The Story of Laboraide.

Since the founding of the company over 15 years ago, OPRO has become the world’s leading expert in the development of Dental Support Devices (DSDs). OPRO’s expertise and cutting edge technology in this highly specialised field has led to them being much in demand by top athletes who recognise that wearing a DSD during training can drastically improve muscle strength (in particular abdominal) and core stability.

The discovery of a fascinating pilot study carried out in 2009 by the University of Maryland, USA led OPRO to establish that DSDs can successfully be used not only in the field of sports science but remarkably during child birth as well. As a company whose research and development principles are grounded in having their own in-depth studies, OPRO took the step of commissioning a UK based survey and in conjunction with Baby Centre sent out  prototype Laboraides to 1500 respondents who wanted to trial this groundbreaking product.

Baby Centre reported an overwhelmingly positive response to the survey with over 95% of women saying they would recommend the product to friends. Feedback received demonstrated that women felt Laboraide helped them with pain control during labour and also helped them focus on pushing – both important factors for women during childbirth. These endorsements convinced OPRO that women found using a DSD during labour made a huge contribution to their birth experience.  Armed with this information they set about redesigning Laboraide to make it even more comfortable and discreet to wear. The result is what you see today, the new slimline and ultra stylish Laboraide which was launched at the Baby Show at the NEC in May 2012.

How does it work?

Since the early 1980s, clinical studies have been carried out exploring the relationship between the use of DSDs (Dental Support Devices) and muscular strength/power. Many studies have shown dramatic improvements in an athlete’s performance – so much so that DSDs are now widely used during training and competition.

In 2009 a very significant study was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Maryland USA, which demonstrated some major findings:

• Average duration of the second stage of labour for women wearing a dental support device (DSD) was 40% shorter than in the non DSD group.

• Using a DSD may decrease the number of failures to descend (baby entering birth canal after woman is fully dilated) requiring operative intervention.

The DSD is thought to generate these remarkable results in three ways: 

• ‘Biting down’ can increase muscle strength in the extremities, back and abdomen. This makes your pushing more powerful.

• The change in your posture with the DSD in place makes you able to push harder and to push continually for longer periods of time.

• By having your mouth open oxygen flow to the lungs is increased which aids the power to push.*

In 2011, OPRO supported a major study establishing that different thicknesses of DSD can have a dramatic effect on the wearer’s strength and performance.

*Please note – the Laboraide does not guarantee to provide any of the above

Figures shown above are all accurate statistics but individual cases will vary widely and may not conform to statistical averages