Dr. Chris Mohler
Hometown Dentist Patents First Concussion Mitigating Orthotic
story by K.J. NALLY photos by GREYSON JOHNSTON
In our culture of science and technology, it isn’t every day that a new medical invention hits the market. After years of dental study, research, and trials, Beaufort’s own, Dr. Chris Mohler created M8, the first patented concussion mitigating orthotic. For sports teams and military, this invention can be life changing.
The M8 may look like a fitted mouth guard, but it’s anything but a simple guard. “Its secret is all in the bite,” explains Dr. Mohler. “The orthotic moves the lower jaw downwards and forwards, opening the joint space of the jaw.” The dentist of over thirty years shared his invention by explaining the necessity of such a mouthpiece. “Seventy percent of concussion in football involves the lower jaw. Ninty percent of all impacts in football that cause unconsciousness come from a blow to the jaw forcing the jawbone up and back into the temporal bone (in front of the ear), which is the thinnest part of the skull. The concussion forces are transmitted from the jaw into the skull causing a traumatic brain injury (TBI).” He continued, “M8 locks the jaw in a position that opens the jaw joint moving the jawbone away from the temporal bone, dissipating the force away from the skull – mitigating concussions. It is clear that managing the position of the jaw is central to concussion mitigation.”
Dr. Mohler spent eight years developing and proving the concept. Two studies were conducted at State College with Dr. Michael Manahan, who tested the pads that are currently used in the NFL and College Football. M8 beat out all competing guards and was proven to be effective up to a 52 G impact. “Unconsciousness can occur in impacts as low as 4 – 8 Gs,” explained the dentist. “Dr. Manahan labeled M8 to be an important part of the concussion puzzle.” In fact, the future goal is to see high school players through professional athletes and military using this device. “I am convinced that brain damage occurs early in football impacts,” said the dentist. “There is strong evidence that it can occur in high school football. High school players need to have this orthotic as part of their gear.”
Dr. Mohler credits his treatment of patients who were in jaw joint pain, healed, and became more active for his journey to create the M8. “As I studied concussion more, the repositioning of the lower jaw downward and forward made sense because it opened the space and decreased the possibility of the jaw ramming into the thin temporal bone,” explained the dentist. “Sometimes the simplest answer is the best answer.”
As of now, Dr. Mohler has fitted Army Rangers, several SEALs that wore them in combat, and a squadron of DELTA operators. “Combat and football are very similar in the ability to suffer a traumatic brain injury through concussions,” explained the dentist. He has also fit many USC Gamecocks for the last four years. In August, Dr. Mohler and his team fitted players from USC in preparation for their season kickoff. Just last year the M8 was awarded a patent. The rollout to the market is currently underway.
Dr. Mohler humbly admits he was always good in science classes. Encouragement from a family friend helped him decide on the medical field. “Being on call and away from family for long hours was not appealing,” said the dentist. “Dentistry was a nice compromise. And over the years, I have been pleased to see dentistry moving more and more into the medical world.”
A graduate in 1986 from Loyola University of Dentistry in Chicago, Dr. Mohler received the degree Doctor of Dental Surgery or DDS. Over the last twenty years, his focus of practice has evolved. Now he focuses much of his time on occlusion, which deals with the stomatognathic system, or the muscles of the mouth, lower face and upper cervical spine, the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) located in front of your ears, and the teeth. Doctor Mohler explained, “This is a delicately balanced system and if treated correctly will give a lifetime of comfort and health. Treated incorrectly, such as malposed or missing teeth, broken or decayed teeth, patch work dentistry, or crowded teeth can cause painful headaches, severe neck and shoulder strain, poor posture, limited opening, and clicking or popping joints, to name just a few symptoms.”
About ten years ago, the dentist began in-depth study of implant surgery and implant restoration. “I wanted to restore ideal dental function for those patients that have lost teeth,” Dr. Mohler said. He further explained that partial dentures and full dentures are outdated treatment due to the instability of the prosthesis. “I have trained for the last five years in placement of complex implant cases using the guided surgical protocol. This allows for virtual planning of the implant placements and clinically delivered by using surgical stents that control the placement, depths, and angles of the implants during surgery,” he explained.
Doctor Mohler has a successful solo practice focusing on all dental needs. His now patented concussion mitigating orthotic and new technology surgical implants not only showcase the doctor’s hard work and expertise, but also have improved men and women’s lives in the Lowcountry. Doctor Mohler would like to offer a discounted orthotic price for Beaufort locals. “We want to do everything we can to protect our local friends the devastation of a sport’s related concussion.” If you would like more information about his orthotic or dental practice, visit him at his location or his website, drcmohler.com and www.m8concussionorthotic.com.
