy in microlaryngeal surgery (MLS).Study designNonrandomized retrospective comparative study.MethodsBetween 2022 and 2024, 50 patients who underwent elective MLS using a dental guard were consecutively selected as the dental guard group, and another 50 patients who underwent surgery without a dental guard were selected as the control group. A standardized silicone dental guard was applied to the maxillary incisors of the experimental group. An independent dentist conducted postoperative dental evaluations to assess incisor mobility and enamel damage.ResultsThe experimental group demonstrated significantly lower rates of dental injury (2% vs. 20%) compared with those of the control group. No adverse events related to dental guard use were reported.ConclusionDental guards effectively reduced the incidence of incisor injuries during direct laryngoscopy. Routine use is recommended to minimize perioperative dental complications.